General Shopping Brasil's website talked to Buddhist monk Coen during the release of her book, “O Sofrimento é Opcional” [Suffering is Optional], on October 29th at Parque Shopping Maia. Coen is a Zen-Buddhist master who, in the 1990's, became the first nun of non-Japanese ancestry to preside the Federação das Seitas Budistas no Brasil [Federation of Buddhist Sects in Brazil]. According to her, the meditation principles can help retail professionals have a more positive attitude, and overcome the daily difficulties and pressure. From simple tips to deeper concepts, the nun shows that a path of balance creates a healthier, happier, and more productive environment.
How to balance personal life and work?
Monk Coen – So that we can balance the different faces of our lives, we need to be present wherever we are. A big problem we have is to not live in the present moment. When my daughter was little, and I worked, I'd be at home worried about work, and I'd resent not being close to my daughter when I was at work. This is a very painful duality. In time, I learned that, when you are entirely in the present moment, you feel better. When you're at home with your family, be present at all times: give them attention, talk to them, be there the entire time rather than being on the cell phone. Even if it's just for one hour a day, make it an hour of attention, of conversation, of doing things together. Be whole for those people surrounding you. And, at work, be excellent, and turn that place at that moment into the best place in the world, because your life is there. My life doesn't start when I get back home; my life is wherever I am.
How can the Zen-Buddhism principles help create an excellent workplace for us?
Monk Coen – In a professional relationship, I have to make people at my job be my family as well. Everyone who works at the mall shares the same situations and happiness. When people are happy, the place becomes an excellent workplace, and this is only done when people are present in every relationship, at every moment, living out each situation. This includes serving every person coming into the store well, even if they don't want to buy anything.
At this time of the year, many people have temporary jobs at the stores. So that they work well, they need to dedicate themselves and be excellent at that moment, enjoying what they are doing, even if they end up doing something different in the future. Don't do one thing while thinking about the next; be worried about doing what is within your reach very well. The greatest gift you can give someone else is to be present at all times, to be available to that person at that time. When you help a customer, for instance, be 100% present, without going astray. This attitude is essential to reach excellence in everything we do.
It is not easy to keep that positive attitude in daily life.
Monk Coen – It's really not easy, but only those who are well will serve well. To that end, meditation is excellent for people to get to know one another better. And meditation is done daily in a simple way: pause for a short while and breathe deep. It takes some seconds but it makes a huge difference. Not always does the customer treat us well, because they also have their own concerns and anguishes. Don't take that personally: be nice to people, and don't let anyone take you out of your own center. Be well everywhere, because you'll give this wellness to people who are around you.
How do we develop this wellness and keep ourselves centered in environments where the pressure for results is so high?
Monk Coen – When you feel too stressed out by the daily pressure, breathe. Conscious breathing oxygenates the brain, and brings proper answers rather than emotional reactions at what is sent your way. Before assisting the customer or answering the phone, breathe deeply and slowly. Be present at that moment, and leave everything that happened with the previous customer behind. Be aware of what you do, notice the sounds, the colors, the aromas. Be 100% focused on what happens now, and not on what has already happened or will still happen.
Does mediation bring the person's focus to the present?
Monk Coen – Meditation takes us to broader levels of awareness, and to an understanding of whom we are, how our mind works, and how our body relates to our mind. To meditate is not the same as to relax, as people think, it's about better understanding who we are and how we are. When we realize where we're going, we can change our path. The change in thinking creates a change in attitude, and reflects on everything we do, and how we handle situations.