What meditation results surprised you?

What the Hell? Pavel Tsatsouline (@strongfirst), the kettlebell guru, introduced me to this concept in the physical arena. Pavel describes this effect as the result of doing an exercise to build strength in one discipline and experiencing unexpected benefits during other unrelated tasks. This new found ability is punctuated by exclaiming "What the Hell" (WTH).

I have experienced this phenomenon while practicing self-control. Saying "no" to the bagels and donuts in the office kitchenette gives strength to say "no" to buying yet another tool during the evening trip to The Home Depot. Doing the morning workout increases the chance I will get to bed on time, instead of scrolling through two hours of cat videos.

Last week, I waited for a co-worker outside of his cubicle farm before a meeting. I stood still for about 90 seconds, and a manager approached from behind asking if I was alright. I assured her that I was perfectly fine and I was just waiting for my co-worker. This expression of patience was a WTH moment that caught both of us off guard. The office staff doesn't stand still, and this was just one more example of me being a bit strange.

I learned this expression of patience during my mindfulness practice. If the current gig doesn't work out, maybe I can be a statue in the park. I am confident the spooked manager would give me a couple of bucks for my performance.

The Harvard Business Review published the following list of benefits of meditation for CEOs:
Builds resilience
Boosts emotional intelligence
Enhances creativity
Improves relationships
Helps focus

What are your WTH moments you attribute to your meditation practice?

Share in the comments and tag a friend who shared the moment!

Going Further: How long did it take before you experienced any benefit from a meditation practice? Have you encountered any unexplained benefits? Has your disposition changed since you started? Are there any benefits you have yet to realize? What about your practice are you most encouraged?

How can you surprise and delight your organization?

Separately is good, but the combination makes a memory. Famous pairs just seem to fit together like peanut butter and jelly, Lucy and Desi, stars and stripes, chocolate and raspberry, rock and roll, and surprise and delight.

A surprise is easy to deliver. All I need is a spooky night and a bush to jump from behind. Delight requires knowing something about the individuals who will receive the benefit and it takes a greater level of awareness of the recipient.

People comprise organizations and their days are full of the grind. The myriad of responsibilities composed of; kids sports, commutes, hard work, family expectations, and anything else that needs to get done. To receive a delightful surprise outside of birthdays and holidays is rare. You have an opportunity to make an outsized impact on your organization through observing and taking advantage of what you know about those whom you spend all day. 

It does not require a round-the-world cruise; just an ear to hear what others say and a willingness to invest a few minutes. Write a note of encouragement or pick up a few items at the local dollar store; it doesn't have to be expensive, just purposeful.
 
I was on a mission to create the perfect chocolate and raspberry brownies over the course of several years. We cycled through our friends and neighbors delivering foil packages of brownies. It was great fun to make the brownies; planning the intended recipients, mixing, baking,  packaging and delivering. This practice provided the chance to teach the kids about giving, but also what it was like to surprise and delight those we loved. 

Your organization needs to be shaken up with some delightful surprises. Your turn to exercise your creativity, get out of your comfort zone and get to surprising and delighting.

Fill in the comments about your experience.

How has the natural world surprised you?

The Spanish moss hung from nearly every tree branch of particular trees. The blue heron knew exactly when the tide would push fish into the enclosure to deliver an easy meal. The branches of the Angel Oak extended farther than I have ever witnessed. These were three surprises the natural world offered during my recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina.

A friend offered as many giant expired sunflowers as I was willing to take if I would hang them in my yard. The Yellow Finch are starting their 3,000-mile migration and eat three times their body weight each day during the trip. I learned all I had to do, was to hang the large wilted flowers in the yard and the traveling birds would find them on their own. No blog post, tweets or neon signs are required.

Climbing the road from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe, I literally caught my breath as we took a turn and looked down the mountainside into the valley. The view was astounding.

What are your recent discoveries about the natural world around you? The circle of life is always in motion, and change is happening. We didn't notice each successive ring on the tree but surprised to see that it has grown around a bench. The stream continues to run, and eventually, the erosion catches our eye and when the ravine appears. The intricate parts of the flower and the juice sacs of the blood orange are amazing structures of beauty, once we take the time to look.

The circle of life continues to swirl, causing constant change; how are you observing these changes?

Going Further: What is your earliest memory of learning about the natural world? How do you prioritize time to engage with nature?