Your Self.
Most of us we are far better at taking care of what’s happening outside than what’s happening inside. But is that really the way it should be?
Not knowing yourself is like not knowing your own reflection. And not taking care of yourself is like not taking care of a loved one.
You matter, and caring for yourself matters.
There’s a health company called Nikken speaks about the 5 Pillars of Health. The 5 Pillars of Health are foundational things—healthy body, mind, family, society and finances—that can help you develop goals and direction in those key areas. It’s not about one or the other, it’s about balance. In order for you to be the most successful business person that you can be, you need to cover all of these areas.
As we move deeper into the mindset that ties together your thought processes, we’re led to one of the most crucial pillars of success: self care.
As a business professional, you want to care for yourself and be in good physical health because it’s necessary for you to be able to carry on your business. Enhancing your mind, calming yourself, learning how to deal with stressful situations, and ultimately handling that stress, are all part of successful self care.
Breathe and be calm
Practicing your breathing is a great first step. It’s no secret that meditation can change your life.
Breathing is a helpful first steps in self reflection and meditation.
When you breathe deeply you can notice when you have tension and stress. Take note of how you deal with it. Individuals will either react or respond to situations. A reaction is something like a knee-jerk reaction. It’s an automatic response.
In most cases, a reaction won’t serve you well. Responding to a situation, on the other hand, is a totally different perspective. It’s mindful and purposeful, and you can carry it out calmly and coolly.
Breath is so very important. Even right now, follow this exercise along:
Take a deep breath. Now, take a second deep breath. Breathe in deeper. And on the second breath, drop your shoulders a little bit more. And then, take a third breath. Allow that breath to be even deeper. And now, notice and reflect back along the difference between the first and the third. In most cases, that first breath is shallower and not as full as the third one.
Something else is going on within your body while you do this, within your neurological and physical systems. Most people travel through life with shallow breathing and lots of tension and stress. And that impacts how the brain functions because the blood vessels are constricted and the muscles are tense and tight. That restricts the brain’s ability to think, to process information. So, with a deep breath, we’re shifting that. It shifts and allows oxygen and blood flow to the brain. It helps your body to be healthier and stronger. It provides you with stronger thought processes. Would that be something of value in business, in life, and in your career enhancements? Of course it would.
The simple exercise of breathing can be a very valuable one.
Some of my clients come in on a regular, or even a weekly, basis just to get more tools like this. These are tools that you can take away with you. Some of my executive clients feel they’re too busy to do certain things like that, but I challenge them and say, “While you’re in the bathroom, spend an extra minute just doing some breathing. You can do it in the shower.” Breathing, meditation, exercise … these are the kinds of activities that give you extra time.
There are many different avenues you can take. If you do it while you’re driving, you’ll feel calmer and the other drivers around you will feel calmer as well. You can add to the calmness of the boardroom or the calmness with your clients. If you’re going into a client meeting, check your mindset. Where it is at that particular moment will assist you with shifting into a calmer mode—one that has more clarity.
Some of the most successful and productive people in the world take anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes a day, sometimes multiple times a day, just to allow calmness. They breathe, connect and allow ideas to flow, which all add to an enhanced image and reputation.
Take a breath to think about that. To access some of your internal information, step away from business for a moment and on self care.
Make balance a priority
Balance is critical in life. Individuals who spend all of their time working often lose relationships, or even family.
There was a time in my life where I was putting many, many long hours in the office. And I forgot about my physical health and wellbeing. I ended up with a back issue that caused significant pain and mobility issues, all of which distracted me from my ability to think clearly.
It impacted my ability to participate in community events and to be of higher service in any way. It even impacted my relationships. Everything was impacted. If I had taken more care of myself, things would have turned out very differently.
It’s important to include self-care in your daily activities. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. You’ll have to break some of your old habits (by making new ones).
Just as you have time with loved ones or family, for date nights or for family nights, you need to add self-care to your structure. You can even write it down in your calendar, your day timer, or your smartphone.
Whether it’s a gym session, a walk around the block, or a stroll in nature, building in this time will assist you with your financial and business success. Business associates and clients want to work with individuals who have balance, after all, and will gravitate towards people who are successful in all areas of their life.
Remember that we’re now moving into a wh
ole new stage of business, and careers, and life. Life is a part of business! And just as community service is part of your business success, your life is part of how you’ll be perceived by others.
Do you have a self-care practice that has been extremely beneficial for you? … besides journaling – we should all be doing that already 😛
Images courtesy of Michael Yan, Maelle Caborderie, Yogendra Joshi, respectively.