Take Care of Your Brain

 “The energy of the mind is the essence of life." ~ Aristotle, The Philosophy of Aristotle ~

Consider physical exhaustion.  What does it do to you?  Do you become slower?  Is it harder to breathe?  Do you become clumsy?  Did you have accidents?  Consider, now, mental exhaustion.   What does it do to you?  Do you become mentally slower?  Is it hard to concentrate?  Do you become forgetful?  Do you make mistakes?   Physical and mental energy are often connected but sometimes they are not.  When you are physically exhausted and it effects your mental state, quite simply, get some sleep and you can think again.  But, what if you are not physically tired but mentally tired?  Sleep is not the answer.   Instead, take a mental break. What do you do to energize your brain?  Exercise, play with a pet, get something eat, play a game or better yet meditate?  Because, what will you achieve with a tired mind?  Effective leaders will take mental breaks to energize their thinking and create insight.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will find the time to take mental breaks to energize my mind.

Strength Through Authenticity

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld ~

How hard are you trying to be someone you are not?  Perhaps you admire someone's strengths and so you attempt to be more like them.  Maybe you aren't happy with who you are and try to hide who you are from others.  Conceivably, there is also the idea that  you don't know who you are, so you mimic those around to fit into a certain crowd.   True leaders take the time to understand who they are and they don't hide it from anyone.  Being mindful and meditating can help you gain more understanding of yourself.  As a leader, your real strengths can only manifest themselves if you stay true to your authentic self.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will be authentic to myself and others.