When the World Turns the Other Way
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
“The Maharishi Effect is a proposed sociological and psychological phenomenon stating that a small group of people practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) can positively influence and reduce stress, crime, and conflict in the wider surrounding population. It was named after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who founded Transcendental Meditation.” — Wikipedia
We know most forms of meditation, if not all, can reduce stress, anxiety, mental conflict, and negativity for an individual. The Maharishi Effect proposes that a group of aligned individuals sitting in meditation can have an impact on a larger scale, and studies have reported evidence of this effect.
From the Institute of Vedic Sciences:
“Real science consists of an objective pursuit of truth through observation and experimentation. It occurs apart from any beliefs or preconceptions about what it is going to find. It is based upon reason and direct perception, in which reality is allowed to reveal itself to the unbiased observer.
However, the universe we live in is a multidimensional reality from the subatomic to the supragalactic in the realm of physics alone. Biology, medicine, psychology and the social sciences require different perspectives and approaches to deal with appropriately. On top of these are subtle forces and influences, extrasensory, occult and spiritual that many people claim to experience as well and have developed special methods of working with.”
Although, Einstein might suggest there is no such thing as an unbiased observer!
The universe has order; we do not, nor do we understand the universe.
More and more today, science is exploring the ways our mental states influence our experience and behavior. This is to say we have a powerful tool we barely recognize and often use inefficiently, if we use it at all.
It can be this simple: consider what your life is like when you are being positive about things, and contrast that with when you are being negative. Feel the difference.
The dilemma is that when we are positive, we are just enjoying it. When we are negative, we just feel trapped.
Positivity, like diet and exercise, is a practice for which we can develop discipline.
I am NOT talking about positive thinking.
I am talking about refocusing our attention on higher thoughts and experiences, such as love, gratitude, and connection.
We always have a choice. How we choose is what takes discipline.
Respond or react?
Viktor Frankl wrote powerfully about this idea after his incarceration in Nazi concentration camps during WWII: even when we cannot control what happens to us, we retain the freedom to choose our response.
This understanding is perhaps more critical than ever.
As the middle class shrinks, so does ambition. Mary Volmer, a chaplain at St. Mary, reported that more and more students are now focused on, “How do I survive?” rather than, “What can I achieve?”
I recently read an interview in this summer’s edition of Esquire magazine with Dwayne Johnson, who has seen his share of knock-downs throughout his life—pun unintended.
He is consistently ranked as one of the most admired individuals. His character is perceived to embody trust, discipline, resilience, and humility: high qualities of leadership. There are parallels to Walter Cronkite and Colin Powell.
Like Powell, a significant number of people would like him to run for President.
Johnson says he gets a lot of daily messages from young men among his large fan base, and he replies as much as possible. Some of the things he tells them:
“Respond to the challenges and bad things that happen. Not react. Take a moment to respond. Big difference, and that is where the power is, when you respond instead of react.
It is OK to be kind.
It is OK to be respectful, not only to your ‘buds,’ but to the ladies in your life.
If you say you are going to do something, do it.
If you cannot do it, say you cannot do it.
Big one here: if you are hurting, in pain, unsure, insecure, ask for help. Talk to someone. It does not make you less masculine.”
Measure that level of leadership against the current feeling among many Americans that politics, especially today, is divisive, corrupt, or ineffective, creating an element of anti-politician sentiment.
Back to the Vedic science we started with.
Learning that the physical world is made up of the same fundamental building blocks got me thinking about connection on a much larger level. We, our world, rocks, water, dirt, plants, animals—all of us are part of the same universe.
That got me wondering: Can I raise my own vibrational level?
I was sure something like that was available to us, but how?
Then, recently, I read something suggesting that gratitude, love, and connection exist at a higher vibrational level. It proposed a simple project: start each day by expressing gratitude for three things and watch the results.
So I took it on, only to find that my reliability in starting each day that way was squishy.
Instead, every time I thought about it, I started expressing gratitude for the things around me.
I started with the easy ones: the people I love, my house, my office, my car, my daughter’s dog.
Then I started winnowing down to the little things: the birds on the bird feeder, the squirrels I feed, the trees in the yard, a lifetime of experiences.
As advertised, I have noticed a shift.
My life is slowly becoming about seeing everything through the lens of gifts from the Universe, especially those things I might normally find disagreeable.
Those moments arrive. I react. Then I shift to, “Hmmm, I wonder what the Universe is trying to tell me?” and move my thinking toward gratitude.
I still react. I still get upset when I drop something or knock something over—which is a lot. Marlene and I still have disagreements. However, now it all more quickly fades into curiosity.
I have been thinking: What if organizations were to take a page out of Vedic science and create meditative moments at work?
Ask everyone to align their focus on bringing joy to work, gratitude for the people they work with, and creative ways to grow the business.
What a powerful impact that could have on work, performance, and the world.
There is enough here to make the idea worth exploring. Perhaps what is lacking is simply the courage to try.
Fortunately, we are not stuck where we are. Things can change on a dime. It may simply take enough people aligning their thinking around gratitude, love, and connection.
“May the Force be with you!”
With Love and Gratitude,
Ready to explore how authentic appreciation fuels breakthrough leadership, strengthens organizational culture, and drives business transformation? Share your appreciation story with us.
Fundamental of the Week #16: RESPECT CONFIDENTIALITY
Honor the trust others give us. Be rigorous in safeguarding confidential information, and be clear with others about what should remain confidential.
Momentum Consulting offers executive business coaching, top-level executive consulting, team training, and team off-sites to build and transform your business to the next level. Inquire about business consulting and leadership coaching today.
