Mindful Leadership as Healing Practice: Nurturing Self to Serve Others

Leaders benefit from focusing on self-nurturing behaviors and ways of being in order to have sustained energy to care for others. Leaders have a large role in caring for each other and modeling courage for self-care. The science of caring (Watson, 2008) guides exploration of the importance of self-nurture for leaders. Caritas-based leadership practices of lovingkindness/equanimity toward self and cultivating one’s own spiritual practices frame this discussion. Mindfulness is presented in the context of leadership practice. An applied example of research involving mindfulness-based stress reduction in nursing leaders is included. Practical resources for incorporating self-nurturing behaviors are provided.