6 Lessons • 31m • Sharon Salzberg

Finding Real Happiness at Work

The average American works 1,700 hours annually, but Buddhist meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg suggests that instead of reserving relaxation for weekends, we should incorporate mindfulness into our daily lives for greater happiness and connection both at work and home.

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A collage with four panels: hands typing on a keyboard, a pink smiley face, geometric leaf shapes, and a grayscale portrait of a woman, all on an orange background.

Mindfulness, a Misunderstood Quality

Mindfulness, often seen as a stress-reduction tool in the West, is fundamentally about self-reflection and compassion, leading to wisdom that enhances our actions and relationships without diminishing our edge or making us complacent.

A Growth Model for Meditation Practice

In this lesson, Sharon Salzberg outlines meditation as a progressive practice that helps beginners in the business world develop concentration and insight, ultimately empowering them to act skillfully and remain present amidst changing emotions.

Resilience Principles

In her lesson, Salzberg emphasizes fostering organizational meaning through individual and institutional commitments to compassion, self-care, and resilience, while highlighting the importance of balance to prevent collective burnout.

Purposeful Pauses

Sharon Salzberg emphasizes that while negative feelings are not problematic, acting on them is; mindfulness training helps cultivate awareness of emotions through techniques like "purposeful pauses" and "stealth meditations" to foster inner wisdom before responding to situations.

Compassionate Leadership

Sharon Salzberg teaches that compassion is a skill requiring balance and practice, especially for leaders, and guides participants through essential questions and a loving-kindness meditation to cultivate this vital quality.

Organizational Vision

In this lesson, Sharon Salzberg teaches how to integrate interdependence into organizational culture through guided reflection, encouraging participants to recognize their impact on the world and redefine success in an interconnected context.

The average American with a full-time job works 1,700 hours a year. Yet many of us outsource our relaxation to the weekends. Buddhist meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg says a healthier approach is to use mindfulness to seek happiness and connection with others in the workplace as well at home.

Learning Objectives

Explain the benefits of mindfulness.
Approach meditation with a growth mindset.
Incorporate stealth meditations into your daily routine.
Cultivate resilience and compassion.
Identify your interdependence on others.

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