The Business World and the Recession
Introduction
In today’s times of compulsive consumerism, the recession has come with a double meltdown. The consumerist nature of modern humanity has reached a level that is considered to be “Obsessive Consumerism Disease”. Consider the following two scenarios:
Scenario I: In the period of a thriving economy everyone is concerned with increasing their material status of living, consequently one feels the pressure to continually increase one’s consumption of all kinds of things. In fact, the economic booms are due precisely to this high consumerism.
Scenario II: In a period of recession, the economy is in a downward slope, consequently a decrease in individual income. Now the pressure falls on everyone to maintain their living status at all costs, in other words, their material consumption.
So in both scenarios, an individual is trapped in the vicious cycle between the state of the economy and its level of material consumption. This attracts many “lifestyle diseases” to the individual. Stress has also become a true common phenomenon among young professionals. The reasons for this stress are many, for example:
The competitive nature of work, health, tense family life, aspirations to live at a high material level, personal lifestyle, showing off one’s reputation in society, feeling insecure for the future, a discouraging environment. home or workplace, concerns related to career advancement, irregular working hours, an imbalance in social and working life, lack of emotional support, etc.
But it is easy to trace the roots of all the problems mentioned above as “a huge individual material consumerism”. The situations described above are more visible in rich and industrialized countries. Today it is difficult to find individuals who live without regular use of pills and medicines. However, if some individuals are surviving and successfully managing the two scenarios described above, they certainly become an interesting case study to analyze.
We must understand that an individual is not only a professional who works in a business context, but is also a father / mother, a son / daughter, a brother / sister, a husband / wife, a friend, a colleague, a pedestrian who moves on the road, etc. etc. etc. Its conditions determine the quality of the workplace, home, society etc. etc. etc.
Through this brief review, we have tried to give suggestions on the strategies that must be put in place during this difficult time of recession in particular, but they are also valid for any other time.
Recession Time: A Curse Or An Opportunity
The wise say to the human being who lives with full awareness: “Difficulties give you depth, joy gives you amplitude”. Each individual mind must play many roles both in the physical body and in society where unconscious individuals find it difficult to overcome pressure situations. The human mind has no respite, both in times of thriving economy and in times of recession.
There is a very very fine line between “Need” and “Greed”. Only an alert mind can discern this limit. During the time of a thriving economy, greed takes over in the name of “current need”. This creates a continuous flow to satisfy the so-called needs which, in themselves, are an extension of greed. During the recession, these needs become a burden on the mind and ultimately determine its collapse in the form of mental illness and sometimes suicide.
The materialistic conception of life has generated economic progress based on production and consumption. This duality of production and consumption must survive together, not separately.
The recession period gives us an opportunity to rethink our approach to the material world and consumerism. The question is, “Is there a limit of material possession that can bring lasting happiness and what is true happiness?” Again wise men say, “Happiness is a state of mind called ‘Peace’.” A peaceful mind, without agitation, leads to a peaceful state of mind.
Physical science and spiritual science both agree that the physical body is nothing more than an inert tool in the hand of the mind. The mind desires; the mind thinks; the mind works; the mind does all these things with the help of the physical body, through the senses. A materially insatiable mind runs from one side to the other in the (external) material world. When she finally gets tired, she collapses into a state of illness, mental illness, which will manifest itself in the physical body. So the key to all problems is found in the “Mind.”
If modern man can properly manage his mind, no external condition of this material world will disturb his mental state. Such an individual can live with total control over situations. After all who gets tense? – the mind; who gets depressed? – the mind; who feels downcast? – the mind. And ultimately all solutions lie in the mind.
The recession period (or even a normal period) is a very good opportunity to take a break and take care of your mind. Instead of extroversion (the mind goes into the outside world), we must seek introversion (the mind makes its own assessment) through proven practices. The recession time presents a great opportunity for such realization and only a thoughtful individual can consider this time as a misfortune.
Corrective measures
One of the greatest Indian philosophers, CHANAKYA (3 B.C.) said: “There is no austerity for a balanced mind and there is no happiness for contentment.”
Austerity is bringing our needs to a minimum and contentment is living happily with whatever is available to us. Both limit the desires which are a natural characteristic of the human mind. Austerity and contentment are not acquired by following external rules or practices. These qualities refer to the internal state of a human being, that is, to the individual mind.
Again, ponder the following quote from the wise man:
“The wise see the past as destiny, the future as free will and happy in the present as an opportunity …”. Fools regret the past, thinking that the future is predestined and are miserable in the present … “.
In the modern time of “Use and Throw” and “Expiry Date”, there are no long-term relationships and the sense of belonging has been thrown into the abyss. Songwriters play the role of reformers. Hence, the common man finds it difficult to face adverse situations.
All corrective measures fall under any of the following two approaches:
- Physio-psychological remedies:These approaches are mainly concentrated at the level of the physical body, expecting that the effect will finally reach the mind and that, consequently, it will reach peace. In this approach the Mind is not taken care of directly.
Gym exercises, aerobic exercises, running or walking etc. are some of these methods. With these methods a greater flow of blood brings an abundance of oxygen to the whole body. This higher level of energy gives the individual a sense of well-being. Since this is happening primarily on a physical level, we must support these practices throughout our lives. The moment these practices stop, the mind falls back into the original trap. Therefore, these corrective measures cannot provide a lasting mental solution.
