Mindfulness is a term blanketed by Eastern thought and religion. While many definitions exist, there is not one that rises above the other. A blend of all of these would be something along the lines of "paying attention in the present, experiencing non-judgementally." Psychologists in the 21st century are now beginning to realize that this ancient way of thought and being can actually improve our work lives as well as our personal.

Entrepreneur and author Faisal Hoque recently spent some time with Bhante Wimala, a renowned Buddhist monk. From his time with Bhante, Hoque was able to gather a few valuable tips for living a life of mindfulness.

Living in the Moment Focusing solely on one thing is something that few of us do on a regular basis, but is something that can greatly improve our lives, and our productivity. In no way am I saying to ignore the future, but if you can place your focus solely on the task at hand, your productivity will sore and the quality of your work will blossom.

Letting Go The ability to discard fear is relatively unheard of. However, that does not mean that one should not practice this. As Buddhism states, negative emotions are the primary source of suffering, and fear is the primary negative emotion. If we can learn to discard fear, we can learn to stop the suffering in our lives.

Slowing Down This is perhaps the most difficult thing for a fast paced entrepreneur to tackle, but it is also the most important. Slowing down can mean focusing on one task instead of five, scheduling three afternoon meetings instead of four, or maybe just clocking out at 6pm instead of 8pm. Whatever it is, slowing down life is a deliberate action of being mindful and can improve your overall being.

Living life with a sense of mindfulness can be an enriching experience. Although it is difficult to change in a world that is so fast-paced, slowing down can genuinely change us for the better. Try living mindfully, and monitor the effects it has on your work. You might just be surprised by the results!

For more on work-life alignment, check out this article on the benefits of work flexibility.

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