At the outset, I would like to wish my readers and supporters a very happy festive season. My very best wishes to you and families for Diwali.
Today I bring to you a state of mind to consider cultivating for multiple reasons. Firstly, and most importantly because it’s excellent for your health and mental wellness. Secondly this mindset keeps you operating at your most optimum level. Thirdly it makes you a better leader to follow where your team members feel comfortable to bring their problems to you, seeing you calm in every chaos.
According to Geeta Nadkarni “It’s a state of being, a way of thinking – almost a frequency of thought – that turns down the volume on the reactive and introduces acceptance and creativity to the mix. It allows us to examine the facts of the matter without drama or catastrophizing.
Relaxed awareness allows us to consider the negatives and the positives of the situation and get a more nuanced understanding of how it came to be.”
Being a “Relaxed Mindset” practitioner myself for several years, let me share with you that this mindset to me as a communications professional has been a key asset. It really enables me to think deep and come out with winning solutions.
Here are some easy ways to evolve to this mindset. You just need to believe in the philosophy and be determined. The rest falls into place.
Shut off useless negativity
Chaos and stress are today a part of life and living. It’s how we react to negativity that matters and shapes us. Unknown to us this negativity is like a highly infectious virus which spreads through our actions and words and the brain gets unfocussed. We often are so occupied dealing with this negativity that we end up missing our targeted goals and achievements (Author)
The state of Relaxed Awareness keeps you on your toes to recognise these negative vibes when they appear so that you can deal with them effectively. As we have discussed earlier in the articles in this column, being positive results in a winners can do and can happen attitude. Here though the cherry on the cake is the calmness you create to actually implement what you determine are the right steps to achieve your goal or objective.
Zanshin
“Both in fighting and everyday life should be determined though calm. Even when your spirit is calm, do not let your body relax, and when your body is relaxed, do not let your spirit slacken… Zanshin. Zanshin has many translations from “awareness” to “remaining mind” to “indomitable will” even to “relaxed alertness.”— Miyamoto Musashi
The Japanese use Zanshin which is the recognised art of relaxed awareness in multiple areas of their life. In their case, its all about sharp focus and concentration. A high sense of awareness, without any distraction helps you jump forward in achieving your goals. Here however there are two circles of awareness. Around your focus target but also around it.
An example here in marketing is how you focus on achieving your sale revenue targets as your primary awareness circle but simultaneously look at competitive activity as your secondary awareness circle.
A simple action to understand relaxed awareness
One of the simplest actions in daily life that lives the philosophy of relaxed awareness is the smile on the face of the person you are shaking hands with but a firm handshake! (Author)
Relaxed awareness is created by effortless attention, an eye for details, a deep understanding of human beings, non-judgemental observation, empathy, high and high energy amongst other human traits and qualities. Awareness itself spans over four dimensions. Self-awareness which is actually knowing yourself truly. Social awareness, or understanding what is happening around you. Cultural awareness, where you go into the broader landscape and finally Future awareness.
“A relaxed mind sees solutions that a panicked mind walks right past.” Maxime Lagacé
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The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
