Mindful Leadership

We are all leaders in some aspect of our lives; in our families, at work or in our community. What does leadership look like that blends presence, courage to lead well and community-care? This mindfulness retreat will guide participants to let go of the tensions from the last 4 years or longer, in order to access transformative insights into their authentic leadership, personally and professionally.

The conflict and tension many of us as leaders are working with right now can feel overwhelming. That same conflict and tension can also open us to a creativity that possesses the healing we are seeking.

In this retreat we will:

• View work life and personal life dynamics and patterns from a compassionate systems view.
• Open to new ways of being that embody joy and confidence.
• Respond to the call to initiate something new in our personal and professional lives, then outline the steps needed to innovate.
• Reconnect to our life path.
• Open up to seeing what obstacles and challenges push back at us. Working with these ensures we get to where we need to be in our lives.

Winter is an especially potent season to go inward and reignite. This is an opportunity to deepen in the mindfulness-awareness meditation technique of shamatha. Deepening in this way allows us to transform how we relate to ourselves and everyday life by letting us get to know our mind and patterns. It also allows us to explore the Shambhala principle of basic goodness -- that we are all, at the core, worthy and complete. This is a journey whereby we make friends with who we are and draw out our inherent fearlessness.

From this point of view, meditation is not a tool to fix ourselves or improve our abilities. Rather, it is a direct path to connect with our fundamental wisdom.

As the daily meditation practice and routine of this retreat unfolds, we will discover an atmosphere in which we can trust in the experience of truly feeling ourselves, the natural world, and human society.

Our daily schedule will include:

• Sitting Meditation: We will work with basic sitting meditation or shamatha practice. Shamatha allows us to touch in with our experience of the present moment.
• Individual Meditation Instruction: Each person receives guidance and support from an experienced Meditation Instructor. The MIs can answer in-depth questions about your individual practice.
• Talks by Senior Teacher: The senior teacher will share her understanding and insight of the view and path of meditation.
• Study Periods: Time is set aside for study and contemplation, allowing participants to explore the concepts behind mindfulness-awareness meditation.
• Walking Meditation: Mindful walking practices are incorporated into the daily schedule, cultivating a sense of presence while in motion.
• Open time to find nourishing rest or activity
• Yoga: We will incorporate gentle all-levels yoga exercises into our day.
• Nature: There will be time to go outside and enjoy the lovely winter season in our rural Vermont center.
  
  

• 7:00am Early Morning Practice Session
• 8:00am Breakfast
• 9:00am Morning Practice Session
• 12:30pm Lunch
• 1:30pm Work Period
• 3:00pm Afternoon Practice Session
• 4:00pm Tea Break
• 4:30pm Late Afternoon Practice Session
• 6:30pm Dinner
• 7:00pm Evening Practice Session
• 9:00pm End of Day