Emotional well-being as the key to success

COVID-19 has changed all of us.  People more freely admit they are feeling stressed and burned out, perhaps because it is seen as more acceptable given all the changes and challenges most of us have faced these past couple years. 

Companies, fortunately, are beginning to realize this; corporate cultures are starting to change. In the pre-COVID world, working well past a 40-hour week was the norm for many.  Many people looked to corporate role models like Elon Musk who bragged about how little sleep he needed, or Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, who returned to work two weeks after having her first baby. 

But when COVID hit us, people began to realize how life could change at the drop of a hat and that there are no certainties anymore– even death could happen without warning.  Self-care has become more acceptable.   People began waking up to the fact that there was more to life than climbing the corporate ladder at the expense of family and even one’s own health. 

Happiness is no longer the end goal to aspire to after many years of hard work.  Rather, people are more aware that happiness is most meaningful when it involves living in the present, being fully committed to the moment and even finding acceptance when things aren’t going well and are not easily changed.   Happiness is not that elusive state of mind.  Rather, the key to happiness is making a concerted effort to noticing the small, pleasurable moments like a gorgeous sunset or a warm cup of tea.  It is also about being kinder to others and being gentle and more accepting of oneself.  Even accepting negative emotions can be important, noticing them rather than expending sometimes futile energy to try to keep them at bay. 

By being more aware, you are empowering yourself.  When you pay more attention to your inner emotional experiences and accept whatever comes up, you are being mindful and  you will find it easier to give yourself support and nurturance.  When you are able to do this on a more consistent basis, you will have profound and lasting benefits.  You will be happier.  And a by-product of that happiness could well be more success in your relationships and your work.  Research shows that happier people are more productive at work.  When coworkers feel more emotionally supported, they collaborate together and can be more successful. 

When you start to let go of those unrealistic demands that you have traditionally placed upon yourself, you may well find you are more compassionate towards yourself.  You will better endure setbacks and to learn from your mistakes and try a different approach the next time.