Mindfulness in Times of Uncertainty
Without mindfulness, I feel unanchored. My thoughts become unbridled, and this restlessness often manifests as muscle tension and heart palpitations. Before discovering mindfulness, I ignored these signs and ploughed through them. This approach left me feeling frustrated, stressed, and, at times, emotionally overwhelmed.
As Bessel van der Kolk aptly notes, “the body keeps the score.” Ignoring these signals erodes my mental wellbeing, disrupts my sleep, and negatively impacts my mood and behaviours.
Mindfulness has taught me to notice and listen to the messages my body is sending. After years of practice, I’ve learned the importance of staying consistent, though I’ll admit that life—and excuses—can sometimes get in the way. Lately, I’ve felt overwhelmed by the uncertainty and division in the world. However, these challenging times remind me that mindfulness isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity.
In the last few days, I’ve rebooted my practice, feeling somewhat like a “recovering meditator.” Short mindful pauses have helped anchor me, providing moments of clarity and calm.
Research shows that as little as ten minutes of daily mindful breathing practice can reset neural pathways in the brain, fostering resilience and a clearer approach to life’s challenges.
So, if you’re feeling uneasy, know that it’s human. Don’t judge yourself—just pause and reconnect with your mindfulness practice.
Here’s a brief mindful pause practice that you can weave into your day.
Compassion in the Workplace
As a workplace mindfulness advocate, I highly recommend Jacqueline Carter’s recent talk at the Mindful Leadership Summit on compassionate leadership. Her insights into the power of pausing and fostering mindful workplace habits underline the transformative benefits of compassion at work.
Mindfulness plays a crucial role in cultivating compassion, and research consistently shows that building a compassionate workplace delivers measurable benefits:
- Creates Psychological Safety
The Google Aristotle Project found that teams with psychological safety are more likely to take risks, engage deeply, and innovate effectively.
- Enables authentic conversations
Research from the University of Michigan highlights that compassionate work cultures promote openness and trust, facilitating honest, productive dialogue.
- Fosters Collaboration
A study from the Harvard Business Review shows that empathetic, supportive environments lead to stronger collaboration and creativity.
- Deepens Connections
Employees in compassionate workplaces report higher job satisfaction and loyalty, feeling more valued and connected within their teams.
Mindfulness at Work: A Sustainable Solution
While one-off mindfulness talks can spark interest, the Mindfulness in Business Series offers a structured, sustainable approach to embedding mindfulness into your organisation’s culture. This programme doesn’t just introduce mindfulness; it helps your team adopt it as a lasting practice, transforming how they work together, focus, and handle challenges.
Mindfulness at work is more than a trend—it’s a strategy for fostering resilience, collaboration, and focus in the workplace.
If you’d like to explore strategies for building workplace mindfulness, or to enquire about the Mindfulness in Business Series by book a meeting here to discuss how mindfulness can support your organisation in building a compassionate work culture.
Finally I’m thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of The Barn Space in the new year! This unique space will bring us together in person, fostering mindfulness in both community and workplace settings.
Throughout this project journey, I’ve been reminded of the grounding power of a simple five-minute breathing practice, especially when life feels overwhelming. Mindfulness offers us clarity exactly when we need it most. Stay tuned for updates on 2025 events at The Barn Space—we’d love for you to join us on this exciting journey!
