Mail bagDid you know Google meditated?  I didn’t either, until a few days ago when a friend sent me a link to a recent article in Shambhala Sun: Google Searches.

For any web developer interested in meditation, it’s a must-read.  Google’s approach to meditation is refreshing – separating it from religion and encouraging tough questions.  The goal of the Googler behind this, Chade-Meng Tan, is a noble and surprising one – world peace.

Years ago I meditated regularly, but got out of the practice when my children were small.  Now, children grown, I’ve been teetering on the edge of picking it back up.  It seems this article is the catalyst I needed.

In particular, I’m inspired to try a practice the article explains in passing: mindful emailing.  It’s to help with those sticky emails.  You know – the ones you send off with shoulders tense, teeth clenched or stomach in a knot.

The biggest challenge in mindful emailing is step one – meditating regularly.  But at this point all I’m committing to is five minutes a day.  Of course I’m lucky.  I’ve had training by good meditation teachers.  But they say if you want to meditate badly enough, you will find a teacher.  Assuming you can figure out how to meditate, here are the steps.

1. Meditate every day, at least five minutes

2. After typing an email, decide if it’s just an easy one (e.g. confirming lunch date).  If it is, send it right away.  If not (or if in doubt), then….

3. Take three breaths.

4. Look at it again, imagining the other person (or people) receiving it.  How will they react?

5. Alter it if needed and send if needed.  Sometimes you may decide at this point not to email at all or to phone or find the person instead.

I’ve been experimenting with this process today and so far so good.  The three breaths don’t just help with email.  They re-center me.  Will I keep this up?  Who knows.  But I’ll report back either way.

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