Quality of Life for the Quality Professional

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Quality of Life for the Quality Professional

• June 25, 2008
• Cheryl Jones-Reardon, MA

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Stress in the Workplace

• One-fourth of employees view their jobs as the
  number one stressor in their lives.
• - Northwestern National Life
•  
• Three-fourths of employees believe the worker has
  more on-the-job stress than a generation ago.
• - Princeton Survey Research Associates
•  
• Problems at work are more strongly associated
  with health complaints than are any other life
  stressormore so than even financial problems or
  family problems.
• - St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.

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Stress in the Workplace

• In a culture that praises multi-tasking, its
  impossible to imagine a state of non-doing. We
  call ourselves human beings however, a more
  accurate label might be human doings. With our
  stress-producing lifestyle we need now, more than
  ever, to give ourselves permission to stop. Our
  health depends on our ability to do so.

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What is Mindfulness?

• Mindfulness is simply about developing the
  capacity to be aware and awake in the present
  moment as it is. It is a skill that is developed
  through meditation where you practice noticing
  what you are doing, thinking, feeling, seeing,
  and hearing.  Mindfulness involves being conscious
   of both your internal and external environment
  and then learning from what you see.  This
  quality of alertness and aliveness in the present
  moment will enable you manage your Self more
  skillfully.

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What is Mindfulness Meditation?

• Meditation is simply about being yourself and
  knowing about who that is. It is about coming to
  realize that you are on a path whether you like
  it or not, namely the path that is your life.
• Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.

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Mindfulness is not

• something that we can learn from a how to
  book. Its about learning and practicing a
  skillful Way to connect with an inner resource
  that exists deep withinone that will forever be
  accessible.

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Reacting vs. Responding to Stress
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Mindfulness involves both FORMAL and INFORMAL
practice

• Formal practice involves a variety of mindfulness
  meditations (sitting, lying down, walking, gentle
  yoga)
•  
• Informal practice is about having mindful moments
  throughout the day where you are conscious of
  what you are doing and experiencing.
•  

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Mindfulness involves paying attention to

• Breath
• Thoughts
• Feelings
• Sensations
• Sound

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The seven attitudes for mindfulness practice
include

• Patience
• Non-judging
• Beginners mind
• Trust
• Non-striving
• Acceptance
• Letting go

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Benefits

• Improved ability to relax and sleep more soundly
• Enhanced relationships at work and at home
• Improved ability to connect with inner and outer
  resources
• Enhanced ability to empower others
• Improved self-care strategies

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Lets practice!
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Books on Mindfulness

• Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
• Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• The Mindful Hiker by Stephen Altschuler
• The Mindful Leader by Michael Carroll
• A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield
• Mindful Exercise by Cheryl Jones

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Cheryl Jones-Reardon, MAThe Mindful Path,
LLCwww.themindfulpath.com