As leaders, cultivating stillness and a time for contemplation is one of the most important practices we need to develop for self care, resilience and renewal. And yet high achievers may equate sitting still with losing one’s edge. Self-observation is essential but most high achievers have equated success with speed and 'overdoing.' We cramp so much into our multi-tasking lives and while it may appear that we are getting much done, yet research shows it actually hinders our performance.
The benefits of these practices are well researched and show that daily practice results in the capacity to:
• Enhance higher order thinking capacities
• Heighten empathy (EQ)
• Sustain emotional equilibrium
• Expand sense of presence
• Improve immune system function
• Reduce cortisol production
• Increase self-awareness of impact as a leader
What are Contemplative Practices?
One of my favorite site for contemplative practice is:
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/index.html
Contemplative practices quiet the mind in order to cultivate a personal capacity for deep concentration and insight. Examples of contemplative practice include not only sitting in silence but also many forms of single-minded concentration including meditation, contemplative prayer, mindful walking, focused experiences in nature, yoga and other contemporary physical or artistic practices. We also consider various kinds of ritual and ceremony designed to create sacred space and increase insight and awareness to be forms of contemplative practice.
Contemplative practice has the potential to bring different aspects of one’s self into focus, to help develop personal goodness and compassion, and to awaken an awareness of the interconnectedness of all life. They have helped people develop greater empathy and communication skills, improve focus and concentration, reduce stress, and enhance creativity. Over time, these practices cultivate insight, inspiration, and a loving and compassionate approach to life. They are practical, radical, and transformative.
