Argonauta Blog

Being Present Means Being FULLY Engaged in Whatever You Are Doing

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:17:07 +0000

To be fully present means that you are completely focused, clear and equanimous. You are completely engaged with the present moment. There is no wanting this moment to be any different than it is. And when that happens, you experience and witness “magic”. Your performance becomes brilliant!

Some of you may have had the pleasure of seeing Joshua Ledet perform It’s a Mans World by James Brown on American Idol.

This was one such performance. Joshua was fully engaged – so present that he was absent. There was only the activity of performing a song. And as a result it was “magical”.

Joshua who has an excellent voice, became a clear channel without interference. And when this happens we all know it. We are moved and captivated, even mesmerized.

That is how as Mindful leaders we make the greatest impact. We do our best with full presence. And by getting out of the way, meaning not engaging our egos, we let the present moment amaze us with unforeseen opportunity.

Here is the link to Joshua’s performance. If you have not previously heard it you are in for a treat. http://earsucker.com/2012/video-joshua-ledet-performs-its-a-mans-world-on-american-idol-top-4/

I would also like to share with you another performance. It is by Sun-bong, a young Korean boy who entered Korea’s Got Talent. His story is dramatic and awe inspiring. And his singing is pure presence, pure Source. You will notice how he too is completely engaged in the “activity of singing”. This video has had more than 45 million views. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ46Ot4_lLo&feature=related

We All Have the Opportunity to be Mindful Leaders – Interview with Shelley McLean 580 CFRA News Talk Radio

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:49:00 +0000

On Monday I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Shelley McLean of 580 CFRA News Talk Radio in Ottawa. We discussed how every single person, regardless of role, has the opportunity to exhibit Mindful leadership with every interaction. By training the mind both through formal Mindfulness practice and in particular by using Mindfulness in Action strategies as you move through your day, you can hone the three attentional skill set of concentration, clarity and equanimity. This skill set present an opportunity for a more successful and fulfilling life professionally and personally.

I hope you enjoy the 5 minute interview.

Click to listen to interview Maria_Gonzales_May14

The Joys of Micro-Meditation – Globe & Mail Article – April 23, 2012

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:00:45 +0000

This week in the Globe & Mail I did an interview on Micro-Meditations or what we call Mindfulness in Action Strategies, essentially what I write about as tips for being Mindful in your day. There appears to be great interest in this topic as of late….and for good reason. If you have a formal practice, even a modest one, micro-meditations that you can do throughout your day have the potential to leverage your ability experience Mindfulness in significant ways.

If you use any opportunity to be Mindful in time you are Mindful without even trying. So create triggers for yourself that will remind you to be present. And when the trigger arises in your day, come back to this moment, right here right now.

I offer a number of suggestions for Micro-Meditations in the day in the Globe & Mail article that is attached. Janet Martin, who has been a long time participant in my Advanced Mindfulness classes, was also interviewed and offers a great tip while driving.
May your day be filled with Mindful moments.

Download Globe and Mail Article

Mindful Leadership Interview by Global TV The Morning Show – April 19, 2012

admin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:00:43 +0000

Last week I was interviewed by Global TV The Morning Show and I thought the interview might be of interest to you. We talked about various topics, including what it means to be a Mindful Leader, personal transformation and inspiring others. The topic of inspiring others is of particular interest to me because it represents a wonderful opportunity to encourage others to achieve their full potential. When we help others achieve their best the results for us as leaders are nothing short of outstanding.

Below is the link to the 6 minute video interview.

http://www.globaltoronto.com/Pages/MorningSegment.aspx?id=6442624062

Mindful Leadership Interview by Joseph Planta of thecommentary.ca

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:06:39 +0000

Last week it was my pleasure to be interviewed by Joseph Planta of thecommnetary.ca. We discussed my newly released book Mindful Leadership: The 9 Ways to Self-Awareness, Transforming Yourself, and Inspiring Others. Among other things we talked about how to apply Mindful Leadership in the world and what seems to get in the way of being fully present.

