Analytic Meditation

I'm in the midst of reading a book titled 'Happiness at Work'. It's based on a conversation between an American psychologist and the Dalai Lama and it talks about how you can be happier at work.

The book is pretty cool but one particular concept caught my attention and I'd like to share it with you today.

The psychologist tells the Dalai Lama that many people in the US are unhappy at work because they feel they are unfairly treated by their bosses. They are overworked and underpaid. On top of that there seems to be favoritism at the work place because they seem to be missing out on promotions to the boss's pet. This leads many people to become jealous and vengeful at work. Hence, their unhappiness.

The Dalai Lama's answer to this is Analytic Meditation. Analytic meditation is simply you asking yourself - What are the consequences of my actions? If you feel you have been mistreated at work or for that matter anywhere else - ask yourself what are the consequences of your RE-Action. Will being vengeful and jealous take you somewhere productive or will it just add to your unhappiness? Analyse your RE-Action to your unfair situation and you will find that you yourself know the right action to take that will take you somewhere positive.

Most of the time - we indulge in letting our emotions run amok without actually thinking about what feelings or actions will serve us best. Analytic Meditation allows us to slow down and to choose our feelings and emotions towards our circumstances.

The concept behind Analytic Meditation is that we know for ourselves what's good for us. If only we'd slow down and think about it!