🏁 Axios Finish Line: You're wildly engaged

"Killers" killed | Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By PwC   Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Apr 26, 2022 Apr 26, 2022 Welcome back. Today's newsletter is inspired by the thousands of thoughtful emails we received from our wildly engaged readers last week. Keep hitting us at FinishLine@axios.com. Smart Brevity™ count: 586 words ... 2½ minutes.     1 big thing: Gifts of meditation — in your words Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios   Holy crap: You are the most engaged audience we have seen in our journalism careers — and it's not close. More than a thousand of you wrote in with stories about meditation, and thousands with tips on naming our ideal employee. Why it matters: We're learning from you. Below you'll find distilled lessons — and buckets of benefits — for all kinds of meditative practice. And, in the second item, our five favorite terms to replace "killers with humility." Here's what you taught us about meditation: There's no right way to do it. We're trying transcendental meditation, but hundreds of you wrote in about other ways you've practiced mindfulness — and seen remarkable results. You suggested breathing exercises, exploring Buddhism, using guided meditation apps like "Calm" and "Headspace," and more. Consistency is key. You told us that life improvements you saw from meditation came from disciplined and consistent practice. Mary Jackson Lee of Wheaton, Illinois, who has meditated daily for the past three years, says she sleeps better, drinks less coffee and uses her iPhone less. But don't get discouraged. You can always pick a good habit back up. Josh Zylstra from Oak Park, Illinois, first tried meditation in his 20s but didn't continue. He recently dove back in, in his 40s, and stuck with it. His anxiety levels have decreased dramatically as a result, he told us. Clear your mind. Reader Bill Dunn from Kenai, Alaska, put it simply: "The biggest benefits showed up in mental concentration, better sleep and steadier calm in the face of difficulty. Many talented people suffer 'hurricanes' in their heads. Meditation helps let the talent flow." Find mental peace. "George Floyd's murder and two years of isolation working from home because of the pandemic pushed my emotional resources to their limit," wrote one reader from Washington, D.C. who asked to remain anonymous. "But like most African American men of my generation I believed that seeking help, particularly help coping with mental or emotional stress, was a sign of weakness." Since taking up mediation in December 2021: "I feel a lot more centered, calm and focused, and less emotional going through the biggest set of simultaneous changes in my life." Find physical well-being. Joyce Scott of Houston, Texas, said she found relief from frequent migraines. Anne Henderson of Washington, D.C. rattled off a slew of benefits, including: "My desk stayed organized. I wasn't mad at my mother anymore. I felt more clearheaded. I stopped smoking and lost weight." Goodness radiates. It's not just you who benefits. "I am truly happy and calm, which has a direct effect on my family. They no longer worry about whether I'll hurt myself, fly into a rage, or lock myself away in my room," Katie Schaefer-Murray from Valparaiso, Indiana, wrote. The bottom line: When you do anything to better your physical and mental health, the positive effects echo. Share this story.     A message from PwC The key to trust: transparency     Our community of solvers remains committed to building a culture of belonging. Looking ahead: We are doubling down on our commitment to build trust, with a sharpened focus on supporting underrepresented communities, while advancing progress in our firm. Learn more.     💬 Words matter: Axios' new employee moniker Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios   Clever reader submissions for what to call ideal Axios employees — those who demonstrate exceptional talent + unmistakable humility — have been rolling in all week. Our finalists: Winners with humility Selfless superstars Humble warriors Aces with grace Humble high performers Stay tuned! We'll pick a winner in the coming weeks. The backstory: "Killers with humility" ... "Killing 'killers."   Thanks for reading. Please invite your friends to sign up here. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: