Still Waters: Practicing Mindfulness as a Leadership Tool

WEBVTT
00:00:00.997 --> 00:00:07.857
Well, hello again, my valued listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power.
00:00:08.157 --> 00:00:13.617
I'm your host, Dr. Marlene Greenleaf, and over the past week,
00:00:13.937 --> 00:00:17.257
I gave myself permission to pause.
00:00:17.837 --> 00:00:24.137
I mean, life was full, emotions were high, and my soul needed rest.
00:00:25.957 --> 00:00:35.937
So, I did what I encourage all of you to do I protected my peace And chose presence over pressure,
00:00:37.477 --> 00:00:41.457
Last week's episode, I don't know if you noticed It did not happen,
00:00:43.217 --> 00:00:49.317
And that again is because I chose presence over pressure,
00:00:50.877 --> 00:00:57.337
But now I'm back and because sometimes it's not about sticking to the schedule
00:00:57.337 --> 00:01:00.697
it's about honoring the season.
00:01:03.217 --> 00:01:09.157
Now we're going to continue to deepen our June theme of the power of presence
00:01:09.157 --> 00:01:11.997
leaving, living and loving in the now,
00:01:13.097 --> 00:01:20.997
and this week's episode is called Stilled Waters practicing mindfulness as a
00:01:20.997 --> 00:01:25.317
leadership tool And that is because in the chaos of leadership,
00:01:25.617 --> 00:01:28.557
whether at home, at work, or in the community,
00:01:29.037 --> 00:01:34.077
it's the still grounded leaders who create the greatest waves of change.
00:01:34.797 --> 00:01:42.237
So now let's take a breath together, inhale peace, and exhale prayer.
00:01:44.177 --> 00:01:50.457
So let's begin. Now, leadership is not just what you do.
00:01:51.497 --> 00:01:55.517
I mean, when we talk about leadership, we often focus on action,
00:01:55.817 --> 00:01:59.037
decisions made, goals achieved, people influenced.
00:01:59.997 --> 00:02:05.797
But leadership isn't just about what you do. It's about how you do it.
00:02:08.797 --> 00:02:13.397
Mindfulness brings us back to that being. It's
00:02:13.397 --> 00:02:19.997
the moment you pause before reacting It's the breath you take before making
00:02:19.997 --> 00:02:25.957
a decision And it's the awareness you cultivate so you don't just move fast
00:02:25.957 --> 00:02:28.957
But you move with intention,
00:02:31.537 --> 00:02:34.717
So what is a mindful leader, you may ask?
00:02:36.737 --> 00:02:41.617
Well, mindful leadership is the practice of staying grounded,
00:02:42.177 --> 00:02:49.777
present, and emotionally aware, even in high-stress or high-stakes situations.
00:02:50.557 --> 00:02:56.797
It doesn't mean you always have the right answers, but it means that you can
00:02:56.797 --> 00:03:00.277
stay rooted in clarity, compassion, and calm.
00:03:01.657 --> 00:03:06.157
And now I don't know about you But I've had seasons,
00:03:06.397 --> 00:03:10.957
especially in leadership Where I was running on autopilot I mean,
00:03:11.037 --> 00:03:16.977
saying yes to everything Showing up everywhere, doing the most And still feeling
00:03:16.977 --> 00:03:18.237
like I wasn't doing enough,
00:03:19.357 --> 00:03:22.457
But mindfulness changed that for me.
00:03:25.037 --> 00:03:30.277
There was a moment when I realized if I don't lead myself well,
00:03:31.437 --> 00:03:33.057
how on earth can I lead others?
00:03:35.597 --> 00:03:38.397
So, I began using breath.
00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:44.960
This. Before tense meetings, I grounded myself.
00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:50.280
And when I felt overwhelmed, I would pause. And when I feel stretched,
00:03:50.720 --> 00:03:54.140
I would center my thoughts in faith and gratitude.
00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:58.840
Mindfulness became my anchor, my still waters.
00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:06.760
Now that sacred inner space allows me to listen better, Decide more wisely and
00:04:06.760 --> 00:04:11.220
lead more authentically at home,
00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:16.260
in the office, and outdoors.
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:24.820
Now here are three mindful practices that you can start this week.
00:04:25.320 --> 00:04:30.280
Now the first one is called the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.
00:04:30.280 --> 00:04:38.340
And to do this, you need to think of five things that you can see.
00:04:39.700 --> 00:04:43.820
Then you look for four things that you can touch.
00:04:45.780 --> 00:04:49.640
Find three things you can hear.
00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:57.960
Two things you can smell. And one thing you can taste.
00:05:00.280 --> 00:05:10.060
Now, perfect when you're feeling overwhelmed or anxious as it brings you back to the present.
00:05:11.020 --> 00:05:15.300
The second one is called the pause principle. Simple.
00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:21.340
Before responding to that email, for example, or that text message, pause.
00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:29.940
Take a breath. And then ask yourself, what outcome do I really want?
00:05:31.580 --> 00:05:35.760
You have to learn to lead from that space.
00:05:37.440 --> 00:05:39.560
Then as the silence starts,
00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:46.160
it's important to begin your day with five minutes of silence.
00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:53.700
No phone, no agenda, just you and God. Just you and breath.
00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:56.660
Just you and being.
00:05:57.180 --> 00:06:02.900
Five minutes. That's all you need. five minutes of silence.
00:06:03.580 --> 00:06:09.340
Now these small practices they can transform how you lead and live.
00:06:12.696 --> 00:06:21.376
Now, your empowerment prompt for this week, it says, Where in your leadership
00:06:21.376 --> 00:06:24.056
or personal life do you need stillness?
00:06:24.816 --> 00:06:29.056
And what would it take to make space for it starting today?
00:06:30.056 --> 00:06:35.036
I want you to write it down, reflect on it, and then practice it.
00:06:35.216 --> 00:06:37.736
So I'm going to read that reflection prompt again.
00:06:38.396 --> 00:06:44.556
It says, where in your leadership or personal life do you need stillness?
00:06:44.916 --> 00:06:50.616
And what would it take to make space for it starting today?
00:06:51.596 --> 00:06:56.196
So write it down, reflect on it, and then start practicing it.
00:06:57.456 --> 00:07:00.576
In closing, I want to leave you with this.
00:07:01.736 --> 00:07:05.456
I want you to know that you are not here to lead from burnout.
00:07:06.336 --> 00:07:12.376
You are here to lead from alignment, from presence, and from power.
00:07:13.856 --> 00:07:20.056
So thank you for joining me this week. And next time, we will close this month's
00:07:20.056 --> 00:07:25.276
series with a powerful message on faith and trusting God in the present moment.
00:07:25.936 --> 00:07:34.096
Episode 4 will be entitled, Faith in the Present Moment, Trusting God While We Wait.
00:07:34.976 --> 00:07:39.856
So until then, my dear listeners, I want you to live boldly in your power.
00:07:40.796 --> 00:07:48.156
And if it gets tough, just breathe. You've still got the strength to rise.
00:07:49.076 --> 00:07:53.396
Take care, and you'll hear from me soon.
00:07:53.876 --> 00:07:58.636
Continue to live in your power.