Mr Meditate

Dealing with stress.

I'm currently undertaking a social experiment where I ask 1,000 people one question and then collate the findings and share the learnings at workplaces and at conferences.

Here's a sneak peek of the initial responses to the question: How do you deal with stress?

Before reading what others say, it's a good question to ask yourself.

The sample size so far: 50 responses. Only 950 to go ;)

Here's what's being said:

* Not very well or I don't
* Exercise
* Avoid and ignore it
* Lean into it
* Alcohol and drugs
* Talking it out with others
* Compartmentalise
* Get used to it and keep moving
* Change and do something fun or enjoyable (eg. a hobby)
* Do the smallest possible thing to mitigate it

One person gave an insightful response: When you catch yourself stressing (and the noticing is what we train in practice), you can intercept and course correct...at any point in time.

In times of stress, she asks herself these two questions:

* Is everything ok right now?

* If I didn't have this thought, what would life be like?

Looking forward to sharing more insights as the experiment continues.

What an incredible ride it has been working with NAB.

From team days and huddles, graduate programs, roadshows, offsites, L&D training, organisational change, executive retreats, town halls and conferences...I am so grateful for the trust given to us to impact and influence their employees.

Since April 2014, Nab has offered staff our weekly attention training sessions.

A HUGE thanks to the insightful leaders. Thank you for engaging Mr Meditate.

You will work it out. You always do.

All the worry, stress and over-thinking about the uncertainty ahead is pointless, when you will work it out anyway.

Every minute you spend 'doing' stress, is 60 seconds lost of happiness.

You (not external factors) choose your reaction or response, every time.

I know what I prefer (and choose). Do you?

When you're happier, you perform better. Everybody does...including your team. There's more friendly co-operation.

Like with any skill, it takes training to develop a balanced mind.

Want to know what how the process works? Email [email protected]

PS. Being too busy to meditate is like being too hungry to eat 🥗.

PPS. The busier you are, the more you (and your brain) need it.

Are you thinking too much in daily life?

I've been guilty of overthinking. How about you?

When we think too much, we are not truly ourselves.

Our body may be here, but the mind is elsewhere. In the past. In the future.

On holidays...or already looking forward to Xmas (10 weeks away) 🎄

And when Xmas comes, each year I hear the following:

Where did the year go?

Here's where: It was spent lost in thought: ruminating about the past and projecting into the future. The history and the mystery.

It's akin to walking or driving somewhere, and when you get there, you ask yourself: 'how did I get here?'

It happens a lot.

Sometimes it gets super busy and chaotic, feeling like a circus in one's head. Other times, it's calm, quiet and thinking subsides.

The Good News.

Whilst you cannot control what thoughts come into your head; you can control what you do with them.

You can try to shoo them away or clamp down on them, but I bet it won't work. It never does. It only creates tension.

Instead, train your attention to focus on what you want it to focus on i.e. what's going on in the present.

And this way, you will 'fall awake' to the life as it's happening...moment to moment, breath to breath.

So when Xmas comes...you'll know where the year went.🎄

I am already successful…because I feel successful.

And it's not reliant on how much money I have.

How I feel, and my energy, dictate my success.

If I'm feeling sh*t and my energy is low...how can I be successful?

But it does happen. So I intercept and course correct. I pause and recharge.

I've designed a life where I get to do what I love…day in day out.

Even afterhours! 😆

I get excited about going to work.

The different audiences I present to…from lawyers, bankers (thanks to especially NAB our biggest client ❤), police, maintenance and reliability workers (thanks MAINSTREAM Community)...actually, it's across all industries.

Because the issues are the same.

Brain Fog. Exhaustion. Sleep deprivation. Burnout.

I’m currently conducting a social experiment for 10 weeks.

I wake up early and am excited go!

Ready with anticipation of the uncertainty ahead.

It hasn’t always been like this.

I used to dread it. Ahhh work…not again!

The game changed when my attitude did.

Facing my own reality, as it is, with a balanced (equanimous) mind and disposition.

What’s your relationship with your job? 🤔

Ps. In June Mr Meditate will be celebrating 1,500 sessions NAB…woohoo 🥳I

World Meditation Day (May 21st) was established to bring attention to the practice of meditation and its positive effects on mental and emotional health. It's gaining popularity as more people recognise the importance of mindfulness and stress reduction in their daily lives.

There are many ways to participate in World Meditation Day:

Practice Meditation: Take some time out of your day to meditate, whether for a few minutes or a longer session. You can practice alone, with friends, colleagues or join a group meditation event.

Attend a Meditation Workshop: Join online or in-person workshops that teach different meditation techniques, offering guidance for both beginners and seasoned meditators.

Organise a Group Meditation: Arrange a meditation session in your community, workplace or online, bringing people together to experience the benefits of meditation collectively.

Here are some cool places I've practiced.

It's been wonderful to be invited again to be part of the leadership training at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. This time it was at the Cranbourne Gardens site (my first time there) which offers a natural bushland experience featuring over 100,000 plants!

: With consistent practice, you'll build up a cognitive reserve with a wealth of resources you can make withdrawals from, and deposits to, like a bank account. It will shield effects from dis-ease like brain fog, exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

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I'm Tomas and I facilitate practical mental skills training in Attention + Attitude for work teams designed to enhance mental health and improve performance. Interested? Reach out: [email protected]

When you have 50 tabs open, it slows down the processor.

Eventually the machine will crash and close all the tabs for you.

You will feel great that it's done it for you rather than having to close them yourself.

This is where awareness becomes very useful because what you notice, you can change…as you go!

Intercept and course correct.

Want to do something about it for your team? Get in touch [email protected]

Delighted to be working with the for a 3rd year in a row. Kudos to Ian Collier for the insight of bringing 'Brain Maintenance Tools' for the delegates to instill into their organisations. Thanks to Guy Freebody, we'll be setting up a 'Brain Break' station too. More about that next time.