Mindfulness in the workplace
As someone cleaning for our little company Mindful Cleaning we encourage the practice of mindfulness meditation, not only for the benefit of those who experience the result of your work, but for oneself's benefit also. To help train the mind to gain clarity and calm in the moment, is a gift for all.
Our hope for an employee is to humble oneself on the ability to be mindful in the workplace, mindful in the moment. Which means paying attention in the moment. Patiently caring in the moment as we work. Spreading a focused calm joy.
Mindfulness is a meditation of focus, where we train the mind to come back to the present moment. A non judgmental, unfolding of experience moment by moment. It creates awareness and non attachment to the comings and goings that our mind experiences. It allows us to listen and comprehend better as we are paying attention in the moment, without judgment or distraction, just gentle clarity, and continued kindness upon ourselves and our surroundings. The more we practice bringing our mind back to the moment, as we work and even converse, the better control we gain over our mind, actions and reactions in the moment. The more insight and wisdom we also gain and control over habits and reactivity. Using the art of cleaning to train the mind to become acutely aware in the moment.
Cleaning is a great form of meditation.
'Insight Meditation' or vipassana is another name for mindfulness meditation. The practice of looking inwardly and seeing things as they are, is a practice which encourages direct observation of immediate experience of the body/mind process.
Mindfulness is an excellent discipline in the work place. As being mindful of what we are doing in each moment improves our ability in the job, adjusting to an easier work flow or aware of our time management skill, finding the more effecient and less stressful ways to go about the job. Creating satisfaction that a job is well done, as our mind is on doing the job well and efficiently. We gain improved focus, awareness of why or how we missed something to improve upon and correct ourselves, changing or strenthening constructive habits, which make one able to achieve any task well that we place our minds on. Through mindful cleaning we create a happier atmosphere for all experiencing a cleaner environment, where a job clearly can be seen to be done with mindful, caring and joyful attention, you can see how it uplifts spirits, and encourages others to take the time also to be mindful of how what we do effects others.
It certainly is an interesting challange when applying mindfulness meditation while working a physical job, as our bodies can easily tire and hurt from repetitive movements. Our reactions to that bodily stress, the effect on our mind and emotions. Calming the mind and the emotions, taking long deep slow breaths, longer on the out breath. Helps tremendously bringing the mind back to center and just letting go, through the breath. Knowing the tension or tiredness will pass, as everything does. Allowing the passing to go with ease and finding joy in the moment.