Today’s practice
Leading With Purpose
8 min, guided by Sean Fargo
Today is leading with purpose. Purpose is not pressure. It is orientation, the inner why that helps attention know where to go.
In your day
Before one important task today, asking: what matters most here? Then one breath, and beginning.
From Sean
The Buddha said the most powerful mindfulness practice is mindfulness of death. Sensing into this breath as if it could be the last puts things in perspective and shows what is most important to us. That is, frankly, what led me to become a monk, and later what led me to leave: the question of what I would do with this time. Purpose is what that question leaves behind.
A question to carry
What shifts when you lead from values instead of urgency?
Saved on this device only, and kept for all 28 days.
A few lines, for whatever they are worth
What matters most here?
The question clears the desk.
One breath,
and then the work,
done by someone
who knows why.
If you want more today
- Script: Intention to be Happy (PDF), to read aloud for yourself or someone else.
- Workshop: Michelle Maldonado on living and leading an integrated life, about an hour, for when you have it.
- Podcast: The Real Purpose of Mindfulness, for the drive or the walk.
Read the practice as text
Transcription
Let’s begin by taking a moment to allow your body to settle into a comfortable position (2 seconds). You may close your eyes or keep them slightly open allowing the spine to lift, the shoulders to soften (10 seconds).
Today we will explore leading with purpose (5 seconds).
Regardless of your position, whether in an organization or a family you are called on to lead at some point.
The best leaders have a sense of clarity and purpose and how they engage with the world and in how they lead others (2 seconds).They connect with people in a very human level (10 seconds).
Begin by taking a full breath in (2 seconds)and a long breath out (10 seconds).Letting your attention rest on the breath (15 seconds).
I’m now going to ask you a series of questions but instead of thinking about the questions or coming up with responses, I want you to allow the questions to just sink in like pebbles being dropped into a still pond and I want you to be sensitive to any ripples that you notice (10 seconds).
As a leader what is most important to you? (20 seconds).What are you aiming to achieve as a leader? (20 seconds).
As I ask these questions, just noticing the thoughts, feelings, and images that come to mind (2 seconds) as you breathe in and as you breathe out (15 seconds).
What are the values that guide you (30 seconds).What may be preventing you from living your values each day? (30 seconds)
Now continue breathing in and breathing out (5 seconds)bringing attention to your body (2 seconds),noticing if the mind is wandering (2 seconds)or if its attaching to any particular thoughts or feelings that arise (20 seconds).Now imagine yourself leading with purpose (5 seconds).
What does that feel like? (40 seconds)And now as we begin to re-emerge from this reflection,notice how you feel in body and mind (10 seconds)Finishing with a full deep breath in (2 seconds)and a long breath out (5 seconds)
*ding* (15 seconds).
Integrated Practice:
Write for 2 full minutes for each journaling prompt below. Once you’ve finished, take a minute to reread what you wrote and reflect.
Journaling Prompts:
1. The contributions I most want to make to the world are…2. Some ideas I have for sharing this with others around me are…
Your progress
Day by day. No streak to protect.
Kept on this device. A missed day is part of the practice: pick up where you are.
Daily by email
This is Day 24 of the 28-Day Mindfulness Challenge.
One short practice a day for four weeks, sent to your inbox each morning with the worksheet and a podcast episode to go with it. Free.