The Art of Pausing: A Personal Exploration of Mindful Leadership

adaptable leadership barbara schindler conscious leadership emotional endurance leadership skills mindful leadership self leadership

Slow down to speed up - Split image: Lightbuld with overactive mind / woman at desk in meditation - Empowering Leadership Teams

"Mindfulness is the art of living fully in each moment, not just racing towards a destination."

Imagine that a shift to self-awareness in the present moment can change everything. So many leaders find themselves caught in a cycle of constant motion, their mind racing from one task to another, always focused on the destination rather than the journey. They describe their professional life like a runaway train, careening forward with little awareness or intention.

With the gentle practice of the SEED approach to mindful leadership, everything will change.

The first lesson of SHIFT is surprisingly simple yet profound: slow down to speed up. This isn't about grinding to a halt, but about creating intentional pauses that bring you fully into the present moment. By focusing on your breath and the sensations in my body as you breathe in and out —whether sitting in a chair or standing on a concrete floor— you can begin to disconnect from the mental chatter that has control of your attention and distracts you from being truly present.

SEED Mindfulness teaches you that leadership isn't just about external actions, but about your internal state. By developing self-awareness, you can transform how you perceive and respond to challenges. The primitive part of your brain that was always in fight-or-flight mode begins to quiet down, replaced by a more centered, compassionate way of being.

The key is learning to shift your perspective. Instead of seeing change as a threat, you begin to welcome it with curiosity. In this mindful practice you discover that you are hardwired for empathy, kindness, and curiosity—qualities that were always within you but often buried under stress and reactivity.

This practice isn't about achieving perfection. It's a continuous journey of mastery, of constantly returning to the present moment, of choosing how you want to show up in any situation. By pausing, breathing, and connecting with your inner calm, you will find a more powerful way of leading—not just others, but also yourself.

For anyone feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a cycle of constant doing, I invite you to try this: Take a breath. Feel the sensations of calm and peace within you. Be present in the moment. Your leadership potential is waiting in this expansive space of self-awareness.