In previous blog post in this series – How To Achieve Work-Life Balance Through Meditation and Mindfulness, we discussed how to prioritize your tasks and live in the moment. We also learnt how to block distractions so that you can be mindful of yourself and your tasks. This, as mentioned, helps you work towards a balanced work and personal life (work-life balance).
This blog will be a bit different. It shares inspirational, brilliant quotes that will inspire you to make mindfulness a constant part of your life. Using that you can rev up your focus, engagement, performance, and productivity.
“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.”
Thích Nhất Hạnh
This beautiful quote is by Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the most renowned Buddhist monks and mindfulness practitioners. It will remind you that the only thing you have complete control over is the person you are right this second.
The moment you are living in, breathing in, and experiencing right now is your reality. Everything else does not matter. It has either existed or is yet to exist, both of which aren’t your present. This is a notion mentioned several times in my works.
Print and pin-up this quote at your work desk. Read/say it out verbally every time you recall your slip-ups and bad days at work. Also at times when you worry about how you may lose your job, not turn in a project or time, or experience other tensions related to your future.
This quote will help connect you to the present moment, re-center your perspective. It will help you work on the tasks at hand with focus and determination.
“Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that, and all will be well.”
Jack Kornfield
This quote is by Jack Kornfield, an American teacher, author, and practitioner of Vipassana. He emphasizes the importance of coming to terms with whatever has happened so that you can treat it as a bygone. And as the wise saying states, “We should let bygones be bygones.”
Every time your problems and mistakes 0f the past trouble you, read this quote several times —do so loudly. It’ll help you focus on the present, be mindful of present your tasks and blessings, and work happily.
“Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.”
Stephen Hawking
In this quote, Physicist, author, and cosmetologist Stephen Hawking talks about the significance of work in life.
Every time you feel demotivated at work, think of how your job/business adds meaning to your life. Concentrate on the benefits of the work you do, and be grateful for it.
Doing this will rekindle your motivation, which will quickly help you get back to work with a newfound sense of gratitude and motivation.
“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee is a renowned martial arts instructor, author, actor, and director. Here he talks about how overthinking keeps us from being productive and completing our tasks on time. When it is time to take action, go through the task, recall this quote, and get started with what you need to do right away.
Taking immediate action will keep you from overthinking and slipping into analysis paralysis. Always take meaningful action right away so that you can improve your productivity.
“If you have time to whine, then you have time to find a solution.”
Dee Dee Artner
Here author Dee Dee Artner talks about how ‘whiners’ should focus more on finding a solution for their problems. This quote will prove invaluable in instances where you tend to fixate on your problems, leaving you feeling stuck in a rut.
Remember that mindfulness is about focusing on the present, not the past. Therefore, whenever you find yourself stressing over a problem, focus your awareness on finding a fix for the issue troubling you.
“Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.”
Dale Carnegie
In the blog post titled, How To Achieve Work-Life Balance Through Meditation and Mindfulness, we talked about setting priorities. Well, this quote by Dale Carnegie, an author, writer, and lecturer, reiterates that point by reminding you to do your hard tasks first.
Always work on your most important tasks first; it’ll give you a quick productivity injection. Completing your important task first will also motivate you to tend to the remaining tasks passionately and to complete your work on time.
“Altogether, the idea of meditation is not to create states of ecstasy or absorption, but to experience being.”
Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation expert, He reinforces the notion that meditation is simply about being in the moment and embracing it with an accepting and nonjudgmental attitude.
Whenever you notice your mind’s preoccupation with what’s passed or yet to come, connect to this moment. Remind yourself why working on what you’re working on mindfully matters.
Anchor yourself to the moment by focusing on what you are doing. This will help you connect better with your work, enjoy it, and do it more effectively.
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult; we just need to remember to do it.”
Sharon Salzberg
Sharon Salzberg is a Bestselling author and meditation practitioner. In this quote she states that the number one reason why we fail to be mindful in our daily lives is forgetfulness.
Get into the habit of consciously reminding yourself to stay connected to the present moment. Embrace and focus on what you are doing and experiencing. Conscious effort exercised every moment of every day can help you cultivate a mindful state of mind. That will work wonders for your wellbeing, productivity, and success.
“You cannot control the results; only your actions.”
Allan Lokos
We often fret about the results of a certain project we worked on or whether we’ll get that big promotion at work and similar concerns.
In the quote above, Allan Lokos, founder of Community Meditation Center, a Vipassana (Insight) meditation center, reminds you of how the only thing in your control is your actions, not the results.
Work hard, passionately, and enthusiastically; leave the results to the universe: it will only repay you with greater abundance.
“The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.”
Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell is an American economist and social theorist. He states a truth that we all know but are unwilling to admit to ourselves: unnecessary meetings are often the most unproductive.
If you don’t want to be in that category, mindfully analyze the importance of different meetings you hold during your workday. Then slice out all unnecessary ones.
Stay up-to-date with team members through email and memos. That way everyone has ample time to focus mindfully on work, which shall increase overall productivity.
Don’t just enjoy these quotes; apply them to your life so that you can achieve results. Better the results, the more chances you stand for a promotion, as you will find out in the next post.
In my book – How To Be Mindful Of Thoughts: Steps To Achieving Mindfulness And Living In The Moment (Buddha on the Inside Book 3), I discuss various other approaches you can use to increase mindfulness. Get your copy and see your productivity at work increase rapidly.
Written with beginners in mind, It will teach you:
- The basics of mindfulness, including what it really is, what it entails, how it works and more
- Why you need to nurture mindfulness
- How mindfulness and leadership coexist
- How to transform your life with different mindfulness techniques
- How to observe your thoughts, manage your emotions and feel good with mindfulness-based meditative techniques
- How to make mindfulness part of your everyday life to derive all its benefits
…And so much more!
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