- So I'd like to start us with a brief mindfulness exercise
and then I'll introduce our guests
and we'll get started with the topic for today,
entrepreneurship and innovation and mindfulness,
how they intersect.
So let's start with just,
if you're sitting get your feet on the floor
and for my friends, you can turn your cameras off,
if that's more comfortable for you
to practice unobserved today, that's just fine.
So getting your feet on the floor,
bringing some uprightness and strength to your spine.
Maybe just really feeling where your body meets the chair,
and your feet meet the earth.
So that you're feeling grounded and centered.
And then if you'd like you can close your eyes
or simply soften your gaze.
The invitation for today, the practice of mindfulness today
is to simply come into the moment.
So often we use the breath, or the body, or conversation,
or movement as the anchor for the attention.
Today we're using the present moment as your anchor.
So consciously letting go
of all that's happened in the past.
And likewise setting down all that might happen
in the future and just really resting those things,
like you might rest a suitcase on the front porch
of your awareness and attention.
The front porch of your mind.
So just setting down everything in the past and the future
and coming into the present moment.
The sense of welcome and belonging.
A sense of quiet and peace.
Maybe re-remembering this place within you
where peace resides.
Right in this moment, you're safe.
You're safe right here and right now.
So just really resting in that, savoring that.
OK right here and right now,
nothing else for you to do or nowhere else for you to go.
There's nothing for you to strain after, strive after,
simply being in this moment.
With a sense of curiosity, acceptance,
really observing all that is here for you right now.
Maybe exploring your mind and your body and your being,
dwelling right here in this present moment.
So as we set aside these times for practice
just like an athlete would practice
for a game or a musician would practice.
These times of set-aside practice, train our attention.
They train our focus and our presence
to be right here and right now.
So that you can take this trained attention
and move it into your day-to-day life.
So that you can be focused and present each moment,
whether that's a moment of joy and aliveness,
whether it's a moment of sadness,
whether it's something in between.
You will be present and you will be focused
because you've practiced.
Your mind and your being are accustomed
to being in this place,
the moment, the present moment.
Doesn't mean that you give up on goals
or aspirations or sweet memories.
Just means that you are comfortable
being in the present moment even if it's uncomfortable.
You are able to dwell right here and right now.
And so savoring that ability,
savoring the strength of your focus and your presence,
closing your practice maybe by coming to an intention
for how you'd like to spend the rest
of this time together today.
That might be an intention for peace,
serenity, curiosity, awakeness, alertness, happiness.
I don't know what it is for you, but whatever it is,
just maybe choosing a word that
is a way that you'd like to be in this next hour or so.
So now moving your fingers and your toes,
bringing some movement to the rest of your body,
reopening your eyes.
They've been closed and becoming more aware
of your environment where you so
simply belong right in this moment.
So thank you so much for practicing with me.