I was at an impromptu Friday night dinner in NYC with six entrepreneurs, four of whom I had never met before. We were all at a film screening event and inspired to take our conversation further.
Someone observed how cool it was we were all in very different stages of our companies: early stage startups to seasoned veterans. One person shared the story of his startup that failed along with the emotional toll it took. We sat riveted listening to the details. I was moved this person shared so openly with mostly strangers. My heart raced as I wondered what the fate of my own startup would be. The conversation droned out as my mind went into overdrive; the runaway train of doom and gloom was barreling down the tracks of my brain. My ego reared its ugly head and whispered to me -- if this guy can't do it, there's no way you can.
I took a deep breath. I shook myself out of it -- I knew where my mind was going and it's not productive. I blurted out, "I think it doesn't matter if you have $500 in your bank account or $15 million dollars. You can experience the same levels of stress and anxiety OR the same levels of happiness and joy." One person quipped, "I know which one I'd take!" and we laughed. Someone else said, "That's what all those happiness studies show -- people with seemingly so little are often happier than hugely successful people." We had all heard this research. I took it a step further. "You can have it all or lose it all. It's a matter of how you manage your mind -- if you have the ability to keep perspective no matter how bad it gets... then you're gonna be okay."
To my total delight someone then asked who at the table mediates. Five of six hands shot up. The sixth rolled his eyes, laughed and agreed he knew he should try. I felt my heart surge. This was a sweet reminder of the power of meditation.
PRACTICE
Stop the runaway train. Entrepreneur or not, we all know those moments when we're in a mental spiral downward. Meditation helps this greatly. It provides the ability to step back and gain perspective on the most dire of situations. It does not fix problems but it allows you to worry less and find new solutions.
NEW VOCAB
Chitta Vritti (Sanskrit): mind chatter. The ping-ponging thought patterns that are often repetitive, dramatic and not helpful when they spiral around in circles. With meditation, you observe the chittas, the patterns of mental dialogue, and find the source of what's often irrational panic.
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