Why mindfulness can be misleading

Mindfulness is quite a misleading word.

It suggests having a full mind, when in fact practicing mindfulness can help you to quieten your thoughts.

It also makes it seem about the mind rather than the body.

The word for mindfulness in mandarin is the character for the present moment above the character for the heart. It literally translates as “experiencing the present moment with your heart”.

 Doesn’t that have such a different feel than the word “mindfulness”? 

It puts the emphasis on kindness, warmth and love, whereas mindfulness can sound quite neutral or even detached. You might be able to imagine a mindful sniper being completely calm and focused.

The more we can bring kindness and curiosity to our thoughts and emotions, the better we will feel within ourselves. That in turn makes it more likely that we will treat others with more care and respect.

So being a mindful leader not only means being present to yourself and others, it means connecting to your heart. Showing you care. Practicing self-care. Communicating what you’re passionate about. Knowing your purpose.

Such leaders are far more inspiring to work for, which means that they get more out of their teams and they’re far less likely to burnout, because they’re looking after themselves.

If you’d like to learn more about the transformative power of Mindful Leadership, join our 1-hour workshop. Click here for more information.