By Chad Hershberger

For a while now, I’ve been interested in the practice of mindfulness. Several years ago, my wife purchased me a lifetime subscription to the Calm app. It’s filled with mindfulness activities, bedtime stories for kids, relaxing music, and other tools that are to help you to live a less anxious life.

As I think about the coming year, I’ve been thinking more about trying to create a regular practice of mindfulness. So, I tried three mindful walks, using a five-minute prompt from the Calm app. As I walk, I listen to the host’s voice telling me to pay attention to my surroundings. What do I see? What do I hear? What do I smell? How does it feel physically to just walk.

It’s hard to stay focused on what I’m doing. My mind wanders and I must remember that I’m to be paying attention to the present moment. But maybe that’s the workout in all of this—continually going back to center, learning to put aside distractions, focusing on the now.
It dawned on me that leaders would benefit from mindfulness in their work. Not only do we need time to set aside distractions and be calmed by living in the present moment but keeping in mind the practice of being where you are then is important. In my context, when a staff member comes to talk about an issue, it’s important to listen, be present with them, and not let other things occupy your mind space instead. Stopping to talk to a camper and making them feel like the most important thing in that moment most likely will make an impression and be remembered for a long time.

I’m going to continue to practice this and see what it does. I noticed in my first days that I had a little more patience with my own children and I felt a little “lighter” after my mindful walks. Maybe it will become an important part of self- care and will teach me to be a better leader. For now, I must go. There’s walking and listening and being present in the moment to do!