Getting Unstuck: Mindfulness Part 1 > Pausing for Self through Contemplative Practices – An Interview with Esmilda Abreu and Rhonda Schaller
“The disconnect between what I do and who I really am – my authentic self – there’s suffering, there’s a stammering – emotionally, cognitively, behaviorally – because you’re working against yourself. When we’re standing in our authentic self we find unity between our behavior, thoughts, communication and the way we see the world, and we have reduced suffering. — Esmilda & Rhonda”
How often do you ask yourself “Who am I? Where am I going? How do I get there?” How do you gain personal awareness? How do you present yourself authentically to others? In this the first of three episodes on Mindfulness, we gain insight on those questions by exploring the concept of "contemplative practices" with educators Dr. Esmilda Abreu and Rhonda Schaller. We learn how those practices can lead to greater emotional intelligence, and offer important benefits to individuals and organizations.
Which path to mindfulness are you drawn to? This and other resources are available at the Center for Contemplative Mind Study in Society.
Listen for:
• The definition, methods, application, and benefits of “contemplative practices.”
• Why expressions of compassion especially for self are so important.
• The neurological implications – e.g. positivity – of engaging in contemplative practices.
• How “being still” is not by itself enough to achieve the real benefits of mindfulness such as increased resilience and reduced stress.
• How becoming mindfulness can positively impact culture.
• The relationship between mindfulness and emotional intelligence.
• How mindful practices could lead to positive changes in business and leadership.
After listening to the episode:
Which “shoulds” do you still carry with you?
What space do you routinely set aside to get in touch with yourself?
What are your top 5-7 values and how aligned are you to them – how much are you actually living them – on a scale from 0-7 where “0” = not at all and “7” means completely.
Over the course of the next week at work, where do you see the organization in alignment to its values / mission?