When it comes to managing billions of dollars in assets, hundreds of millions in revenue and globally distributed workforces simply taking a moment to be present seems like a much less daunting task, Giovanti Humphries once thought differently. “Because you are always on the go, you think you are being present and living in the moment. However, it isn’t until you really focus yourself to the present that your actions take second place to your feelings.”
Working in some of the largest corporations in the world and building companies of his own, Giovanti has always been accustomed to sleepless nights, lack of self-care, and endless hustle. Yet it was only after he made being mindful a priority did he really start to see his personal and professional growth skyrocket. Giovanti shares some tips on what it means to be mindful, and how anyone with a bit of intent, some discipline, and a lot of gratitude can incorporate the practice of stopping to smell the roses every now and then into their daily life.
Small Commitments
Giovanti says the easiest way of making mindfulness habitual is to start by setting smaller weekly goals that you can check off while you are getting familiar with the new routine. “You have to make time to be mindful until it becomes common practice. Commit to making time a few mornings for the first few weeks that you start to incorporate into your daily behaviors, even if just a 5 min break of silence with your thoughts.” He says this will lead to your mind associating a sense of accomplishment and gratitude resulting from your mindful behaviors.
Kindness, to yourself
“When you start to make time for meditation make sure to be kind to yourself.” Giovanti says your mind will be flooded with thoughts, but it is important to reflect on those thoughts and know that they are not a reflection of your true self. “Opening your mind and being in your head might feel uneasy at first, but know that you are on your way to understanding those emotions with much more clarity, and to be kind to yourself in doing so.”
Patience
“If there is anything about taking time out of your day to disconnect and be in the present, it takes patience. Giovanti likes to point out that you aren’t going to be mindful overnight. “It needs to be purposeful, and to get there you need to have patience with your process and with yourself.” “If you feel like you’re “not doing it right,” you’re on the right tract, stick with it.”
Enjoy it
“It shouldn’t feel like a chore or something you are uneasy about doing.” Giovanti says making sure you enjoy the process is one of the most critical pieces to being mindful. “Your investing in yourself which is the most rewarding thing you can do, and you should enjoy it.”
“In a world that is constantly changing, and the things that you feel you can control become even more elusive is a constant reminder to take time for yourself because if there is one thing that you can control, it is your wellbeing.” Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy, Giovanti says, but trying to stay grounded and in the moment can make insurmountable tasks much more attainable.