“I get that you want to schedule prayer into your day, but do you see how calling it “Big Meeting with the Boss” might be confusing for me?”

TIPS & TRICKS

The Science of Prayer and Meditation

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“Mindfulness” has been a big buzzword in the business world over the last few years, a catchall term that includes things like reading for pleasure, attentive interpersonal behaviors, mental health, and, notably, meditation. It’s not just a fad, however; research suggests that investing in mindfulness can quickly improve performance across an organization, and some of the world’s most recognizable high performers practice some form of mindfulness. As a Christian leader, you ought to do so as well – especially prayer and meditation.

“Meditation” is a word that some Christians are uncomfortable with, but it shouldn’t be. The Lord tells Joshua to meditate on the Book of the Law. We see Isaac heading out to the field to meditate in Genesis 24. Psalms tells us that the man who meditates on God’s law is blessed.

Actually, Psalms talks about meditation quite a bit.

The point is, though we often think about meditation as solely in the purview of Buddhist monks on top of a mountain somewhere in Nepal, meditation comes in many forms and is, in fact, a deeply Christian practice, whether it be the more formalized monastic practice of Lectio Divina or simply quieting one’s heart, focusing on scripture, or listening for God in prayer. Meditation is about cutting out the distractions and busyness of life, slowing down, and being fully present in the moment, usually in silence or at least in quiet.

What is interesting is that this practice, though primarily a spiritual activity, also has measurable, real-world effects. And if you want to be healthy, productive, and creative, you shouldn’t skip out on your morning prayers and meditation. You just don’t perform well in your business when you’re stressed out, scattered, or unsettled. Thankfully, there are tried and true ways to regulate yourself so you can consistently walk into the office ready to do your best.

Research shows that meditation lowers stress, specifically cortisol levels. It can have a very positive effect on emotional and relational issues “which cannot be explained by mere relaxation or cognitive restructuring effects.” It can make us more focused and attentive. Meditation has been shown to have a positive impact on cognitive and non-cognitive functioning in such a way as to be positively correlated with engagement and possibly even job performance.

In fact, according to Harvard Business Review, more than half of American employers now offer some kind of mindfulness training to their workers – and this can have a noticeable benefit to results in the workplace, but only if the “right” kinds of meditation practice are used. Interestingly, this seems to involve meditation practices that emphasize love, forgiveness, and a servant’s mindset.

Sounds Christian to me.

Prayer and meditation reshape your brain, so don’t let it get squeezed out of your routine. First, let it be for seeking God – we absolutely have to have our priorities straight. But as a secondary matter, keep in mind that righteous living leads to good things – and that may just include productivity, focus, creativity, and emotional well-being. That has obvious implications for your work/career. God’s way really is best.

“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” – Proverbs 4:18.

 

Quick Hits

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• Americans are increasingly using their 401(k)s as emergency cash.
• Elon Musk set to release a SmartTV app to rival YouTube TV.
• National Review’s Andrew T. Walker describes the media’s “religion problem.”
• The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that it was fining evangelical college Liberty University $14 million for failure to report campus crime and for its treatment of sexual assault victims.
• CNN reports that more Americans than ever do not believe in God or a higher power, but many are still reluctant to call themselves atheists.