Mindful in 5 Podcast

Insight: Be Steadfast

• Spiwe Jefferson • Season 3 • Episode 87

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Are you looking for ways to stay calm and composed in the face of workplace challenges? Join us for this episode where we explore the power of being steadfast in the workplace. 

From cultivating inner calm and setting boundaries to practicing self-care and seeking support, we'll discuss practical tips and tools for staying centered no matter what the day brings. Tune in to discover how you can be steadfast and resilient in the workplace, and prioritize your mental health and wellbeing.


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Well, hello there. My name is Spiwe Jefferson and welcome to the Mindful in 5 insight for the week, a quick thought to help you operate from your peaceful path. I love stories, so today I'm going to tell you a story. 


Once upon a time, a long time ago, I took a pregnancy test and discovered that I was pregnant. It was quite the miracle, because my husband and I had been trying to conceive for 14 months. And because this was our first child, there was no guarantee that we could even have children. One of the things I remember about that day, is how my life changed forever so completely. And yet, everything outside of me stayed the same. The sun shone down, the sky was blue, the clouds continued their lazy meander across the sky, and the world kept spinning. 


Fast forward. One day, my sister called sounding incoherent, so deep was her distress. That was how I learned that our dad had had a heart attack and passed away. As I drove home that day, I remember thinking how my life had changed so completely and forever. And yet, everything outside of me stayed the same. The sun shone down, the sky was blue, the clouds continued their lazy meander across the sky, and the world kept spinning. 


Before and since then, all kinds of life changing events have happened. But each time, everything outside of me stays the same. The sun shines down, the sky is still blue, the clouds continue their lazy meander across the sky. And the world keeps spinning. 


Feel free to fill in the blanks with your own life altering situations. Maybe you got married, or divorced, you got that dream job, that dream car, maybe you moved. Maybe you received that shocking diagnosis or some other either terrible or wonderful news. And yet, even though it felt as if your world tilted on its axis, the sun kept shining, the sky was still blue, the clouds continued their lazy meander across the sky, and the world kept spinning. 


So this week, I invite you to be more like the sky, the clouds, and the world that keeps spinning no matter what happens inside. There is no day when the sun dims its shine because this horrible thing has happened. There is no day when the clouds fall out of the sky and surprise, because that thing occurred. The birds don't stop singing because your life has changed. Do you see? 


Part of the value of mindfulness is its ability to create an anchor from within that sustains you through all the ups and downs of life. Is there a world in which you can intentionally allow yourself to be influenced by positive emotion while standing firm and guarding yourself against the infection of negativity and negative emotions? 


Mindfulness can certainly help you set that intention and stick to it. It's not that you don't care, or that you become impervious to bad things that happen in life as much as it is that from that place of steadfastness, you are able to deal with whatever comes, you are able to express empathy for others without carrying that deep hurt and allowing you to infect the person that you are. And so how do you do that? 


I recommend you begin everyday with five minutes of stillness where you center yourself for your day and set your intentions. You can use affirmations like I am steadfast, I stand firm, I am perpetually positive and always optimistic. If you have situations that come up today that you know are going to test your resolve, use your morning time to visualize them as they're likely to occur. And see yourself staying calm and unshakeable and rising to each challenge with confidence and positivity. You can even visualize the people involved behaving at their worst, but you still stand firm in your steadfastness. Then take breaks throughout the day and revisit your affirmations and recommit to your resolve. 


So this week, gaze with awe upon the sun and the sky. Listen with appreciation to the birds in the trees, and set your intention to be steadfast so that the winds of negativity and painful change don't knock you over and you are better able to endure. So until next time, this is Spiwe saying Be mindful and be well.


Thank you for listening to Mindful in 5. If you enjoyed it, share it with a friend. Follow and rate it on your favorite podcast platform. Pick up your signed copy of the book and journal from SpiweJefferson.com or unsigned copies from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or wherever you get your books. Visit SpiweJefferson.com to download sample chapters of the book, watch videos and become a mindful ninja. Join us on the LinkedIn Mindful in 5 group and share your thoughts. Until next time, be mindful and be well.