Work is such a crucial part of our life, and yet we often struggle with-and feel overwhelmed by-the numerous challenges it presents us. Whether its job insecurity, making peace with or leaving an unfulfilling job, or dealing with office conflicts, we often experience fear and a sense of groundlessness just at a time when we want to be our most creative and resilient. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy, Michael Carroll, a longtime human-resources executive, meditation teacher, and executive coach, explains how the practice of mindfulness-full awareness of our moment-to-moment experience-can help us become more confident and open to possibility in our work life. He offers a system of potent, inspiring principles that we can use as a practice for helping us work with our insecurities and awakening our natural bravery, resourcefulness, and resilience.
Fearless at Work: Timeless Teachings for Awakening Confidence, Resilience, and Creativity in the Face of Life's Demands; Michael Carroll; Shambhala Publications; Paperback; 272 pages; $24.95
For over two decades Michael Carroll worked on Wall Street and in the publishing industry, holding executive positions at Shearson Lehman/AMEX, Paine Webber, Simon & Schuster, and the Walt Disney Company. As COO of Global Coaching Alliance, he consults with major corporations on bringing mindfulness into the workplace. Michael has been practicing meditation since 1976, graduated from Buddhist seminary in 1980, and is an authorized teacher in Kagyu-Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He has degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Dayton University and a master�s degree in Adult Education from Hunter College in New York. He has taught mindfulness-awareness meditation at the Harvard Business School, Omega Institute, Zen Mountain Monastery, Kripalu, and the Cape Cod Institute.
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Contents: FEARLESS AT WORK: Timeless Teachings for Awakening Confidence, Resilience, and Creativity in the Face of Life's Demands by Michael Carroll
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Introduction: Rediscovering Our Natural Confidences
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1
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PART ONE: The Five Primary Slogans
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1. Face the fierce facts of life
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17
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2. No delight; no courage
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22
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3. Recognize fear
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26
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4. Discover the jewel of fearless abundance
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31
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5. Command gracefully
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36
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PART TWO: Exploring the Ironies of Cowardice
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6. Stop the "bubble wrap"
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45
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7. Mind the gap
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49
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8. Break the false promise
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54
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9. Reconnect
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59
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10. Don't count on it
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63
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11. Ask, "Who's kidding whom?"
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67
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12. Let it break
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73
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13. Nothing sticks
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78
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14. Lean in
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83
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PART THREE: Taming the Mind
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15. Keep your feet on the ground
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91
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16. Stabilize attention
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96
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17. Synchronize with the present moment
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100
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18. See clearly
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104
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19. Don't shortchange yourself
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109
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20. Be vividly present
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115
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PART FOUR: Establishing a Fearless Presence
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21. Dare to awaken ziji
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121
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22. Be, see, do
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127
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23. Gently lay down the burden
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134
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24. Where's the edge?
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139
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25. Take a straight dose
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145
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26. Be a spiritual fool
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150
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27. Hold sadness and joy
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154
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28. Be alone
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158
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29. Gather the fearless view
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165
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30. Gently bow
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173
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31. In a word
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180
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32. Join heaven and earth
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186
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33. Be a flagpole
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195
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34. Don't kick the dog
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205
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35. Unseen precise hand
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211
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36. Just slow down
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216
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37. Take the vajra view of aggression
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222
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38. Resonate
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228
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Acknowledgments
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237
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APPENDICES
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A: Cultivating Fearlessness through Shine-Lhagtong Meditation
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239
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B: Instructions for Mindfulness-Awareness Meditation
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247
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C: How Mindfulness-Awareness Cultivates Social Intelligence
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253
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D: Four Fearless Traditions
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263
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E: Instructions for Contemplating the Fearless at Work Slogans
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267
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Notes
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273
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About the Author
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283
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