A641.7.3.RB Appreciating Your "Real Self"

 Write up a Reflection Blog integrating the module textbook and workbook content with your personal findings. Did you discover any surprises from your outputs? If so, what were they? If not, why do you think this happened?

Appreciating Your Real Self


Melissa D. Burns 


After completing the mindfulness exercises in our Becoming a Resonant Leader workbook, I found that my answers were very consistent with my feelings and expectations of myself.  The exercises included taking stock in what I consider of greatest worth in my life and considering what I like and dislike about my current life (Boyatzis et al., 2008).  The exercises had me reflect on my personal medicine wheel and how I am caring for my mind, body, spirit and emotions (Boyatzis et al., 2008).  In addition, the exercises had me chart a path and consider what changes I need to make in order to achieve the balance that I want in my life (Boyatzis et al., 2008).  

These mindfulness exercises come at a time of transition in my life where I have not been working for almost four years.  I took time away from a 15 year career to become a mother and to complete my MBAA.  When considering my current life, I must look at my path towards whatever is next for me professionally and how it will balance with my family life.  I transitioned from being a full-time airshow display pilot to being a full-time mom.  My children just turned one and three and I am excited at the opportunities that are starting to arise for my career, but am cautious not to overcommit and sacrifice the time that I have with my children.  

I found that I have a consistent stressor financially and it is one of my biggest barriers.  I also find that time management is another of my biggest barriers.  I do pretty well at balancing my emotional life with my kids and my health and fitness with my running, but would like to find a way to make more time for my husband and balance out my running fitness with more yoga and strength training.  I am not happy with my current state of unemployment and have a strong desire to find a way to get back to work, while still raising and not sacrificing this time with my children.  My values of family and being authentic and passionate are consistent with my goals and are reflected in my desired path to my version of balance.  I would like to find work that drives my passion and builds on my vision of inspiring others while allowing me to continue to be a full time mom.  

For me to chart my path towards my desired balance I need to set specific goals.  In addition, I need to find ways to get better quality rest and manage my time and money more efficiently.  I may have to sacrifice some leisure time and any unnecessary spending to put towards getting a job and relieving the financial stress that our family is feeling. 

“Mindfulness is the capacity to be fully aware of all that one experiences inside the self-body, mind, heart, spirit-and to pay full attention to what is happening around us-people, the natural world, our surroundings, and events (Boyatzis & McKee, 2008).”  

Meditating and using my runs to work on my awareness and connection to self and the people and environment around me will help me to continue to grow in mindfulness.  As I am presented with  opportunities, I need to be cautious not to get single focused or tunnel vision on these opportunities and I must be sure to remain in the present moment and aware of how the path that I choose and the decisions that I make will impact my family and those around me.  It is easy to get excited when you have been waiting for years to get back to work, but being mindful of how my life has changed and how my career will affect my husband and children will play an even larger role in my decisions than will my passion.  I am fully aware that my life has changed dramatically and that my path to balance will look different than it did before having my children.   

Looking ahead, I need to consider how going back to a career will work after having my children.  Several things that I can do to prepare myself includes practicing my new routine, getting as much rest as I can, making time for my family and keeping it together when I am at work (Capetta & Herring, 2007).  These seem very basic, but they are true!  In addition, having perseverance and patience with myself and just continuing to hang in there are equally important (Capetta & Herring, 2007).  This might mean taking my kids to a training camp while my husband is out of town for work and figuring out how to balance my flying and watching them at the same time.  I did this with my daughter, but I haven’t done it with her and my son as of yet.  This could mean taking a breath when I feel emotionally charged and reminding myself that my reactions will impact my future and my family and my success.  I don’t like to play politics, but this is part of the game and being aware of those in my industry and the environment in which we work is part of my mindfulness journey.    

Dealing with politics and navigating them mindfully is one of my biggest challenges and barriers to success.  I am usually unwilling to play the game and that puts me in a position of having no power and being at the mercy of those who are in the position of decision making (Admin, 2017).  Just being a good pilot, performer and athlete is not enough, I need to work on my mindful political game.  My approach this time around is going to be to know the rules of the political game and to use it as a tool rather than seeing it as a threat (Admin, 2017).  I plan to take a smarter and more mindful approach to my career in aerobatics and aviation as a mother, because my success will mean better balance and security for my family and that makes it worth stepping beyond my comfort zone.   

References

Admin. (2017).  How to Navigate Politics in the Workplace.  Institute for Mindful Leadership.  Retrieved from https://instituteformindfulleadership.org/navigate-politics-workplace/

Boyatzis, R.; Johnston, F.; & McKee, A. (2008).  Becoming a Resonant Leader Develop Your Emotional Intelligence, Renew Your Relationships, Sustain Your Effectiveness.  Boston:  Harvard Business Review Press.  

Boyatzis, R. E., & McKee, A. (2005). Resonant leadership: Renewing yourself and connecting with others through mindfulness, hope, and compassion. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

Capetta, A. & Herring, A. (2007).  Going Back to Work After Baby.  Retrieved from https://www.parents.com/parenting/work/life-balance/going-back-to-work-after-baby/

 

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