Smart Business Magazine, July 2020

20 Smart Business July 2020 SMART WOMEN JJ DiGeronimo Be mindful Take the time to see things from the inside out 2020 has definitely made its mark It is easy to throw blame However a business coach taught me to reframe my situation as it is happening for me and not to me These conversations created more self awareness and perspective leading me to various books podcasts and practices In true transparency my feelings about some of these new practices such as mindfulness were filled with hesitation and doubt I was not convinced that making time for silence or a guided meditation would create more impact I initially tried the app Headspace with little success as I could not quiet or sidestep my thoughts long enough to benefit from the offering However with notable leaders such LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner Ford Motor Co chairman Bill Ford and Salesforce Founder Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff I was determined to make the time to incorporate these tools into my day For me learning how to meditate and be mindful took practice and patience With little self guided progress I registered for an eight week mindfulness class with a local instructor Suzanne Cushwa Rusnak in 2016 With notebook in hand I was initially not an ideal student but with a great teacher and format I eventually gained traction I have even successfully revisited Headspaces Meditation for Work that guides busy professionals Heres what I have learned Let it go Many of us grind too long on the past or worry about the future Get present Our mind often hijacks our current moments if we let it Make the time It takes meaningful action to understand and manage your thoughts Our reality is a mirror image of what is happening within us If you want to enhance your experiences you must start from the inside and work your way out Your internal baseline will directly impact how you participate assess lead and contribute at work and at home Insights into these actions start with your thoughts To gain awareness of your thoughts you must be able to assess your current internal talk track which for many takes mindfulness and mediation Local mindfulness programs include the following Rivers Edge fosters the integration of personal wellness spirituality global and ecological responsibility and the expansion of consciousness in order to bring about personal and societal transformation The Cleveland Mindfulness Center provides trainings workshops and retreats to hundreds of people interested in learning mindfulness meditation practices in the Cleveland area UH Connor Integrative Health Network offers mindfulness classes that are open to the public as well as hospital employees It also provides individual coaching as well as programming tailored to meet the needs of organizations businesses and schools For many of us this year is a time to reflect on how we respond to the circumstances happening around us Being mindful of what is calling us what we will learn and what we want to make room for next will take a new level of self awareness Your personal and professional development and that timeline are up to you JJ DiGeronimo President Tech Savvy Women Women in Tech and Girls in STEM Advocate JJs book Accelerate Your Impact Action Based Strategies to Pave Your Professional Path published by Smart Business Books is available for purchase on Amazon She is also the author of The Working Womans GPS www JJDiGeronimo com