“We all evolved to have monkey minds that are looking for negativity because that’s what helped us survive. But when we can learn to pause and recognize the unhelpful stories our minds are telling us, we can begin to see things more clearly and act more wisely.”

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about mindfulness. In this episode, Mike and Ethan attempt to explain mindfulness as an adaptive skill (see episodes #4 and #5), why it has been getting so much attention, and why it’s a skill that leaders can genuinely benefit from practicing. Mindfulness, much like physical fitness, doesn’t happen overnight. It is a journey that takes time, effort, and patience. The Nash team discusses their own journeys in developing the skill, the positive effects it has had on their leadership abilities, and how leaders can use it to become better at their jobs. If you like what you hear, please leave us a review. (It helps other people like you find the show.)

We mention several resources, so here they are for you to check out:

10% Happier – Book by Dan Harris

Headspace – Meditation App

Real Happiness/Real Happiness at Work – Books by Sheryl Salzburg

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics – Book by Dan Harris

Waking Up – Meditation App

The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook – Book by Kristin Neff

Mindfulness Northwest – Washington-based mindfulness organization