Business can’t exist without non-business elements.
Seeing the non-business elements in business is learning the workings of inter-being. Nothing can exist by itself alone. Everything depends on everything else—and you need to take care of your non-business elements for your business to thrive. Your well being, your capacity to smile, rest, and breathe, as well as your ability to care for the wellbeing of your employees and family, are non-business elements; but essential to the well being of the business.
Allowing for periods of rest or deep relaxation actually increases productivity and efficiency of work by restoring well being. We come back to ourselves and release tension. Happiness, responsibility, and mindfulness are interconnected concepts. A businessperson begins the path to happiness by taking care of themselves first. With the practice of generating the energy of mindfulness, they will have the capacity to care about the well being of others.
According to Thich Nhat Hanh, the foundation of mindfulness and happiness lies in the Five Mindfulness Trainings which are a concrete expression of the practice and can be applied to daily life. They are the practice of love, compassion, and peace.
The first training is to be aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life. To commit to compassionate living and protecting living beings.
The second mindfulness training is to be aware of the suffering caused by exploitation and social injustice. To commit to living kindness, generosity, and to prevent profiting from the suffering of humans or other species.
The third training is to be aware of the ramifications caused by sexual misconduct and transgression—and to protect our safety and the integrity of society.
The fourth mindfulness training is to be aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to actively listen to others. A commitment to speak truthfully with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, hope, and conflict resolution.
The fifth is to be aware of the suffering caused by mindless consumption, committed to ingesting that which preserves peace, well being and joy in our bodies, consciousness, and the collective. Cultivating good health and well being physically, mentally, and spiritually.
We have to look deeply to develop ways to increase our stability and happiness everyday. This will be the basis for the well being and foundation of our company later on.
We know that the bottom line of business is profit. But to profit means to “benefit from”. It’s possible to make money in a way that is not destructive, that promotes more social justice and more understanding, and lessens the suffering that exists all around us. To do this, we need to be free from the pursuit of power, material wealth, control, fame, and sex. If you don’t practice mindfulness, you will be the victim of these lures.
It is feasible to work in the corporate world in a way that brings happiness both to us and others. When we are doing something for the benefit of humankind and the environment, our work has meaning. Even if it’s also making money, it has purpose because it can bring about change and well being to the world.
This is my intention with Above the Grind. To create a community of practitioners committed to improving not only themselves—but also their communities and businesses as well.
Thank you for wishing to join me in this mission! 💛
Aimee Reiss is a Colorado native, passionate about guiding leaders, challenging the status quo, empowering human potential, and inspiring well being through authenticity and intentional action. Her path has led her to an understanding and appreciation for the human condition. She is an advocate for holistic health, mindfulness, sustainable business and environment, mentorship, and Impact Investing.
Aimee is also a mother of two daughters, 9 and 11, who inspire her daily. While not immersed in motherhood, Aimee can be found spending time with the rest of the family, in her garden, and adventures in backcountry skiing, hiking, and paddle boarding.
