#StressManagement #SelfCare #SelfNurturing #Wellness #Mindfulness #MoneyManagement #FinancialHouse #Growth #PersonalDevelopment
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I'm headed out to the "woo-woo" limb here. Please be forewarned.
I was scrolling Facebook back on January 20, 2024 when a person I follow posted the following thought-provoking question to his network.
"A wise person said.. 'Your business's growth is intertwined with your personal growth. What's your plan for personal development, and how does it align with your business goals?' And I thought that was pretty profound. Let's discuss, shall we!?" ~Michael Douglas
I had to sit a few moments with this one. It's not one of those questions that you can or even should tackle without some time to reflect. Is my business stagnant? Have I grown stagnant? And if the answers to those questions are yes, the next questions are, "What am I going to do about it? What is my plan for personal development? How does that align with my business goal?"
Since the turn of the new calendar year, I have been sharing with you all tips and strategies to straighten out those wallets. What I hope that I have been able to convey to you is that money management is more than just cutting back on Starbucks coffee or cutting the cord with cable or damming up the streaming services you use. To have your financial house in order requires that you have streams of income that include more than just your 9 to 5. It requires that you have a savings and investing plan in place for your multiple streams of income. It requires that you actually be ready to make the mental shift from mindless consumption and understanding the scripts ruling your life and money. I've asked you to consider the curious question, "How mindful is your wallet?" while also exploring the part your emotions play in your spending. And if that all wasn't enough, as if I hadn't already asked enough of you all, I had the audacity to ask you to get real with yourself and clarify your values and intentions. Check-in time. How are you holding up with all of this?
I have worked in some aspect or another of behavioral health for almost two decades now. I honestly don't know where all that time went. I've worked as a mentor for at risk girls. I've worked in family preservation and reunification services of families in crisis. I've worked as an advocate for persons who are other abled due to physical and mental struggles. I've worked with families and children with serious emotional disturbances and with adults with serious mental illness. I've been in the trenches helping others claw their way out of some of the darkest hours in their lives. And the one constant I have seen across the board is the struggle to honestly and authentically answer the questions: "How are you feeling?" or "How are you holding up with all this?"
If I had to take a guess, overwhelmed. You are probably feeling a little overwhelmed or maybe a lot overwhelmed. And that is to be expected. For many of you out there, I am asking you to deconstruct how you have always gone about doing money. Money. One of the most taboo subjects out there. The one we don't talk about. The one that is causing 90% of Americans to be stressed out. The one that is sited as a leading cause of about 38% of divorces here in the United States. Money. I'm asking you to talk about what we don't talk about or acknowledge until it is too late. And that my friends is why I am asking you to talk about it with me. That is why I am asking you to journey with me as we unravel the unhealthy money mindsets that have held you back. You see, I'm not afraid to go into those trenches with you. Check my resume. I'm built for this.
So, to answer the questions at the outset of this article. No. I have not grown stagnant and neither has my business. I have had to redefine how I operate but I am still pushing forward. Each and every week, I am researching materials for my own personal development as well as things to share with my network. Each and every week, I pause to put into practice the same self-care and self-nurturing principles I ask of you. Yes, I keep pushing and charging forward, taking mindful rest periods as needed. There's that word. Mindfulness. Take note of it. It is the key and cheat code that will unlock solutions to the business, money, and you problems in your life.
What is Mindfulness?
You might have seen this buzzword circulating around popular media today. We've discussed it a few times here on EnvisionCo Blog. Mindfulness involves intentionally focusing on the present moment with an attitude of curiosity or interest rather than judgment. The thing is, the world around us is busy, full of distractions. As much as we'd like to think our minds are a calm oasis we can escape to, this more often than not is not the case. Our minds are busy places full of to-do lists, recalling conversations and interactions with others, reflecting on emotions both past and future, judgment, criticisms, ideas, problem-solving, and daydreaming. Some research statistics indicates that we have anywhere between 12,000 and 70,000 different thoughts a day. Mindfulness asks that we pay attention on purpose in a particular way to the present moment non-judgmentally. We train our attention by bringing our awareness back to our breath or tuning-in to a bodily sensation.
What is Mindfulness Meditation?
This is where the woo-woo comes in according to some people. Bear with me though. Mindfulness meditation is a practice that involves cultivating a heightened state of awareness and presence in the current moment. Though it does hail from the traditional Buddhist meditation techniques, it has been adapted and secularized for broader use. Some key elements of mindfulness meditation are focusing on the breath, non-judgmental awareness, mindful observation, return to the present when our minds begin to wander, body scan and sensory awareness, and loving-kindness/self-compassion meditations.
My Experience with Mindfulness Meditation
I cannot recall exactly how long it has been since I was first introduced to the concept of mindfulness. I know I initially thought it meant emptying the mind thus opening it to become the Devils playground. Needless to say I wasn't too fond of it then. Tried it again some years ago and felt it was too passive of a modality for me. I like active and directive modalities; makes me feel like something is being done. Going back to my article on the stages of change, I can see now that I was not ready. Sometimes we just aren't ready. We all grow at different paces. I began giving mindfulness another shot about 2 years ago. Don't be deceived; mindfulness is hard work. I kept thinking about other things when I was supposed to be focusing on my breath or my bodily sensations. Remember that itching I mentioned in the article: "How Mindful is Your Wallet? Mindfulness and Money Management,"? Well, let's just say I have got to be one of the itchiest little women I know. Then during other times, there was the worry that I was defective because there were parts of my body I couldn't feel. Eek. Then there were the urges to get up and do (look for a document, clean, pay a bill online). And last but definitely not least, I kept falling asleep. Through all of that, I am strengthening my muscles of attention and patience. It is my cheat code for my personal and business development.
How Mindfulness Meditation Could Be Your Solution
When you envision your personal growth or business growth what comes to mind for you? Is it increased confidence? Improved communication skills? Stronger leadership skills? Enhanced emotional intelligence? Expanded networking opportunities? Increased sales or market expansion? More product innovation? Improved customer retention? More strategic partnerships and collaboration opportunities? Improved branding and reputation management? Improved financial management and continued fiscal growth? What is your vision? Each these things will require social, emotional, and time labor from you which will require that you be able to recharge and replenish yourself. Research has shown that regular mindfulness meditation touts benefits such as stress reduction, improved focus and attention, better emotional regulation, increased resilience, improved sleep quality, lower blood pressure, aided pain management, reduced negative thought patterns, improved relationships and enhanced communication, and improved decision making. Like I said earlier, don't be deceived; mindfulness is hard work. However, an ongoing routine of formal and informal practice can transform your life.
All in all, the advantages of mindfulness and meditation highlight the extraordinary effect it has on us overall. From mental and emotional wellness, physical wellness, and even financial wellness, mindfulness emerges as a powerful practice with the potential to positively shape various aspects of our lives. Its capacity to reduce stress, cultivate emotional regulation, and foster self-awareness speaks to its relevance in our fast paced, ever on the go society today. Embracing mindfulness not only invites a sense of calm and focus into daily life but also lays the groundwork for a more compassionate and fulfilling existence. But don't just take my word for it, give it a try today; no Devil worship required (unless you are into that sort of thing--hey no judgment). Book an appointment and we can get you started. Please remember though. Wherever you are on this wellness journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading!
Oh yeah. Just one more order of business before we sign off.
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"The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness." ~Jon Kabat-Zinn
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