Blog
Workplace Pulse: Fall 2025
By The Mindful Leader Team
Quick Summary
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Engagement crisis: Global employee engagement fell to 21% in 2024, with managers hit hardest. Closing this gap could unlock $9.6 trillion in global GDP (Gallup, Apr 2025).
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Change and AI pressures: 89% of U.S. workers experienced organizational change last year, while rapid AI adoption boosted productivity for some but fueled job insecurity for many (APA, Jul 2025).
- Benefits gap: 36% of employees cannot access mental health benefits due to cos…
Open Source Explained: Why the Future of Mindfulness may Depend on It
By Mo Edjlali, Founder and CEO, Mindful Leader; Author, Open MBSR: Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness
A New Trend Emerges
Something new is stirring in mindfulness: the language of open source. What began as a whisper is now entering real conversations. Ideas like community-centric and open-source alongside MBSR are no longer unthinkable, still not mainstream, but no longer off-limits. In August, Wiley published my book Open MBSR, a framework built on transparency, collaboration, and share…
August Monthly Newsletter
Final days to Save $200 - 2025 Summit Early Bird ends this Friday! Hello Mindful Leaders, Could the key to reinventing mindfulness be hidden in Buddhism and algebra? How are brief, targeted mindfulness practices transforming workplace well-being by both reducing stress and reshaping how employees perceive their jobs? How can leaders use emotional intelligence to foster joy, inclusion, and purpose at work? |
Tools & Insights |
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Dimensions of Well-Being and Workplace Dynamics
Session Summary
A powerful session at the 2024 Mindful Leader Summit led by Marc Brackett PhD, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, explored the complex nature of employee well-being. The talk highlighted research findings, live survey data, and practical implications for leaders seeking to create healthier and more resilient organizations. Key principles highlighted included understanding the multidimensional nature of well-being, interpreting employee emotions and …
Summer Workplace Mindfulness Research Roundup
AI-generated Audio Overview
By The Mindful Leader Team
What if mindfulness doesn't just help us cope with work stress, but actually changes how we perceive our jobs entirely? Can a smartphone app delivering just five minutes of daily meditation create lasting workplace transformation? Why are bite-sized mindfulness sessions proving more effective than traditional lengthy programs? And does workplace mindfulness function as a stress buffer, a resource builder, or both?
This month's research …
Evolving Mindfulness: Lessons from the Buddha & Algebra (excerpt - Open MBSR)
An excerpt from "Open MBSR: Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness" by Mo Edjlali
Unpacking the Buddhist DNA: A Blueprint for Transparency
Chapter 3 ripped off the Band-Aid. For the first time in print, the Buddhist skeleton of MBSR has been exposed.
This excavation revealed more than a sprinkling of Eastern spice. It unearthed a full-blown Buddhist blueprint that forms MBSR's very DNA. From the Three Jewels to the Four Noble Truths, from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness to the principle of…
July Monthly Newsletter
Help shape the Future of Mindfulness. Pre-order Open MBSR: Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness (out August 12) Hello Mindful Leaders, Is the mindfulness movement secretly a tool for liberal indoctrination, or could it be the key to bridging America's deepening political divide? Who really controls mindfulness, and how can we reclaim it through collective, open dialogue? Is it time to disentangle mindfulness from Buddhism — and why does it matter? What happens to loving-kindness medi… |
The Expansive Well-Wishing Practice: A Fresh Take on an Ancient Intention
By The Mindful Leader Team
In the landscape of mindfulness practices, few techniques spark as much confusion and resistance as loving-kindness meditation. While its intentions are beautiful, many practitioners struggle with the prescribed phrases, forced emotions, or cultural elements that can feel inauthentic or overwhelming. What if there was a simpler, more direct way to cultivate goodwill toward ourselves and others?
Enter Expansive Well-Wishing, a practice developed as part of the Open …
Wackfulness to Wisdom: Forging a Bold Future for Mindfulness
Session Summary
A powerful session at the 2024 Mindful Leader Summit, Mindful Leader founder and CEO and Open MBSR author, Mo Edjlali, explored the future of secular mindfulness. The talk tackled systemic issues within mainstream mindfulness training, particularly MBSR, and presented a new vision rooted in transparency, empowerment, and collaboration. Key principles highlighted include Buddhist disentanglement, dialectical balance, and community-led innovation.
Key Highlights
- Buddhist Dis…
A Declaration of Interdependence: No Kings. No Dogma. No Gurus.
By Mo Edjlali, Founder and CEO, Mindful Leader; Author, Open MBSR: Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness
A few days ago, we celebrated the 4th of July, that extraordinary moment when a group of rebels dared to imagine something different. I've always loved Thomas Paine, that brilliant troublemaker who had the audacity to challenge kings and question the divine right of rulers. "Common Sense" didn't just critique monarchy; it awakened people to the absurdity of being governed by those who clai…