The Age of Consciousness

These are only a few examples of widespread change that is affecting the way we view and operate in the world. We are operating in a different paradigm. Whole disciplines or fields are also metamorphosing into more conscious practices.

Heart connection

The heart is no longer just the organ that pumps blood through the body. It is no longer something that must be left at home, with your emotions when you go to work. And no longer considered second to reason. Increasingly we are hearing about the precious influence of heart wisdom. A voice not to be ignored. Heart nourishing is now seen as vital to every aspect of our lives - from disease prevention to ensuring brand loyalty.

People are connecting more and more through heart-based dialogue – even in executive boardrooms. There is also strong recognition of the importance of vulnerability and heart-based dialogue for connection with others. Only a few weeks ago I saw a post by a CEO asking for feedback on the connection between vulnerability and the influence of leaders.

Research is mounting that mindfulness and conscious practices can benefit each of us in all aspects of our lives. Corporations and law firms are hiring teachers to teach their staff mindfulness and other meditation practices all around the world. What a shift! Leaders are being taught these skills in leadership programs (sometimes under different names so as not to scare them off!).

There are measures of spiritual intelligence, calls for spiritually-based and compassionate organisations, and references to spiritual and holistic leadership. It all sounds very left field, however, these days it is not so uncommon to see the words spirituality, mindfulness, consciousness in mainstream venues and on mainstream programs in a variety of industries and domains.

No longer are yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and conscious practices just optional extras at "hippy" health retreats in beautiful remote areas around the world. They are now mainstream activities. And they are not only popular activities outside of work. They are also now an important part of corporate well-being programs.

People are calling for mindful mediators and psychotherapists, and groups are forming that promote conscious business practices. Coaches, counsellors and psychologists alike are recommending mindfulness and conscious-based practices for stress relief, aiding mental clarity, the management of depression and anxiety, and the treatment of some personality disorders and so on. We have mindful eating practices to assist with weight loss and food enjoyment.

Conscious Psychology

We are also seeing the infiltration of mindfulness and meditation into the very scientifically guarded field of psychology, as ever-increasing evidence mounts for the benefits of mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation. Therapies that are mindfully-based, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, are quickly increasing in popularity in clinical and organisational settings. I predict that these therapies will one-day rival Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as the leading psychological treatment for depression, anxiety and a range of other issues.

Conscious Business

Business has not been left out of the shift to the Age of Consciousness. There are movements around the world from some of the most successful companies (Google, Amazon, Pepsi and so on) to shift away from traditional shareholder models to ecological models of business. When leaders of organisations view their corporation, organisation or business as an ecosystem, they view each of the parts as equal to the other parts. Employees are just as important as customers, who are just as important as the community, who are just as important as suppliers, who are just as important as shareholders and so on. Some of the most successful businesses around are following these principles. Competitors that do not follow suit may find traditional business models unsustainable. People want to know that businesses care.

Conscious Law

It must be the final frontier when the legal system recognises the need for the law to take the well-being of individuals and society into consideration. Judges and magistrates around the world are now taking well-being into account in their determinations. Get used to it - therapeutic jurisprudence is growing. Some lawyers in the US are now seeing their role as healers rather than warriors. They are now considering, not only legal rights, but the mental, emotional and physical health when advising their clients. Wow!

Times are changing and gradually a huge shift in humanity is taking place. And surely, in time, as the power shifts to those more consciously aware, as one day it will, so too, these destructive patterns of human behavior will cease or minimise. We can only hope.