- Psycho-Physical Remedies:With this approach we take care of the mind directly. There is a direct link between breathing and the mind in every animal body. The state of the human mind can be exactly diagnosed by looking at the type of breathing.
Fine arts, Meditation, Yoga practices etc. it is such practices that directly act on the mind. The moment the mind slowly reaches a quiet state, this will manifest its effect on the physical level, through the activities of the brain, regulating hormonal secretions in the human body. All the imbalances developed in the secretions will begin to disappear, resulting in the restoration of physical health.
In a state of peace, the mind begins to develop a different vision of the material world and its interaction with it. At this point you have a clear perception of what you need and the falsity of greed. Now an individual mind begins to control itself, and thereby its physical body. Once the mind transforms into wisdom, no amount of external pressure situations can make the individual vulnerable. Life becomes a celebration.
Solutions Dictated by Yoga
Yogis say: “Only a meditative mind can celebrate life”. Now curious questions may arise: What is meditation? What is the meditative mind? …
Again, the Yogis say: “Suffering comes to the human being whose mind and body (physical body) are, in a given moment, in different places”.
A common mind always acts like a pendulum. He always basks between past and future, rarely tries to stay where his body is, that is, in the present.
The question is: Who lives? The mind. Where’s your home? The physical body. Where is it normally located? Out of the body. There lies the problem. This way of life is always miserable.
Meditation is a practical science to train the mind to live in the present, that is, in its physical body at all times. Thus, a perfect union is created between the physical body and the mind. This is the preliminary stage of Yoga practices. Once the union between the body and mind is perfected, this mind is called “Meditative Mind” and has perfect control over the surrounding situations and celebrates every moment of life.
Mind in meditation: A practitioner who is still in the process of realizing the union between body and mind finds it difficult to manage the situations that arise while interacting with the material world. During the hours of practice his mind remains perfectly in the present (in the physical body), but during the completely conscious state, while interacting in the material world, he sometimes loses such control. The Mind trained in this way is called “Mind in Meditation”. The practitioner must continue his practices until he acquires a “Meditative Mind”.
Through Yoga one tries to achieve a perfect “Meditative Mind” in a fully conscious state, while living in the material world.
How Yoga Works: Breathing is a natural bridge between the physical body and the mind. The following observations are quite common:
- A body with an overactive mind will have a higher rate of breathing.
- A body with a calm mind, a calm mind, will have a rhythmic and slow breathing system.
- A body with a faster rate of breathing presents difficulties in focusing the mind.
Yoga takes help of breathing to reach the mind and train it.
Business World: Some Suggestions
An individual, on his journey through life, needs to have a focused mind, a meditative mind to live a quality life. This is more true for a professional from any sector of the business world (be it service or industry). The recession period gives the firm a good opportunity to hone their employees’ minds for better results.
How to achieve the objectives mentioned above:
- Organizing a Short Yoga Retreat:A four day Yoga Retreat must be organized for each employee. Employees must completely withdraw from worldly activities and live under the guidance of a Yoga-Guru. During these four days, participants will be presented with:
o Theoretical Sessions: Listen to the teachings on the relationship between body and mind and how they work.
o Practical Sessions: Practice different types of breathing and master them.
o Experience the inter-relationship between breathing-mind.
o How to keep the mind under a desired focused control.
Yoga retreats are related in particular to personal and profound experiences.
- Facilitating a space for Meditating:Every company must try to provide a very peaceful space, in a peaceful environment, inside the work building. He must urge each employee to use this space for at least half an hour during the working day.
Reciprocity: Cosmic Law of Coexistence
Reciprocity is the manifestation of a Cosmic Law: Coexistence. Without coexistence the Cosmos cannot exist and all Creation follows this law. The human being with his freedom has misunderstood many things and has forgotten that we must give to receive. Things don’t work backwards, which I take first then give. Or there are those who only take and accumulate. No, cosmic law is not like that. Since all Cosmic laws work even if we ignore them, then failing to follow them will surely bring us suffering.
If we observe the rest of Creation, we will find that everyone gives something to others without even realizing it. Starting from the sun, the rain, the wind, the planets, the plants, the animals … What does the human being, with his freedom, give to others?
If we apply this principle at the business level, we see how entrepreneurship is a powerful driving force for economic growth and job creation; but it is above all for personal growth on an individual level. How many hours does the human being spend in the workplace? What influence does this job have on your personality and conduct outside of it? At the family level and at the society level?
If we look for these answers we would understand how important an innovation project in the business sector of human resources, which is based on the quality of the mental state of each worker.
We must remember that a 100% concentrated worker, working qualitatively for five hours can contribute better to his organization than an absent-minded worker who does his homework for eight hours. And the benefit does not end at the time of leaving work, because a changed mental perception will also be included in family life and in society.
In this way the real change will begin on an individual and social level. And this means following the Cosmic law of Coexistence and Reciprocity.
We must therefore change the mentality on philanthropy. We must give for everyone’s benefit. And with this innovative program, the entrepreneur is the first to benefit from it and to benefit those who are part of his company.
Why not calmly think of an innovative pivot project, which is an example for other companies and be the precursor of a change at the society level?
YKK suggests special programs for each type of company. Consult us and you will see the results. Society will bless you.