As times are getting tougher in the corporate world, many are feeling the pinch. Stress impacts the way we think, feel and behave, thus affecting all aspects of our lives. The consequences of letting stress rule are nothing short of disastrous and tragic. So how can one be successful without paying the heavy price of a stressful life? This is what everyone is asking these days. The answer may be rather easy and simple.
It’s Like Riding a Bicycle
What is the secret to riding a bicycle? Balance! It’s about staying at the centre, not letting it fall to the right or left. When it’s falling on one side, you bring it to balance. When you go out of balance, you feel the pinch. Listen to that. Don’t just ignore it; acknowledge it and come to the centre. Whenever you go out of balance in any aspect of life, listen to your inner voice and come to the centre.
The secret of true success is in balancing all aspects of life without being attached or averse to any of them.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Pay Attention to Rejuvenation
First, balance your time between work and rejuvenation. Take care of your food, exercise and take time out for meditation and relaxation. Meals and meditation are recommended in the afternoon in the workplace. When people sit together and meditate for a few minutes and share a meal together, they find it refreshing and can carry on through the second half of the day with the same energy they had in the morning. The power of meditation is now being acknowledged globally with the UN declaration of Dec 21 as World Meditation Day.
Art Is Right for You
Second, take an interest in some art form. In the corporate world, you are loaded with left-brain activities like logical thinking, planning, analysis, etc. So, you need to balance the left-brain activity with the right-brain activity. Painting, music, poetry or any other kind of creative and recreational activities activate the right brain. When the two hemispheres of the brain are balanced, you can experience higher clarity, creativity, productivity, efficiency, and relaxation.
Balance Life and Work
Third, strike a work-life balance. Listen to your inner voice. If you have ignored your family, it pinches you. If you have ignored your social commitment, it pinches you. If you are ignoring your business, it pinches you. If you are ignoring your spiritual practices, it pinches you. So wherever anything pinches you, come back to the centre.
Serve the Stress Away
Fourth, do some seva (acts of service). Be helpful to people around you. It’s the best antidote to stress. You must contribute to society. When you do some act of service and kindness, it brings an immediate feeling of inner rejuvenation.
Perfect the Imperfection
Lastly, make room for imperfection. Accept a little bit of others’ imperfections as well as your own imperfections. It allows you to be more patient. It’s like the space in your house where you keep your dustbin. You need it there to keep the rest of your home clean.
