So Much To Do: Finding Balance In The Holidays Part 3: Staying Strong Mentally: Personally and Professionally

In my last 2 posts I have spent time talking about finding and maintaining balance during this holiday season. The first post was about Spirituality and Finances, and the second post was talking about family dynamics. Today, I want to talk about maintaining mental focus, and mental clarity, and maintaining your own balance in the workplace.

Mental
Maintaining mental composure during the holidays can be taxing, especially when you are being pulled here, there and everywhere. Between the mind doing what it does naturally; like jumping here, there and everywhere, and all of the tasks that arise during this season, it can seem quite schizophrenic or extremely ADD at least. It is for this reason that I am a HUGE advocate of learning to observe the mind. As you learn and practice to observe the mind, you see the randomness of the mind, you see the power and control games of the mind, and you learn to pick and choose what thoughts you choose to participate with. I cannot stress enough how liberating this practice has been for me, and I know that if more people practiced this technique it would change the world.

It is never too late to begin this practice of observing the mind, but I do find that it is easier to learn (or practice) when you are not already engaged, not already on some random thought train. It is a very simple, but yet profound technique; one that the Buddha practiced, one that helped the Buddha become the Buddha. It is simply observing the mind as a spectator, just as if you were watching a movie, or something outside of your window. For me, the difficult part was maintaining it throughout the day. This was the part that took practice, especially when a certain thought train was claiming itself as being ‘important’ or ‘significant.’ But through continued intention and practice, it did get easier. I have also found when you pick and choose the thoughts you decide to participate with, rather than participate with any random thought that goes through your mind, you also have more mental clarity and focus. Begin to watch yourself as you are getting ready to go and do something. Watch the thoughts that the mind is having about the thing that you are about to go and do. Watch the thoughts to see if the mind is looking forward or dreading what is about to happen. Watch what the thoughts are saying to you about the situation, and watch what the mind is saying to you about you in relation to the situation that is coming up. Watch, watch, watch! So many of you are searching for the key; the key to peace, happiness, success, love. This, as simple as it is, is that key!

Holiday Parties and Mind Altering Substances
Now, that being said, please pay attention to how much ‘mind-altering’ substances you partake in during the holiday and/or when you are at a holiday party. It is much harder to stay present, and watch the mind when you are ‘mentally altered’ with some substance such as alcohol or a drug. The mind may say that ‘you deserve it,’ or it may say that ‘it may help you get through.’ The mind can be very cunning and crafty; be aware of that! I like to party with the best of them; I enjoy ‘relaxing’ with the best of them, and my cocktails (especially the ones that are pretty and FULL of holiday cheer), but I also know my limit. Having and maintaining awareness is much more important to me than ‘letting my hair down’ (even tho I know I’m bald!), or having a good ol’ fashioned ‘blow out.’ Besides, it is extremely dangerous when you get behind the wheel to leave the party, not to mention the after-effects the next day because of the hangover. It is about maintaining balance. For some, balance may mean abstinence; for others balance may mean indulging with awareness. Find your own balance, and realize that mind-altering substances will often throw that balance out with the trash!

Business
Often in many businesses, things naturally get busier at this time of year simply because of the year-end details that must be accomplished. Remember to pace yourself, and get plenty of rest. Also, remember that many people are stressed and off balance during this time of year, and their ‘unconsciousness’ may try to pull you down with them. It is not about judgment, it is about having the awareness that this is taking place. It is about you maintaining your focus, your intention, your mental alertness, etc. When you combine mind-altering substances, mental engagement, dead-lines, etc. to the holiday mix, that can be a formula for disaster. So, again, I remind you to add meditation to your daily activities. It is a proven fact that meditation supports mental alertness, mental focus, productivity, stress reduction, etc., so don’t forget to allow time for your meditation. Many people have told me, ‘but, I just don’t have time for it!’ That type of thinking is simply supporting you to stay in an old way of being; it is a choice. If you are making that choice, do not complain about the results that you get. Meditation is not going to ‘fix’ everything, but it does support you to be a better overall you, and being a better overall you supports you in every area of your life.

For many of you, work takes up a large portion of your time, so why not make the best of it? For many of you, your work relationships may mirror many of your family dynamics. You may want to go back and re-read the section on family dynamics and apply those techniques and ideas to your work relationships, because they are very applicable here as well.

And last but not least, why not make it a personal intention to bring ‘light’ to your workplace; everyone benefits from that!

Again, Happy Holidays, Much Love, & Namaste…

Show Your Support

If you have found what I have said to be support for you, made a difference for you, and would like to help spread the word of a new way of being, please do so by sharing this with your friends. Introduce them to Love, Live & Laugh. You can also show your support through financial support. Your sharing enables me to continue to offer these spiritual insights (blog posts, podcast) to everyone. All donations are appreciated.

Related Posts

How Does Life Support Life? I was asked a question in a comment to the post Questions & Answers Are Part of the Game of Life. The question was: “what exactly does it mean when...
Remember...There Is A Big Picture! One of the biggest reminders that I am constantly giving my life coaching clients is to remember that there is a bigger picture taking place; that life is a process,...
Do We Really Need To Learn? To believe that life is a ‘series of learning opportunities’ is nothing but a set-up for mental anguish. I know that is a big statement to make and you may...