Do You Have A Personal Happiness Practice?

BY RHONDA VETERE

I’m a tech executive who believes in the transformative power of active meditation through disconnection from devices. Seems counter-intuitive, I know. But movement is a non-negotiable part of my life outside of the office, and I am certain it has made me a sharper decision-maker and a more effective leader both inside the office and beyond.

Granted, I recognize that the physical challenges I choose for my active meditation practices are extreme. But for me personally, I find that this type of training increases my mental toughness and clarity while keeping me physically healthy.

Throughout the years, I've completed over 86 half and full marathons, triathlons, and have completed eight 70.3 mile IronMans.

Even though I travel 75% of the time for my job, fitness is an important part of my routine and it’s something I encourage my team at work to commit to in their lives as well. I strongly believe in being a Corporate Athlete both in and out of the Board Room.

I use this term active meditation to describe any kind of movement that gets you into your own zone—forcing you to dig deep and freeing up your mental space so you can think in peace. Quite frankly, this meditative zone is where I do my best thinking and strategizing for business. For some, active meditation might be the act of gardening, or taking a brisk walk, or even more vigorous exercise. Swimming can always get me there—hearing the water, moving my entire body from head to toe and getting lost deep in thought without electronics or distractions.

We all need time off of our devices. It’s important to carve out time to think clearly without all of the additional stimuli coming at us.

What movement do you repeat consistently that actually gets you into a zone of meditation? Sitting down and being still, crossing your legs and breathing is what we know to be meditation; however, I want to throw out to the universe that active meditation is a legitimate practice and it’s worth incorporating into your life.

While we each have our own physical fitness levels (I realize that not everyone willingly signs themselves up for an IronMan), we are all unique and different, which is what makes the world go round. All of our bodies respond differently to what makes us feel good—whether in our heads or our hearts. If you don’t yet have a personal happiness practice, I encourage you to block off "active meditation time" in your schedule. Let's face it—as women, if we can't take care of ourselves, we can’t give our best selves to those who need us. Just get up and move!

Rhonda Vetere (49), Platfor(u)m Contributor

P.S. Remember that no matter what you're going through right now, you don't have to do it alone! There are others like you in our community, where we interact on a daily basis, fight our demons, share our victories, and watch over each other as friends and accountability partners.

Together we are FÖRENA - a health & fitness community for women like you where we focus not only on our physical health but also mind, soul, relationships, and overall well-being. Become one of us now with FREE 1-month membership, and let us witness your growth! 🌱

REDEEM your FREE 1-month membership