Return to the Core


The tempo of modern civilization has a centrifugal force that carries us outward from the core of life toward ever-expanding peripheries. One should return frequently to the core, and to the basic values of the individual, to natural surroundings, to simplicity and contemplation. Long ago, I resolved to so arrange my life that I could move back and forth between periphery and core.
 

–Charles A. Lindbergh

Autobiography of Values


 

See also Tony Mayo’s review of the book here.

 


 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video


 

The Courage to Create Community

Expanded 2nd Edition Now on Sale!

Tony’s short book on building community is now available
with an extra chapter and a guide to additional resources.

The Courage to Be in Community Expanded 2nd Edition

The new chapter is a simple, practical guide to building better relationships at work and at home. The focus of the book is the importance of compassion and authenticity, while this new section is all about implementation, with specific advice on how to be compassionate and authentic in your day-to-day life.

This expanded edition also includes links to recommended books and articles for further study and practice.

Click here to “Look Inside” & see a sample on Amazon.

➤ Paperback , hardcover, and Kindle available on Amazon!

➤ Paperback and hard cover available on Barnes and Noble!

 

iTunes Spoken word version available on Audible

Audio version read by Tony Mayo also available.

 To hear a sample click here for Audible or iTunes.

 

 


(more…)

Been down so long it looks like up to me


 

The point at which what we are given is difficult beyond endurance is a point that pierces and refines the soul. And (though this may be hard to believe) it is possible to be so fluid and centered, so filled with trust in the intelligence of the universe, that even the horror can pass through us and eventually be transformed into light.

Stephen Mitchell
Genesis: A New Translation of the Classic Bible Stories
Quoted in Psychology Today, December 1, 1996

 


 

A quick and novel technique for integrating difficult moods and experiences is here Resistance is Futile on this blog.

 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video


 

How to Increase Employee Cooperation and Collaboration

 


 

Would you like to more than triple the chances that your employees will volunteer to help a colleague or a customer? In just two months. For free.

Easy. Encourage your staff  to meditate for 20 minutes per day. That is the conclusion from a recent study.

The results were striking. Although only 16 percent of the nonmeditators gave up their seats — an admittedly disheartening fact — the proportion rose to 50 percent among those who had meditated. This increase is impressive not solely because it occurred after only eight weeks of meditation, but also because it did so within the context of a situation known to inhibit considerate behavior: witnessing others ignoring a person in distress — what psychologists call the bystander effect — reduces the odds that any single individual will help.

From Grey Matter: The Morality of Meditation
by David DeSteno, Ph. D. in The New York Times
describing research
by Paul Condon, Ph. D., Northeastern University
published in Psychological Science

 


 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video


 

Is this the right audience?

 


 

In 1966 Roshi Philip Kapleau, author of the landmark book The Three Pillars of Zen, was invited to give a talk at MIT by Nobel Laureate Salvador Luria.

Only six people came.

He gave his talk on Zen meditation anyway.

One of the six became Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., who had his first encounter with meditation that night. Kabat-Zinn is a pioneer in the scientific study of mindfulness and is responsible for teaching meditation to many thousands of people.

What is the right audience? The Zen answer is, the audience you have.

 


 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video


 

When work arises during meditation


Many of my clients have noticed that among the many thoughts intruding upon their meditation are some that appear to be genuinely useful ideas and plans. My suggestion is to treat these like any other ideas that arise and use the opportunity to direct your attention back to the chosen focus of your meditation practice, trusting that ideas are plentiful and over time you will be more prosperous operating with a clear mind day-to-day than by grasping at insights and making plans during the short periods you promised yourself to meditate.

And if your mind is dominated by the idea, feel free to pause to take a note or move into execution. Don’t be a victim of your meditation.

For more, here is an article by a successful artist on her experience with this challenge, Amanda Palmer in The Shambala Sun.

 


 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video


 

009 A conversation with executive coaching client Ron Dimon. Part 4 • PODCAST


 

Click here for Tony Mayo's podcastThis latest podcast is part four of a funny and useful conversation between top executive coach Tony Mayo and his longtime client Ron Dimon. Ron is an expert on the use of information by executives of large organizations. Listen as two experienced business people play with useful ideas in this episode including;

  • Low stress mindset for high performance on a variety of unstructured and unpredictable tasks
  • Meditation & centering for executives
  • Transforming overwhelm into flow
  • Procrastination
  • Creating vs. fixing
    • “Something’s wrong, & it’s me!”

Just click here to listen now or subscribe on your device using Apple’s Tunes, Android, and other podcatchers to have this and all new episodes placed on your device as they become available.

 


 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video


 

Embrace All of Your Selves


 

Jonathan FoustIt Comes Down to This

 

When you are visited by your personal demons – your fears, anxieties, doubts and wounds – can you sit down and have tea with them?

Can you turn your attention toward the demons and explore what you can learn about yourself?

For many reasons, we often can’t. But the intention to investigate that which is between you and feeling free can sometimes result in new possibilities where none previously existed.

 


 

The acronym RAIN can be helpful.

 

R = Recognize or Realize what is happening

 

A = Accept or Allow your experience to be what it is

 

I = Investigate or be Intimate with what is here

 

N = When we can do the above, you may begin to experience a degree of

Non-attachment, Non-judging and Natural awareness

 

 

As I mentioned, sometimes we can’t shift unpleasant sensations, emotions or mental conditions easily or quickly.  Over time, with patience, consistency and presence, we begin to feel more confidence that we can be with whatever arises.

Jonathan Foust

 


 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video


 

Stress Accelerates Aging. Exercise & Meditation Help.

 


 


Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn

Professor Elizabeth Blackburn is the discoverer of telomeres, tiny units of DNA at the ends of chromosomes that protect and stabilize our genetic blueprints. Telomeres seem to act as a biological clock that limits the lifespan of cells–and of ourselves.

 


 

… psychological stress actually ages cells, which can be seen when you measure the wearing down of the tips of the chromosomes, those telomeres. … We looked at the measures for cardiovascular disease — bad lipid profiles, obesity, all that stuff. The women with those had low telomerase. … Researchers have found that the brain definitely sends nerves directly to organs of the immune system and not just to the heart and the lower gut.

 

A CONVERSATION WITH ELIZABETH H. BLACKBURN
Finding Clues to Aging in the Fraying Tips of Chromosomes
New York Times
July 3, 2007

 


… mindfulness meditation techniques appear to shift cognitive appraisals from threat to challenge, decrease ruminative thought, and reduce stress arousal. Mindfulness may also directly increase positive arousal states. … meditation may have salutary effects on telomere length by reducing cognitive stress and stress arousal and increasing positive states of mind and hormonal factors that may promote telomere maintenance.

Can meditation slow rate of cellular aging?
Cognitive stress, mindfulness, and telomeres.

Epel, Daubenmier, Moskowitz, Folkman, & Blackburn
University of California San Francisco
Department of Psychiatry August, 2009


 

 

The findings also suggest that exercise may prevent this damage. ,,, Among those who exercised, perceived stress was unrelated to telomere length.

Exercise May Prevent Impact of Stress on Telomeres, A Measure of Cell Health
UCSF News
April 4, 2011 

 


 

See free, easy Meditation Instructions on this blog.

 


Meditation for Managers video