If I’m Not a Successful Business Person, Then Who am I?

Just nine years away from what he referred to as the socially
acceptable date for retirement, Sam shared about the fear of
filling his time—“I need to keep my brain active, and I’m not
sure what I’ll do without people needing my help, or the
excitement of winning the deal. My work brings purpose and
structure to my days.”


 


When work provides such a strong sense of identity, belonging and
accolades, letting go of the known for what’s next can be
terrifying. The feeling of being needed, having a sense of
belonging, and the adrenaline of accomplishment can stop us from
disconnecting on vacation, spending quality time with
friends/family, relaxing or even retiring.


 


When habits are deeply rooted in accomplishment, it’s difficult
to trust the stillness, especially when the accomplishments are
netting accolades that stir cravings for more. These cravings can
easily keep us hustling even when we’re ready to step into our
next greatest area of contribution.


 


Experience (and research) has continuously demonstrated that the
greatest way to see the path striving to reveal itself is by
getting quiet, unplugging and listening intently.  Through
silence and authentically connecting with ourselves, we gain the
capacity to hear and see our greatness.


 


The silence grants us access to seeing our path, along with the
grit (courage) to step onto it.


 


“I want to know God’s thoughts, the rest are details.” –Albert
Einstein


 


Once there, the peace and freedom from incessant nagging to
maintain a certain level of success diminishes. We begin to
experience the truth of our inherent worthiness in the silence,
and cease to need the adrenaline shots provided by external
validation. Such stillness grants us the access we need to hear
our next direction.


 


So, how do we explore such stillness in a way that is sustainable
and enriching, rather than consuming and overwhelming? Start
small, notice what’s helpful and then build on it.


 


Here’s a great way to get started:


 
Grab a timer and set it for five minutes. Sit in a comfortable
position with your hands resting on your knees, facing toward the
sky, and then push the start button on the timer. Close your eyes
and notice the thoughts running through your mind, the pace of your
heart, the sounds around you, the areas of your body that feel
tense, and relaxed. The key: simply notice.

 


Becoming the observer of your own experiences is a natural and
kind way of helping yourself see what you may be missing during
the busyness of the day. This approach is far easier to
incorporate and build upon then throwing ourselves into a
multi-week silent meditation retreat.


 


Getting started and staying consistent are two critical elements
to getting the most value out of meditation. Said simply, comfort
and clarity don’t tend to come in one session, though the
compound effect will aid greatly in gaining the clarity you seek.


 


When entering a new phase in life, it's natural to go through an
"identity crisis" of sorts. After existing one way for a
prolonged period of time, "flipping a switch" and living a
different way feels unnatural and like a complete waste of time.


 


It's important to waste your time, though! Doing so allows us to
realize things about ourselves that we never thought about until
now. There are ways to use everyday (and even mundane) activities
to gain the clarity you crave. It seems impossible, but once you
have the roadmap for getting there, it won't seem so daunting.


 


Check back next week to find out why it's important to "waste"
your time and what you can do to help carve the path you desire
for your future.


 


Here’s to your greatness,


 


Misti Burmeister


 


 


P.S. Been meditating for a while? Ready to add to your practice?
The following are a few helpful additions:


 


—Add another five-minute session at a different time during the
day.


—Put a pen and paper next to your meditation spot and give
yourself a couple of extra minutes to write down any thoughts or
ideas.


—Add breathing exercises or chanting to your meditation.


—Keeping your eyes closed, add stretching/movement. Doing so
gives you a chance to feel where you may be holding tension. Pick
one or two from this list to get started, and then trust your
body to add in additional moves.     


—Increase from five minutes to ten minutes.