A Lifesaver in the Workplace: Transforming work and lives with Mindfulness.

10 years ago, I almost died at work… 

Let me explain.

In 2013, I was recruited to southeastern Pennsylvania from the Midwest, excited to begin the next phase of my career. Upon accepting my new position, I landed in a hostile business merger that not only changed my life, but almost ended it. Long hours, threatening emails, explosive meetings, and interpersonal dysfunction drove me to a state of stress I didn’t know was possible.

My new career, new home, and new life were all causes for celebration, but the eustress they generated on top of the toxic pool of workplace stress I was drowning in created the perfect storm.

I told myself I needed to take control of what was happening around me, so I worked harder, longer, and dug in deeper, trading self-care for self-preservation. My mind kept driving me while my body fought to keep up.

I spoke with my supervisor, explaining how I struggled with the load and stress of managing it all. They told me I should “go shopping”. 

I developed stress acne and went to a dermatologist who prescribed a medication that my body adversely reacted to, and mind perceived as life threatening. One moment I was sitting in a meeting reviewing budget numbers, the next I was asking someone to call 911. 

I was forever changed by what happened to me.

I didn’t think I would live through the months that followed. I could not find comfort in my own skin. I could barely sleep, barely eat, and no matter what I did, I could not feel “myself”.  Neuroscience defines it as a brain injury caused by limbic impairment. Many refer to it as a mental breakdown. For me, it was the end of my life as I knew it.

Then I was introduced to mindfulness.

A therapist recommended Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, the most researched Mindfulness program in the world. 

With expert guidance, I learned to focus on my breath and use it as a tool to hack into my nervous system, eliminating panic attacks and regulating my anxiety. I became aware of the unhealthy thoughts which shaped my experiences. I made space for the discomfort I was feeling physically and emotionally. I awakened to each present moment whether “good” or “bad” and sat with it, through it, and stopped resisting. I began to view my internal environment as our external one, always changing, always evolving, impermanent.

Mindfulness teachers gave me hope to live, and the practices they taught me saved my life.

Armed with my new knowledge and skills, I decided to bring mindfulness to my team at work. I risked ridicule and failure in doing so, but not only was my team open to creating a healthier and safer work environment through Mindfulness, our performance improved! We hit annual goals, our employee survey scores improved, and team members thrived by being part of an inclusive and accepting environment as they found more safety in themselves and each other. 

Almost one in five employees surveyed through the Work in America Survey released by the Surgeon General’s Office report working in a very or somewhat toxic workplace. The World Health Organization has developed Guidelines on Mental Health at Work and state that work can be a protective factor for mental health, while it can also contribute to worsening mental health. According to Gallup’s Global Workplace poll, U.S. workers are some of the most stressed in the world, and the American Psychological Association reports 76% of adults have experienced health impacts due to stress, and it is costing the U.S. over $300 Billion a year.

Mindfulness Training makes leaders better, and companies that offer mindfulness practices reduce employee stress, improve focus, enhance creativity, and create safe work environments that fuel productivity. No work done with a busy mind is the best version of that work, and a work environment riddled with toxicity is a recipe for dysfunction and breakdowns of communication, of businesses, and most importantly, of people.

This is why I founded HuemanWorks.

Over the past decade, I have studied Mindfulness Meditation from leading Mindfulness experts in the world. I have paired my experience as a high-level leader with a passion for teaching Mindfulness practices that transform the way you breathe, think, move, and feel.

At HuemanWorks, we use the most researched mindfulness-based practices to equip you with the tools needed to mindfully work and live. Research shows mindfulness practices in the moments you need them are most effective and we’ll create a customized program best for your individual or team needs. It’s not about sitting with your eyes closed for long periods of time, it’s about opening your eyes and bringing Mindfulness practices to work and the rest of your life.

Take a breath and explore all we have to offer at www.huemanworks.com.