In a world grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic turmoil and natural disasters, it is crucial to prioritize mental wellness. Building resilience, coping with adversity and recovering from setbacks all hinge on maintaining inner peace.

These skills are particularly important for business leaders, who have the added responsibility of navigating through unpredictable circumstances. 

The latest instalment of our “CEO 123 Tell Me More” series on 10 July began with the calming ring of a Tibetan singing bowl as Dr George Lee, a licensed psychologist and senior lecturer at The University of Hong Kong, illustrated how a single sound can help clear our minds, allowing us to reset our mental balance.

An expert in Buddhist counselling, Lee noted that a lot of our mental anguish is self-created, based on how we perceive things –  i.e. is the glass half empty or half full? “In psychology, how we see the world is just an interpretation, and our interpretation creates our whole world. But the problem is that people have certain inclinations to perceive the world in a certain way,” he said.

He also posed the question: “Why do we suffer?” In answer, he explained the concept of “craving” in Buddhist philosophy. When we crave something, it forms the notion of “I,” which drives us to look for external things to satisfy internal needs. However, the more we feed our ego, the bigger it grows, which leads to suffering.

Buddhism also stresses the importance of mental flexibility – the ability to pause in a moment and make a choice that leads to less suffering for ourselves and others. Central to this is “Mind Moment Analysis,” a series of techniques rooted in early Buddhist teachings that can help deconstruct and disarm self-feeding negative thoughts that snowball, unless we can let them be or ultimately let them go.

Lee also shared three tips on how to calm our minds to perform to the best of our abilities: practising meditation regularly to still the mind, taking three breaths before reacting to a difficult situation, and being aware that there is always a choice.

Quoting the Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm, Lee said, “All you need is kindness.” Being kind is always a choice, which is necessary in these chaotic times. “Kindness resonates with ourselves and others. We can work together to make the world a better place.”