Podcast #008 - Mindfulness: The Master Key - Kim Nicol
Consider that everything might be easier than you think it needs to be
In this week, I interview the amazing Kim Nicol who is known in San Francisco for bringing meditation and mindfulness to fast-growing tech start-ups, hacker houses, attorneys, and Fortune 500 executives. A former lawyer, Kim’s practical approach and calming presence have made her a favorite among analytical thinkers. I first met Kim almost five years when she invited a group of us to a meditation session. Kim was probably one of the first people to introduce meditation and mindfulness to me. I remember after the session feeling so powerful, expansive, and clear-headed. Kim explained to the group the science and benefits of mindfulness training, and then left the group with a profound question: “if you all feel this amazing right now and you understand all the benefits from mindfulness training, then why aren’t you doing it everyday?”
When we do let go of the sense of what is supposed to happen in this space, then there’s room for something unexpected, delightful, and nourishing to come thru. So a little bit of structure can be wonderful, but we’re not here in service of the structure, the structure is here in service of the alchemy of whatever is going to emerge here.
I heard her say this and I myself couldn’t answer the question. My answer or excuse was, “I don’t have time,” or “I don’t want to make the time.” And the truth of the matter, was sitting in silence and being “mindful” was difficult for me. I remember hearing Russel Simmons, the CEO of Def Jam records at one time, say that if you can’t sit and practice mindfulness training for 20 minutes, then you should be doing it for two hours. He’s probably right, because I know when I am consistent with my mindfulness training, I am much more effective and patient in all areas of my life.
You don’t want to miss this episode, where we cover: how to integrate mindfulness in your everyday life, how to cultivate mindfulness with your children, why managers, especially new ones need mindfulness training to become better leaders, and much more.
Timeline
2:24 - The book Kim re-wrote specially for women where she changed all the pronouns
7:00 - Kim talks about her transition from lawyer to mindfulness teacher
18:44 - Kim’s thoughts about manifestation, authenticity, and alignment
23:17 - Kim’s Facebook post about permission and why it struck a cord with me
24:50 - Kim’s style of mindfulness teaching
28:43 - How do we integrate mindfulness into our everyday life?
31:05 - How to bring mindfulness to your children
37:30 - How to bring compassion into your life
44:36 - The text Kim sent me that dissolved me
48:30 - Kim’s mindfulness and leadership workshops with managers
51:10 - The invisible element of mindfulness
57:30 - Why “soft skills” are so hard
1:02:36 - The most common skill most leaders/managers are missing
1:06:20 - How Kim practices practices mindfulness
1:12:00 - Lightning Round Questions
1:18:56 - Kim’s newest projects and mindful/leadership workshop for managers
1:22:15 - One thing you could do today to start being more mindful
1:24:20 - How Kim deals with haters
Where to Find Kim
Kim’s Facebook
Kim’s books: The Offering, Everyday: Meeting Life In A Mindful Way, Devotion: Love and the Power of Small Steps, The Science of Getting Rich: With Female Pronouns
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