10-Minute Mindfulness: 71 Habits for Living in the Present Moment by S.J. Scott & Barrie Davenport

Author:S.J. Scott & Barrie Davenport
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Self-Help, habits, mindfulness
Publisher: Oldtown Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-05-20T18:30:00+00:00

Learn More: To learn more about emotional intelligence in the workplace, check out Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves.

Also check out this article on eleven ways to be more mindful in your relationships at work.

#38. Cultivate a Beginner’s Mind

Says Zen monk, author, and teacher Shunryu Suzuki, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”

A beginner’s mind is a concept in Zen Buddhism known as shoshin.

What does it mean to cultivate a beginner’s mind? It means you develop a willingness to release preconceived notions about the way things should be based on your existing knowledge or beliefs.

In your work (and in life), having a beginner’s mind-set allows you access to a heightened awareness of various options for success in any endeavor. Your mind is open to all possibilities.

With a beginner’s mind-set, you temporarily suspend all of your opinions, knowledge, and strongly held beliefs so that you can explore an idea without mental limitations.

Even if you are an expert in your profession, remaining open-minded might let you discover potential solutions that you did not know existed previously or that don’t match your expertise.

You keep your options open, you respond more mindfully and thoughtfully to the circumstances in the moment, rather than just relying on past experience.

Action Plan: When you approach a new project or task during your day, take a few deep breaths before you begin. Then visualize your mind as a blank slate with all your previous knowledge and experience erased.

Ask yourself the question, “How can I approach this project differently?” Rather than immediately returning to standard operating procedures, allow your mind the time to brainstorm new options.

If you need to use past experience as a guide, think about how you can apply this experience in a different way.

Let go of common sense for the moment, and step out of your comfort zone to give yourself the freedom to explore even the wildest possibilities. Sometimes these out-of-the-box, unexpected ideas turn out to be the most creative solutions.

As you are practicing a beginner’s mind-set, try to let go of the fear of failure. Suspend it for just a few minutes, and assume that success is the only possible outcome.

Pay attention to your instincts and inner creative voice. Don’t look over your shoulder at what everyone else is doing. Pull from the wellspring of your own unique perspective and ideas. This is how innovation occurs.

In meetings or group settings, invite group members to leave their expertise at the door. Ask them to approach the problem or challenge with a fresh set of eyes and an open mind. Invite people to join the meeting who are complete novices and can view the situation with untainted innocence.

You can apply the strategies in any situation in which you desire fresh, mindful thinking for a challenge or problem, whether in your personal or professional life.

Learn More: Check out this podcast called “The Beginner’s Mind: Why Naiveté Is a Critical Business Asset.”

Also read the book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.

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