“The answers you seek never come when the mind is busy, they come when the mind is still.”

–          Om mantra

Hard working individuals are feeling the effects of stress in the workplace. In mild cases it causes fatigue, leaving people physically and emotionally spent. In extreme cases it affects their health and personal relationships. A recent article in The Age states that for the first time, mental disorders have overtaken wounds to become Victoria’s third-leading workplace injury. This is astounding considering the annual cost of claims for mental disorders has soared by 45 per cent to $273 million.

An important question that we often forget to ask ourselves is, is it really worth it, the health, the relationships, the lifestyle? Is that lofty throne of a career worth all the pain and heartache? It might not have to be a choice between being ambitious and content with the status quo.

The answer lies in meditation. Recent research published in the journal Health Psychology shows that mindfulness is not only associated with feeling less stressed, it’s also linked with decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Meditation is the practice of taking time out to contemplate, think, reflect, and pray on where one has been and where they are going. It is an opportunity to connect with one’s spiritual side that is so often ignored with a busy lifestyle. It requires one to let go of the world for a brief moment to let the soul catch-up. It can also help to regularly re-evaluate one’s personal and career goals in the context of their lifestyle and to change what needs changing. The operative word here is regularly.

To help your career, slow down and meditate. Make time to check out a meditation practice near you. It will drastically improve your lifestyle.