Meditation as path to happiness

‘State of mind’ can be a powerful tool. Here are some methods to help you harness your own potential.

Season’s greetings to you, your team and your family.

Now given I my focus is “sales” you might wonder why I am focusing on mediation as path to happiness as my final piece for 2007. There is method in my madness.

You may recall some months ago I wrote about “reflecting on reflecting” and how it is a powerful skill to help people work and perform to their best.

There is also an increasing body of scientific research showing definite links and health benefits on all levels to meditation and mindfulness. Some of you may not be aware but my university education is in science, studying biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and immunology.

This background combined with my life-long participation in sport and my love of yoga and meditation has kept me looking out for the work that links them all together and show the links between mind body and spirit.

Top performing people in many occupations, including sales, are often extremely self-aware and other-aware. Many participate in forms of reflection and meditative practice to assist them in remaining effective in their day-to-day work and dealings with self and others.

With that in mind, as another year comes to an end, it is often an opportunity to take time to reflect on the year that was and our role in it – whether we are in sales or not.

With all that we do it is so easy to become caught up in the relentless pursuit of meeting deadlines, pursuing goals and just keeping everything on track, personally and professionally.

With all this activity we may put ourselves at risk of missing the wonderful opportunities to reflect on what we have learnt and what we already have to be grateful for in our lives.

I have personally been reflecting on the 13 years I have been in this business.

From those early days to now has been quite some journey. I began this business on 9 January 1995 with $3000 and the intention of working with the whole person to develop their potential to engage in productive work relationships in concert with a bigger picture. I found focusing on the area of sales and service seemed a logical way to legitimise this type of work more easily.

Our aim has always been to help people grow and gain mastery through greater self-awareness, understanding, mindfulness and purposeful action. In doing this work, we too have learnt much, received many insights and found much to be grateful for along the way.

I have been wanting to speak publicly for a long time about mindfulness and meditation, however back 13 years ago mindfulness, meditation and self-awareness were not mainstream topics for discussion in business.

The good news is that in more recent times, these practices are taking the main stage. Unlike some new age ideas in the market today, people are realising these practices are not fads, they are life-long skills that allow for mastery in many areas, including sales.

People are now recognising that using mindfulness and meditation helps them be more effective, creative and relaxed at work, home and in the community.

With that I would like to introduce you to some of the current work being done in this area. Meditation as path to Happiness (PDF) is a paper written and presented by Dr Craig Hassed at the 2006 Happiness and its Causes conference.

Craig was trained in medicine at Melbourne University and graduated in 1984. His interest in a holistic approach led him to focus on well-being rather than simply treating illness.

This led him to focus upon counselling, mind-body medicine and meditation. In 1988 Craig decided to make a contribution to bridging these missing links in medical education through joining the Monash University Department of Community Medicine and General Practice.

I would like to thank him for giving us permission to publish this article and bring his work to your attention. Topics include:

• The stress response and its effects on the mind, brain and body.
• Mental health today.
• The importance of attention.
• The search for happiness.
• Meditation, healing and happiness.
• Mindfulness meditation.

In addition to this paper I have also included a lovely meditation you may like to try over the new year break called The Attentive Heart Meditation

Thank you again for your continued support. I look forward to keeping in touch with you in 2008.

Happy new year & best wishes.

Sue Barrett is Managing Director of BARRETT Pty Ltd. Sue is an experienced consultant and trained coach and facilitator. Sue and her team are best known for their work in creating High Performing Sales Teams. Key to their success is working with the whole person and integrating emotional intelligence, skill, knowledge, behaviour, process and strategy via effective training and coaching programs. For more information please go to www.barrett.com.au

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