Why is a Mindfulness Practice Important?

The science is sound. Research shows that mindfulness practice has many benefits –improved focus and decision-making, strengthened relationships, resilience, and increased creativity. It can reduce stress, improve sleep, and help you quickly overcome challenges and setbacks. Who doesn’t want to experience one or more of these benefits, right?

Well, the common thread to experiencing these benefits is simply this: a mindfulness practice helps you train your attention to be more present, which results in the ability to see the world from a different perspective. That is, to see the world as it is, not through our biases and filters.

For example, so much of the stress we experience is literally in our heads – worrying about the future, replaying past events, and attaching meaning to probably untrue things. Mindfulness practice teaches us to be present and recognize when we’re not. And we understand that the world is less stressful when we are present, and our thoughts are just thoughts. They are not facts.

Why Is Mindfulness Important to My Work Life

Globally, organizations are experiencing change at an unprecedented rate. Entire industries are being disrupted, with many becoming obsolete. As organizations attempt to adjust, they recognize that leadership is not just a competitive edge, it may be the difference between success and failure.

To navigate today’s volatile, uncertain, and complex environment, leaders are required to maintain a level of calmness, make decisions with little information, and be able to adopt multiple roles.

And this is where mindfulness comes in. Research shows that “soft” skills, such as creativity, resilience, emotional balance, flexibility, collaboration, and tolerance for ambiguity, improve outcomes more than hard skills, such as analytical and rational content. While hard skills may be easier to learn and transfer to others, soft skills are more important to organizational success.

This is why mindfulness is being used in many high-performance companies. It’s a proven means to prepare leaders to navigate today’s challenging environment. By building mindfulness skills today, you’re preparing and setting yourself apart for the future. Plus, people who spend more time in the present are less stressed and enjoy life more. They can put things into perspective, see the good, or at least see events as neutral or non-threatening. Keep practicing. It’s worth it.