Technalink is committed to the idea of bringing mindfulness everywhere you go, including the workplace. However, while still uncommon in many businesses, mindfulness, wherever you go, is far from a new idea. For Western audiences, the first major push toward mindfulness in the mainstream likely came from the 1970s book Be Here Now, by Ram Dass. And of course, the major lesson that the book tried to impart is right there in the title. The book was about the importance of keeping your mind focused on and accepting the present.
This simple, short concept, to “be here now,” is a timeless idea and the cornerstone of cultivating mindfulness. And while it’s still possible to find and read that original book, reading it, while useful, doesn’t detract from the fact that the core concept to “be here now is, like most worthwhile things in life, easy to learn or understand, but difficult to master.
Mindfulness, or the act of “being here now,” is the ability to remain aware of and observe the present without getting lost in it. Imagine that you are an observer, such as an audience member watching a movie or television program, seeing things happen to someone else on screen. In that context, it is much easier to maintain calm, observant awareness of what is happening to someone else, on-screen, whether the events depicted are happy, sad, tragic, or even frightening.
However, it is, of course, a very different story when you are personally experiencing something. Watching someone else in a car accident is an entirely different experience from being in the car when it happens. And yet, it is in the aftermath of extreme emotional situations—even positive ones—that people most benefit from mindfulness, and the ability to observe a moment, and let it pass, rather than being emotionally entangled in the moment, and allowing thoughts to run rampant.
It’s About Awareness, Not Control
The crucial lesson to “be here now” is not to think that the final goal is controlling your thoughts. This is impossible. Instead, it is about being able to distance yourself from your thoughts, to be aware of them as an observer, instead of being trapped inside them, and subsequently being controlled by them. The awareness of loss of control is what allows people to step back, see their thoughts or feelings, and eventually allow them to pass.
Mindfulness is about cultivating an ability to know and be aware of the thought process, not necessarily to impose strict controls on that process itself. It is this awareness that actually frees people to put distance between themselves and their own thoughts and feelings. And while that doesn’t let people shape thoughts as they see fit, it allows them to be less influenced and make more decisions without those influences.
The Benefits
Mindfulness and the ability to “be here now” can help people in many ways. At its core, the ability to focus on the present, live in it, and be aware of it is extremely useful for any task. Whether you are working, creating art, or making music, the ability to focus on what you are doing and center your awareness on that task can make tasks easier and more involving. Mindfulness, over time, can often lead to better stress management, tolerance, and even adaptability. So there are a lot of long-term benefits to cultivating this sensibility in yourself.
If you’re interested in modern interpretations of the “be here now” concept at home and at work, Alka Dhillon can help. Her book The Om Factor: A Woman’s Spiritual Guide To Leadership is available in print, digital, and audiobook formats and shows you how mindfulness can be useful in personal and professional settings.
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