Like many people, I have created problems in my life by overthinking. As a driven, Type A personality, overthinking comes naturally…unfortunately.  And, unfortunately (again), what we hold on the inside is manifested in our outer world.

Living in the past can create regrets or blocks.  Living in the future can create fears. Neither situation allows you to live to your potential in the present. You must be present in your present to create the life you want. One way to be present is to focus on mindfulness. Mindfulness is living in the present. It is putting the past behind us and not letting it poison our present. It is stopping the worry and dreams or fears of tomorrow where you are not yet. Letting your ego control creates anxiety. Being in the present will bring peace. This inner peace will manifest outer peace where all we create comes. Are you struggling in your outer world?  Finances? Relationships?

Controlling negative self talk and worry is hard.  The conscious brain is constantly sending thoughts which should be controlled. Mindfulness techniques control our thoughts and provide inner peace. Meditation and mantras train us to focus and control our thoughts providing inner peace.  The practice of meditation is just that – a practice. Just like a pianist is not a concerto performer without practice, a person will struggle to control their thoughts during meditation initially. Start easy. I like to start with 10 minutes focusing on breathing in through my nose slowly, feeling the air on my nostrils, and then out through my mouth, again feeling the warm air exit. With my thumb, I press my index finger and say ‘Peace.’ Then I press my thumb on my middle finger and say ‘Begins.’ Next, I press my thumb on my ring finger and say ‘With.’ Finally, I press my finger on my pinky finger and say ‘me.’  I repeat this as I breathe in and out and focus on shutting down any worrying thoughts or memories. Try it.

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Namaste

Lesley

While working on my Civil Engineering e-book, I remembered a funny story that happened to me.  As a structural engineer working for a large municipal government, I worked closely with Building Code Enforcement inspectors and Public Safety officers regulating deteriorated and/or abandoned buildings in the downtown core. Once day, I drove by an abandoned  three-story brick structure downtown and noticed that the front parapet wall was separating from the building and leaning precariously over a busy sidewalk.

I pulled over and upon inspecting the structure, determined that a collapse of the brick work was imminent.  I called our building code inspectors and public safety officers out to meet me. We had to determine how to shore up the structure and close the sidewalk. Shortly, a team of code inspectors and public safety officers started arriving at the building.

I eagerly began describing the issue and pointing out the problems. One male public safety officer stood idly by ignoring me. A building code inspector and good friend of mine from my department joined us.  Getting nowhere with the public safety officer, I left my friend with the officer and went to the other end of the building to show other newly arrived inspectors the danger. My friend stayed back with the public safety officer. She calmly asked the officer, “Aren’t you going to listen to her?”  To which he responded, “I’m waiting for the engineer to arrive.” At that point, my friend chuckled and said, “she is the engineer.”

Although this story is amusing, it is also an issue I faced repetitively as a female in the male dominated field of engineering.  I am sure this is not restricted to engineering either.  Sometimes, I let the other party think I was just an inspector or whatever they thought I was. Often, I obtained good information about the event I was investigating. But that mentality limits the talent pool and growth that women can provide to the fields referred to as STEM. Women remain underrepresented in the science and engineering workforce contributing to 29% of STEM jobs but only 15% of engineering jobs (https://ngcproject.org/statistics). Moreover, women in STEM fields earn approximately 33% more than non-STEM careers.

What can we do in today’s marketplace to improve conditions for female engineers?

Any comments you would care to share?

If you like my writing here, please like and share! I welcome your comments and advice for future topics. Information helps us all.

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Namaste

Lesley