The first chapter of this book, \u201cYour Brain at Work,\u201d got my attention. I loved the stage analogy and could relate to it. I have a very large stage in my brain, with way too many actors and a large audience. It is hard to stay focused. I never thought of it as a stage; I always just said I have a very large committee in my head, and for the most part, that committee needs to get lost!<\/p>\n
I know this book was written for work-related situations, but as usual, I can\u2019t help but apply it to my NPO. So here goes\u2026<\/p>\n
Understanding the brain and limiting stress.<\/p>\n
If someone in recovery was able to take some of the tools that Rock gives, like prioritizing, I believe it would help them to eliminate stress. Rock says, \u201cPrioritizing involves getting disciplined about what you don\u2019t put on stage.\u201d[1] Addicts and alcoholics love to worry and stress about the next thing coming. It is one of the triggers they have. As you all know the credo – \u201cOne day at a time\u201d, that is sometimes broken down to 2 minutes at a time. I won\u2019t drink for the next 2 minutes. Maybe I will after that, but at least for the next 2 minutes, I won\u2019t. They keep putting that together until they have 24 hours, then a week, and so on.<\/p>\n
Controlling emotions.<\/p>\n
Rock offers guidance on regulating emotions to enhance workplace efficiency and decision-making. Individuals in recovery frequently struggle with emotional control, particularly during challenging circumstances. Applying methods outlined in the book, such as mindfulness or cognitive restructuring, Can Help Develop emotional regulation skills, which is crucial for maintaining sobriety.<\/p>\n
Daniel Siegel of the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at UCLA talked about the ancient Buddhist concept of mindfulness: \u201cIt\u2019s our ability to pause before we react.\u201d ” It gives us the space of mind in which we can consider various options and choose the most appropriate one.\u201d[2] A practice of stopping to pause and practicing mindfulness would be a huge contributor to staying sober.<\/p>\n
Developing Resilience.<\/p>\n
Rock talks about facilitating “self-directed neuroplasticity,” which is basically rewiring the brain and doing things differently when temptations or setbacks occur. There is a saying in AA that “you only need to change one thing\u2014and that’s everything” to stay sober. If people can start to rewire how they react to certain situations\u2014do things differently than they used to, like pausing, asking others’ opinions, or reaching out to a healthy community\u2014good decisions will be made.<\/p>\n
Feedback<\/p>\n
Besides sobriety – self-improvement is one of the main goals of the 12-step program. Hearing and accepting feedback and even learning to give feedback is critically important. Rock states a beautiful thought: \u201cThe best way to help someone see something new is to help quiet her mind so that she can have a moment of insight. As you have insights, you change your brain, and by changing your brain, you change your whole world.\u201d[3] I love that! By being open to receiving feedback and instruction from those who have gone before, you can change your life if you let it.<\/p>\n
Community<\/p>\n
In my stakeholders meeting, the one topic that was discussed the most was the need for community. Rock says, \u201cThe one thing that makes people happy is the quality and quantity of their social connections.\u201d[4] He also states, \u201c Having many positive social connections doesn\u2019t just increase your happiness; it can also help you perform on the job and even live longer.\u201d[5] Maintaining a solid support system of friends and individuals who can provide assistance in times of trouble, loneliness, or temptation is essential to staying sober.<\/p>\n
One concept that I repeatedly see in Rock’s writing is self-awareness. It seems to be a theme in many of the books on leadership that we have read. A good leader is a self-aware leader. The same can be said of someone in sobriety; self-awareness is the key. If I take what I read in this book, self-awareness will unlock the fullest potential in your job, relationships, and overall well-being. Again, the same would follow for one who is on the road to recovery.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[1]David Rock. \u201cYour Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long\u201d. (1. ed. New York, NY: Harper Business. 2009), 16<\/p>\n
[2] Ibid., 90<\/p>\n
[3] Ibid., 218<\/p>\n
[4] Ibid., 163<\/p>\n
[5] Ibid., 163<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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