Meditation and mindfulness practices disrupt irrational thoughts.
Read moreSearching for Balance
Read moreMy approach to life coaching gives you time and space to categorize your stressors, sort through your strengths, and move forward in your life. There is nothing wrong with you.
Meditatio
In Latin, “meditatio” is a noun that translates to “contemplation.” Research has not definitely pinpointed where in the world humans first started practicing intentional meditation as part of a culture’s spiritual traditions, but we have some evidence from India and China going back thousands of years. Many religions have an introspective ritual that encourages practitioners to reflect in silence to gain perspective on challenges in life. Secular practices encourage stillness and a focus on one’s breath.
The Beatles studied transcendental meditation in the 1960s. Jon Kabat-Zinn linked meditation to mindfulness for adults starting in the 1970s. I started practicing meditation in the 1980s and became a certified meditation teacher in 2019.
In today’s world, we have a variety of meditation techniques from which to choose; science has investigated the many health benefits of meditation across a range of physical and mental conditions. I encourage you to explore what works well for you.
Workplace Wellness Trends
Our workplaces changed during 2020. How and where and when we work has all changed. Some people are even questioning why they are working in particular industries. What do you need to achieve a sense of wellness in your job?
In 2017, “Workplace Wellness” was listed as a $48 billion industry (small orange circle in the graphic above) projected to grow to $66 billion by 2022, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Of the ten segments of the wellness industry examined, workplace wellness was last in spending. In contrast, we spent more than 22 times as much in the Personal Care, Beauty & Anti-Aging industry. Might we consider diverting some of our expenses for metallic manicures and whipped marshmallow facials towards improving our well-being at work?
GWI notes that most of the workplace wellness spending is in North America and Europe, with only one in ten workers estimated to have access to wellness programs at work. Chronic community stress, work-specific stress, work-related injuries, lingering disease, and employee disengagement contribute to economic loss over time.
“Wellness is a lifelong process.”
Researchers at Harvard University found that medical costs and absenteeism rates drop for employees engaged in workplace wellness programs. Employers who prioritize stress management, mental health, and flexible wellness options demonstrate genuine care for their employees while boosting overall productivity and health outcomes. There is no one-size-fits-all wellness program - smoking cessation classes are not needed by everyone, for example.
When we consider wellness as a spectrum, we understand that no two people are starting from the same place of wellness. My coaching, therefore, looks different for each client. What is the gap between a client’s desired career goal and their current reality? What are tangible micro-goals that move a client forward to their specific objective?
What support do you want to improve your sense of personal control in your job and increase joy in your profession?