Here is the link to the interview: http://thecommentary.ca/ontheline/726-maria-gonzalez/ I hope you enjoy it.
Joseph Planta is an insightful and Mindful interviewer and he has interviewed many interesting authors and personalities. He is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. You can check out his interviews at: www.thecommentary.ca

Mindful Leadership in Action – Tip of the Week – Start Each Day by Creating a Positive Intention

admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:08:40 +0000

There are many opportunities each day to practice being positive. The first is to work with intention. You may wish to get into the habit of creating an intention for each day when you wake up. This is very simple and takes only a few moments. Imagine your day being positive, filled with opportunities to be of service, to do interesting work, to have enjoyable conversations, and so on. In addition, before an interaction you think might be challenging, take a few moments to be present and to imagine a positive outcome.

Being Positive Is an Integral Part of Being a Leader

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:48 +0000

Being positive is an integral part of being a mindful leader. Positivity is multifaceted and includes having a can-do attitude, being of service, and being grateful. It involves being a positive force in your life, your family, your organization, your community, indeed, wherever you have the opportunity to make a difference.

One of the outcomes of being positive is that you become an inspiration to those around you. You can’t set out to be inspirational; you either are or you are not in any given moment. It is an outcome of your way of being. And it’s a fallacy that only a select few can be inspirational. I’m not referring to charisma, which can be consciously cultivated and manipulated. I’m talking about truly inspiring others by whom and what you are, by saying what you mean and meaning what you say. You are inspiring when you capture the imaginations of those you lead, when you can communicate with passion. One of the most authentic ways of being passionate is to know your purpose in life. When you have a vision for your life and for your organization, it’s easy to impart that passion. In fact, you can’t help but impart it. Others will be captivated by your aspirations and your intentions. If they share the same aspirations, they will want to help you succeed. And in helping you to succeed, they become successful.

Mindful Leadership in Action – Tip of the Week – Apply Equanimity When You Feel a Need to Control

admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:17:13 +0000

Life offers many opportunities to practice equanimity every day. For example, when colleagues or subordinates are not approaching a situation the way you would, you may find yourself getting impatient or annoyed. This is a great opportunity to allow yourself to experience that annoyance from a place of equanimity and to see if you can just let it go or if you need to intervene. In these situations, reflect on whether it’s your need for control that is causing the annoyance or would the situation, project, or client really best be served by a different approach. Leaders need to be able to judge how they can add the greatest value. By approaching any situation with equanimity, they are more likely to respond without hindrances and deal exclusively with the situation at hand.

Book Launch Address Correction

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:34:42 +0000

We look forward to seeing you at the Mindful Leadership Book Launch tomorrow 6:00-7:30pm at Ben McNally Books.

Please note a correction to the address. The invitation indicated 336 Bay street.
The correct address is 366 Bay Street. My apologies for any confusion.

Have a wonderful day.

All the best,
Maria.

Ben McNally Books is a short walk from either the Queen or King Subway.

Through Equanimity We Gain and Maintain Our Personal Power

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:15:11 +0000

Equanimity develops as you train your mind, just as focus and clarity do. Equanimity is not something that you have full control over. Rather, you create the groundwork for equanimity to naturally arise in your life and in your experiences.

From an internal point of view, equanimity refers to accepting what is arising in your sensory experience without resisting or distorting it. For example, if you are angry, allow the sensations of anger to arise in your body—don’t interfere with the feel, or the physical sensations associated with your emotions.

Remember, when you experience equanimity internally, you can then choose your external response. This can mean that you choose to change the external situation you find yourself in. It can also mean that you choose to change nothing at all.

But how does equanimity manifest externally? What does it look like to others? What people see in an equanimous person is a deep calm and an even tone and temperament. The person is seen to be in total control, with sound decision making skills and judgment. He or she seems able to take facts into account, even in the heat of the moment, and to respond by addressing the issues rather than allowing things to get personal. Equanimous people are not derogatory, sarcastic, or insulting. Even when they call it as they see it, it is always about the situation, not the person.