Are you ready for my Top 7 Wisdom Shares from the Wisdom 2.0 Conference 2016? There was so much juicy stuff to choose from that this was actually a very challenging exercise! The list reflects what’s resonating with me the most – at least for right now. This post is also loaded with valuable links for exercises, videos and meditations. Give yourself the gift of making time to click into them and get to know these folks a little – it’s worth it.

You’ll notice an interesting combination of accomplished business people, pop culture players and highly regarded mindfulness gurus – which is why the conference is so amazing. You’re provided with lots of different perspectives and practices to consider, and perhaps integrate into your own journey.

My Top 7 – The Best Shares

Below are the rich little nuggets of wisdom that have been sticking with me over the last week. I encourage you to take a look at the list of speakers from the Wisdom 2.0 website when you have the chance. You may be moved to seek some of their wisdom on your own.

Share #1

Byron Katie [author and teacher] & Jon Kabat-Zinn  [mindfulness teacher]

These two were all about showing us how to handle “the runaway brain”. They gave it to us straight. No escaping our own accountability. But they also helped us laugh at ourselves for making it so complicated. The perfect delivery to keep us motivated.

Here’s a quickie from Byron Katie…next time you get jammed up, ask yourself the following questions. You won’t believe how quickly the fear melts away into a new reality.

• What was I thinking and then believing?
• What if I don’t think or believe that?

Here’s a video that shows how to shift your thinking and beliefs in just 3 short minutes.

Share #2

Roshi Joan Halifax – Upaya Zen Center

In February 2014 I spend several days at Upaya for the Zen Brain Program. The group listened to neuroscientists, philosophers, Buddhist scholars and Zen teachers debate and share knowledge about our consciousness. The meditation sessions lead by Roshi Joan where definitely a highlight for me personally. You can image how delighted I was to join the morning session she hosted at the conference. She has an amazing gift of connecting you to your heart almost immediately. And no matter what you find there, it’s always beautiful.

Share #3

Russell Simmons – CEO, Rush Communications

If you’ve never experienced Russell Simmons on TV or in-person, the best description is “he’s quite the character”. His nickname used to be Rush because of his rushing around. An individual obviously doesn’t get the ranking of 3rd richest hip hop figure without being exceptionally busy. But rather than be “busy”, he’s now conformed to mindfulness standards with daily meditation and yoga. His claim is that he successfully runs a dynamic and fast paced empire better than ever because of his practice. I loved the way that he spoke of integrating his yoga and mindfulness practice into daily life.

“Do the hard yoga poses and smile. That’s what I do in yoga practice and what I try to do all day long. Do the hard yoga poses and smile.”

Share #4

Eileen Fisher – Founder and Chairwoman, Eileen Fisher Inc.

I’ve admired Eileen Fisher’s authentic leadership and vision for years – so it was awesome to see her up close and personal in a Q & A session. Eileen practices what she preaches for her family, employees, community and customers. Her sincerity regarding bringing your mindfulness and meditation practice to your daily life was unmistakable. In the session, her humble approach to life breathed inspiration into the notion that you can be kind, compassionate, passionate, a keeper of the earth and crazy successful in the fashion industry simultaneously. A wondrous feat for sure!

The Eileen Fisher Learning Lab is also work checking out. If you live near NYC you might be able to visit in person. If not the online community is also great.

Share #5

Jack Kornfield – Wisdom Teacher

Jack Kornfield’s session showed up at just the right time for me at the conference. As you can imagine, being at an event of this magnitude (3000 attendees and nearly 100 speakers), might cause you to reflect on how to reconcile the complexity of our existence as human beings. So many different beliefs, experiences and philosophies to make sense of and integrate. But just as you start to panic about how to manage your own consciousness, values and actions, he brings you back to center with his gentle wisdom.

Taking heart in the concept that we are paradoxical beings was exactly what I needed to hear – that we are designed that way. Essentially this tells us that we are loving kind beings, but that we are also capable of being foolish, confused and challenging. We experience both ends of the spectrum and continue to learn and grow from it. It’s about accepting all aspects of yourself with compassion. Here’s a short video clip of a recent interview Kornfield had with Oprah about making your heart a zone of peace.

Share #6

Fred Kofman – Philosopher and Vice President, LinkedIn

Fred Kofman and a team of executives from LinkedIn shared their secret formula for developing compassion and wisdom in corporate America. Their strong desire to exemplify and grow conscious business practices was evident in their real life scenarios and stories. Kudos to all of them for walking the talk.

One of the key take-aways from the session was a simple answer to the seemingly difficult question of “How do I as a leader bring compassion into my work?”. Kofman’s response…“Assume the best intent of others.” 

This group also offered some fantastic resources related to building wisdom and compassion in the businesses that we personally touch through their Conscious Business Academy. I found the coaching videos to be exceptionally helpful.

Share #7

Prince EA – Musician and Activist

I was just recently introduced to the work of conscious rapper Prince EA. I was a fan right away. If you haven’t seen the video “I Am NOT Black, You Are NOT White.” , I encourage you to. It will speak to your heart through the acknowledgement of our interconnectedness as human beings sharing this planet together. His intimate Q & A session was also noteworthy, including a short performance of the piece I just mentioned and stories of how he had the courage to follow his passion. Two of his comments rang as particular truth for me.

“Books give us the wisdom to deal with the world.”

“Through my work I invite people to look inwardly.” 

Share What You Learn

This is only a small snippet of what I gleaned at Wisdom 2.0 – but each time we share what we’ve learned the world becomes a better place. And in that spirit, please feel free to share your thoughts, reactions or experiences with us. I would love to hear from you.

For more information on the Wisdom 2.0 Conference click here.

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