One of my clients also had a breast cancer scare recently (luckily a false alarm for her too). Other’s are sick and tired of the bullsh*t they have to deal with everyday at their jobs: highly political and toxic workplaces; long hours without promotions or pay increases; the now chronic threat of being laid off; and the constant changes in organization structure and “strategy” (really knee-jerk and fear-based reactions to a soft economy) that leave people and their jobs in a non-productive and draining state of never-ending chaos.

Not surprisingly, coaching sessions of late have taken on a bit of a common theme: I am not going to live forever after all. So is this job really worth what it’s costing me? And what are my options?

I’ve actually come to appreciate over the past two months my body’s reminders that time is flying by. It is so easy for us to forget (especially us High Potentials and High Achievers) that we actually don’t have forever left on our time clock. We get sucked into our busy-crazy lives and the “real” world of our corporate jobs. And we forget that how that simple fact of our own mortality can actually help us break free to create more of the work/life we really want.

The implications are tremendous for organizations who need — more than ever — top-notch talent to survive and thrive. Whatever the broader economic news might say for now, the opportunity for leaders and professionals to grow their careers and even get their life back has never been better. All you need is to take back control of your own destiny.

In particular, I’ve found tremendous value in the beliefs and practices of Zen Buddhism.  Not as a replacement “religion” for Catholicism or any other “ism” –  but rather as very practical and simple wisdom for how to lead a successful human life.  I’ve been meditating since my mid-twenties, when I took my first meditation/yoga class to help me deal with the stress of graduate school.  Since then I’ve: invested regularly in many more classes/training/retreats; read more books than I can count on Buddhism and mindfulness; and am part of a Buddhist here in my home town.

I tell you all this because, if you become a regular reader of this blog, you’re going to hear me talk about mindfulness A LOT.  Mindfulness is awareness – a very powerful form of awareness that comes from being fully present to the moments of your work and life.  (While meditation is just one technique to get you there, mindfulness is the end game.)  In terms of business/work/career, mindfulness helps you to see clearly what is present and to know with certainty what choice to make or action to take.  In terms of life, mindfulness is the best way I’ve found to live deeply and happy, every moment.  The path of mindfulness has been my route to professional success and work/life balance.  There is no bigger, better gift I could hope to share with you.