Hit Pause & Bouncing Back Stronger

Written by Founder and CEO, Sara Potler LaHayne

In the midst of a hectic June, I traveled to Israel with the Shusterman Foundation and several other social entrepreneurs. I was thrilled to connect with so many genuine thought leaders, nonprofits and supporters dedicated to creating positive change in the world.

That spirit afforded me an opportunity to hit pause on the day-to-day hustle and bustle that is Move This World and reflect upon the last year of transformation. With our foot on the pedal all day, every day, this trip allowed me to process key changes within the organization, from curriculum development to program delivery.

These moments come few and far between, and sometimes feel more like a burden than an opportunity while juggling so many items. Our staff values self-reflection time as a part of our DNA. Before and after every internal meeting, we center ourselves with deep breathing, stretching or a de-stressing exercise. At 12:30 each day, the entire office stops to convene for Move This Day — a ritual we instilled to allow ourselves to stop and connect as people.

These interactions aren’t simply to take a break from working, but to take a step back, pause and determine the best course of action moving forward. It is vital to the health of our organization as people and as a business to recalibrate and make sure we come back to work even stronger.

How do you and your organization handle self-reflection? Do you build time in during the work week? When you find the time to pause, are you able to bounce back stronger? These questions are applicable to everyone, from teachers to CEOs, as the research and benefits of mindful practices gain mainstream support.

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