Many years ago, I remember listening to Speaking of Faith host Krista Tippett’s interview with Thích Nhất Hạnh, Vietnamese Zen monk, poet, and peacemaker. While I’m not a Buddhist, a lot of what “brother Thầy” says rings true for me. (Thầy is Vietnamese for teacher, and they call him that affectionately.)

One thing in particular he talks about is the Buddhist practice of mindfulness, the act of paying attention to whatever is happening in your life while staying in the moment. Some people think it’s about removing yourself from reality. But in fact, as he tells us:

True mindfulness is not an evasion of any kind.
It’s a serene encounter with reality.

Benefits of mindfulness at work

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Just a quickie …

It’s not just that we didn’t get something — like a job or a raise or a promotion — that drives us crazy. It’s the wanting. Wanting more. Wanting different.

Then again … wanting also motivates us. Without wanting, would we strive for new things or just accept life as it is and never look for more than we have?

Aah! To find that sweet balance of wanting more, while still peacefully accepting what is. And using that open mind state as a starting point for pursuit of the more. Without letting the “what isn’t” weigh us down.

Now that’s truly zen at work. And quite possibly the key to finding true happiness. Just something to think about. 🙂

About the author…

Ronnie Ann, founder of Work To the Wise and Work Coach Cafe, bases her real-world advice on her many years as an organizational consultant where she helped interview and hire people, added to a certificate from NYU in Career Planning & Development, as well as her many adventures as a serial job seeker.

As far as I know, there are no colleges or college majors preparing soon-to-be graduates for hot reception jobs. And yet many of us have held that often under-appreciated and undervalued honor of being a receptionist. I’ve done it — even after I had my MBA — when I was between jobs and needed extra money.

I actually enjoyed it. It’s important work that makes a real difference to almost everyone we come in contact with. And there are many many more similarly important and likewise undervalued jobs.

To paraphrase Rodney Dangerfield, despite the pivotal roles receptionists play in the day-to-day operation of a business, all too often “We get no respect!”

Remember to wash your bowl

Hang in with me. This actually does relate to being a receptionist. A while back, I found this wonderful Zen teaching story (Zen kōan) on Build a Better Buddha:

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