Finding your Zen at Work

This past weekend, I did something I never thought I would do: I hypnotized a group of successful Type A business owners on a lawn in New Hampshire at their annual offsite.

Say what?!

Oh yes. That was my reaction when they approached me last month asking for a “Mind/Body/Spirit” offsite so they could take a break from the pressures of business life.

Being a freshly minted business owner myself, I could not say no. I am still carrying a balance on my business line of credit that exists to support my affection for swanky Norwegian office furniture, and have recently expanded the staff. It was a say yes now, and figure out how the heck to do THAT later moment.

As I sat down to write the proposal, my mental process was linear. They KNOW I am a business consultant, not a yoga instructor or Reiki Master… they must want a traditional offsite that is just a bit more creative. Going with that, I proposed activities like building a bike for charity, and creating storyboards of their current state businesses.

They weren’t biting. They didn’t want this offsite to feel like work. No taking notes. No tools. No stopwatch timing them while they frantically tried to solve puzzles.

What if I bring in my business partner Rita to co-facilitate? She is a personal development counselor and more of a Zen-gal than me. They will love her!

Nope. “We want one facilitator only, and we want it to be you,” said the business owners.

Rats! What if we opened with a morning of Qi-Gong? I’ll bring in a Qi-Gong instructor to kick us off! I didn’t even know what Qi-Gong was, but it sounded pretty Zen to me.

Nope. “We will be happy with whatever you come up with,” said the business owners. No pressure there!

After three swings and three misses, I needed to nail it this time and design what they asked for: an 8-hour “Mind/Body/Spirit” day led by me only. Now it just so happens, I am a non-fiction junkie with a library of books on cultural anthropology, social psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and even metaphysics. And unbeknownst to the business owners, I am certified in hypnosis. I love teaching others how to tap into the sub-conscious to self-program changes in behavior and thinking. It felt a bit risky, but I had to go with it. The moment I quieted my mind, opened up and allowed the Mind/Body/Spirit content to materialize, it did. As my fingers tapped the first word, the rest just flowed. This was part of what I knew I had to teach them.

I designed an interactive day, which included an overview of NLP, a segment on increasing intuition in business and an hour of holistic relaxation techniques. From there, I would teach them about hypnosis, and then lead them in a session that would remove energy blocks inhibiting them. I would end with an “inspired writing session” where they would write and seal a letter to their future selves.

The offsite would be a blend of all the “cool non-business stuff” that I have learned and personally use to live a happier, balanced life at work and home. My goal was to expose these successful business owners to a variety of things that they could incorporate into their daily routines such as breathing techniques that reduce blood pressure, body language that boosts confidence and techniques for mentally reframing situations.

Prepared and excited, I made my trek to New Hampshire.

The Mind/Body/Spirit offsite became an experience for the business owners, as well as for me. I took them out of their comfort zones as they shook to Latin dance music to “find their center”. They took me out of my comfort zone by challenging me to create this kind of offsite and see them in a new light. It was exactly the day they needed. It was also what I needed - a push to bringing holistic tools into the world of business where they are perhaps needed the most.

On my drive back to Connecticut, I thought about these business owners. This is a new breed of business owners who have figured out there is more to business than an intense work ethic and competitive spirit. As they aspire to continually improve, already using their Myers-Briggs types and DISC profiles, they are now reaching for the next level of awareness and growth. Rather than looking externally, they are turning within to tap into their full potential! They are on to something huge!

Does it work? Try this simple exercise, and judge for yourself. First, jot down one word that describes how you feel when you think about the day you have ahead of you. Now, take a deep breath in for a count of 4, hold your breath for a count of 7, then exhale for a count of 8. Repeat this four more times… And now how do you feel when you think about your day?

Here is another one. De-clutter your desk. Throw away newspapers. Toss pens you keep around but don’t like. Junk or file away the stacks of paper you don’t need sitting on your desk. The more open space you have around you, the easier it will be for you to focus. Symbolically, you will appear more organized. Energetically, your mental load will lighten.

As the business world spins faster and we take on more responsibilities than ever before, we become disconnected from ourselves. We do not take time to just be present and breathe. Here is the secret: it is easier than you think. You don’t need to drive to New Hampshire with a yoga mat. You don’t need an hour a day. You don’t even have to change your routine. You just have to decide you matter, and allow yourself a few moments each day to turn within, quiet the mind, and tap into the best you…

…life feels better when you do.

Delanea Davis is the Managing Partner at Solstice Strategy Partners, a personal and professional development business that brings holistic wellness into life at work and home. Visit www.solsticestrategypartners.com for more information.