Being mindful helps in
1. Conserving energy:
As discussed earlier, being mindful is the ability to be at peace through limiting the number of thoughts that surface. A thought is a source of turbulence in the mind. When the mind is engaged in the process of constantly producing thoughts and subsequently identifying with these thoughts, there is a high level of energy that is being consumed for this process. More so, when an
individual has to perform a task at hand and is doing the task without being mindful, there is double the quantum of energy required to complete the task successfully. This is because on one hand the energy from the body is being consumed for generating the unstoppable thoughts and simultaneously energy is being consumed for directing a part of the mind in completing the task at hand. This is double consumption of energy. This is why many individuals become tired very soon when there are many distractions while doing a particular job. Multitasking is also not advised for the same reason that it can tire the person as well as not create effective results eventually. Especially in a coaching context, mindfulness is a great asset and being mindful can enable a coach to hold a number of coaching conversations without feeling physically or mentally exhausting.
2. Clarity of thought:
Needless to mention, being mindful allows for the opportunity to be open to new thoughts and ideas as there are no judgments being undertaken to evaluate the thought. The lack of judgment creates immense clarity in understanding new thoughts and integrating these with the existing learning for the mindful individual. Being mindful helps a coach in being non-judgmental and listen actively to the coachee. Being mindful helps the coach in asking powerful questions that can enable positive change in the client’s behavior patterns.
3. Invisibility:
Being mindful to a great extent creates invisibility of the individual. When the mind is in a well settled space with limited thoughts, the individual is highly receptive; the individual is also non judgmental. These qualities create a very fuzzy boundary around the individual’s ego and his or her personality traits. The fuzziness of the ego enables the individual to be almost invisible during conversations. The benefits of being invisible are witnessed largely in a coaching context where the coachee undertakes a journey of deep and sometimes difficult conversations about his inner self. There could be a number of challenges, inhibitions and insecurities that the coachee is likely to have during this journey. The more invisible the coach is, the easier it becomes to traverse this journey together. At the end of the conversation the coachee would have felt that he was talking to himself than another individual. This is a true testimony to a great coach.
4. Embrace and enable reflection:
Being mindful in coaching conversations, provides a great benefit in being able to challenge and question existing values or belief systems which are integral to an individual’s self. Mindfulness creates a safe environment in which the coachee could be urged to relook or shift in his perspective about a particular value system that he or she holds. Questioning value systems can be precarious when there are judgmental or personality characteristics of the coach that interfere with the reflection and questioning process. However when the coach is being mindful, there are no perceived threats for the coachee. This therefore allows for a safe traverse into the inner self journey.
There have been other benefits too that many have experienced in the context of coaching; however most of these benefits could be linked in some way or the other to these above four areas.
Having understood the benefits of mindfulness, it then is imperative to consider suggestive options for improving the mindfulness of individuals. The following are some techniques that have been collated from various journals and authors who have conducted extensive research on well being, happiness and optimal human performance.