Somatic Mindfulness: A Practice to Develop Authentic Whole-Self Leadership.

(Note: this is part 3 of our 4-part series, about unlocking more of our hidden potential. You can read part 1 here and part two here. Now, onward!)

In the last installment of this series, we talked about how Somatic movement can be used to unlock your next 1% more of your potential. 

To quickly recap, somatic movement, generally speaking, is performed consciously with the intention of focusing on, and connecting, with the internal experience (in the body) rather than the external appearance or result of the movement.  

The key benefit is, somatic movement allows us to integrate body and mind and develop new neural patterns, or ways of thinking and feeling, impacting how we lead self and others.

You may have heard of somatic yoga, somatic experiencing, somatic psychology, somatic therapy, or somatic dance therapy.  You may have even heard of somatic education. 

And in just a minute we'll talk about somatic mindfulness…

But first, what is mindfulness, anyway? 

Simply put, mindfulness is any practice that allows for mind-body connection and integration to take place. It can include slow movement or stillness. 

When movement is involved, it becomes “somatic” mindfulness… more on that in a minute.

Either way, it is the “mindful” element that is key.

Mindfulness creates a mind-body integration and connection that enable us to self-lead more effectively. 

Ok, I know you’re probably thinking, “I can’t afford to take more time out of my day to sit and be mindful. It feels unproductive.”

But, before you let your busy-brain shut down the idea of adding another thing to your list...

Consider this -- 

In today’s hectic culture, it’s not about managing time, as much as managing and protecting personal energy, which is linked to what we are thinking, feeling, and sensing in the present moment.

Here is where we find the root of burnout, which directly impacts performance and effectiveness. Restoring energy is one of the reasons why mindfulness needs to be a leadership practice. 

Would you go a day without charging your phone, or a week without putting gas in your car?

Exactly.

And what’s more -- all of the thoughts and feelings you have, the automatic ones that show up as you interact throughout your day-- those are all riding along the surface of your consciousness. 

Mindfulness facilitates deeper thinking, deeper feeling, and uncovers drives, motivations, and context that can all be used to live and lead with more courage, awareness, and compassion.So, really, the question should be, who can afford NOT to take the time to pause,

be still, and listen?

What is Somatic Mindfulness?

Somatic mindfulness combines an element of movement to your mindfulness practice allowing  your body and mind to integrate fully and fluidly. 

It can include a combination of poses (like in Yoga), breath work, dance, and more. 

By adding an element of movement and consciously observing your internal status, you can activate a powerful mind-body connection that can lead to deep insight.

Becoming a mindful, authentic, Whole-Self Leader, in essence, is to allow the experience of deeper thinking and reflection to inform choices on how one wants to think, feel, and behave. 

It allows the present moment to be an Advisor to our propensity to make decisions based on past or future concerns or goals. 

It opens up new possibilities and opportunities to innovate and drive change, collaboratively.

The bottom line is… 

Whether you incorporate Somatics into your mindfulness practice or not (and you definitely should!), you need a committed mindfulness practice if you want lead authentically.

Mindfulness is about becoming present with the internal and external experience you are having without judgement. By allowing “what is” (the present moment), to be, to inform you, and to connect you, human creativity, compassion, and courage is accessed. 

A “reset”, if you will, occurs. The practice of letting go is strengthened when embodying authentic ways of being and doing without judgement. Choosing a story that serves you and empowers you is, in my opinion, is the option that arises in “present moment” connections. It’s an opportunity to choose a response and belief that aligns with who you want to be, and really are. 

This setting is what allows us to rewire our brain, intentionally, vs. allowing the circumstances, culture, and experiences to do it for us. It genuinely connects the practitioner with one’s authenticity, essences, and values. 

You may say, it connects oneself with the “spiritual being” inside our body. It summons generative wisdom and courageous action via whole-self intelligence, our head, heart, and gut, and cultivates the integration of these.

The practice of forgiving, loving, non-judging and accepting ourselves, enables us to be more compassionate and inclusive with others.

Becoming a leader with mind-body awareness can be a way to explore and open up the next 1% of the iceberg. I believe this is one of the skill sets to facilitate coherent, resilient, and inclusive teams, organizations, and the way to collaboratively create a better world for generations to come.  

In the next installment of this 4-part series, Journey to the Next 1%, we'll look at how you can use Strengths-based Leadership to develop resilient, coherent, and inclusive cultures and high-functioning teams. 

 We specialize in helping teams and organizations understand and implement practices that cultivate the power of interdependence.

The Wellsiliency™ Institute has developed a series of interdependent courses to comprehensively address the knowledge and skills leaders and teams need to build strengths-based values-driven performance cultures where all experience belonging.

Is cultivating a deliberate culture that leaves a lasting legacy of positive impact in the lives of others important to your organization?

Our institute has designed five program pillars to help leaders be well and lead well through a skill progression from Whole-self Intelligence™ integration to boost resilience and confidence, strengths-based wellbeing, strengths-based team building, strengths-based leadership, and psychological safety to unleash collaboration.

We don't believe in providing superficial programs; instead, we strive to become your collaborative partner by equipping your leaders with the skills they need to create meaningful, enduring outcomes. Our ultimate goal is to help you build a legacy of leadership excellence that will make a real difference in your organization's success.

Contact us to request our 4 page FACT SHEET to learn how our comprehensive 5 PILLAR PROGRAM helps leaders create interdependent teams and organizations.  

Let’s partner to create a more harmonious and sustainable future, where cooperation and mutual support lead to thriving.