The Zen of doing anything is doing it with a particular concentration . . . a calmness [sic] and simplicity of mind, that brings the experience of enlightenment and – through that experience – happiness.
-Chris Prentiss,
Zen and the Art of Happiness
Employer focus
Zen and the art of HR rejuvenation
Stress levels reached a peak this year for benefits professionals hit with the double whammy of a lingering recession and the implementation of health care reform. For months now, addressing these two issues has been your top concern and priority. Now it’s December. Another open enrollment season has reached its conclusion, and there’s breathing room before 2011 strategies move to the forefront of your agenda.
Do you remember how to breathe? If not, take a few moments for some much needed stress relief.
This way to Zen
According to Chris Prentiss in Zen and the Art of Happiness, stress is a response to the many challenges in life. “Zen” is simply a state of centeredness in the here and now. Finding your own state of Zen and serenity can’t remove the stressors in your life, but can help you better manage your response.
Just breathe
Sometimes it is hard to just stop, breathe and take a second to relax. How do we step away from the frantic pace we often are part of and live more in the moment, more in balance with ourselves and our surroundings? Dr. Eric Maisel’s prescription is a simple meditation combining deep breathing and 12 important thoughts to aim you in a new direction. The technique, which he calls “Ten Zen Seconds,” is built on the idea of “dropping a useful thought into a deep breath.”
“It’s actually a very simple, yet powerful technique for reducing your stress, getting yourself centered and reminding yourself about how you want to live your life,” says Maisel. “Deep breathing is one of the best ways to reduce stress and alter thinking,” he adds.
Give Ten Zen Seconds a try
It doesn’t take a tremendous amount of time, and the meditation can calm you and help you refocus. Spend 10 seconds on each of the 12 thoughts – five seconds of inhaling on the first part of the phrase, five seconds exhaling on the second part. The parentheses indicate how each phrase is divided for inhaling and exhaling.
- (I am completely) (stopping)
- (I expect) (nothing)
- (I am) (doing my work)
- (I trust) (my resources)
- (I feel) (supported)
- (I embrace) (this moment)
- (I am free) (of the past)
- (I make) (my meaning)
- (I am open) (to joy)
- (I am equal) (to this challenge)
- (I am) (taking action)
- (I return) (with strength)
Finding serenity
Another Zen master, Dr. Henry Emmons, addresses the effects stress and anxiety have on our overall sense of well-being, health, longevity, productivity and relationships.
In his book, The Chemistry of Calm, he suggests four areas of focus to overcome anxiety and find a calmer way to live. They are common sense tips worth reviewing.
- Diet – Eating better will always improve your health, including the health of your brain.
- Exercise – Your best investment is regular exercise, which not only protects the cells, but also makes them better energy producers.
- Sleep – Quality sleep helps us recover from our daily stress and is a cornerstone of resilience.
- Mindfulness – The body and mind need periods of activity, followed by quality rest and recovery, to stay healthy. Meditation, yoga, prayer and music therapy are techniques that can soothe the body and mind and help with stress recovery.
Sources:
Dr. Henry Emmons, M.D., The Chemistry of Calm, Touchstone, 2010.
Dr. Eric Maisel, Ten Zen Seconds, Sourcebooks, Inc., 2007.
“Ten Zen Seconds: An Interview with Dr. Eric Maisel,” www.happynews.com, April 24, 2007.
Chris Prentiss, Zen and the Art of Happiness (Deluxe Gift Edition), Power PR, 2008.
