The Importance Of Intention And Mindfulness In Entrepreneurship

By Meeta Vengapally

Most people don’t know this about me, but I have a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on mindfulness. Most people know me as an Instagram influencer and entrepreneur, but my roots lie in understanding not only the human brain, but also the power of energy, consciousness, and manifestation.

Some in the business world might argue that these studies don’t apply, but I’m a firm believer that entrepreneurship is truly a form of self-actualization, and when you raise your consciousness and energy in the world, this only adds to your business success.

Mindfulness teaches each individual about themselves, their deepest desires, and their daily intentions. You would probably not have become an entrepreneur if you didn’t feel compelled to actualize your most compelling and motivating goals, which is why the role of mindfulness in entrepreneurship is an important one. Perhaps your inclination towards entrepreneurship was to create freedom for yourself, help others to improve their lives, or to provide new innovations that make the world a better place.

Even if your intentions weren’t this noble, I promise you that you’re still starting something new and important because you’re acting on a deep desire within yourself. Let’s explore how to harness these intentions to make your business stronger.

What was your entrepreneurial spark moment?

For some people, the idea of starting a business can build slowly over time, while for others it can be a sudden “lightning in the sky” aha moment. Do you remember that spark of energy and excitement that led you to the entrepreneurial path in the first place? When we’re mindful of that inciting moment, we’re more able to tap into it again when, inevitably, things get challenging.

We come up against so many obstacles as entrepreneurs, but if we’re conscious of the positive motivating force that brought us here to begin with, we can always find the drive to keep going.

Ask and you shall receive: The art of manifesting

I’m not going to go too deeply into manifesting; there are hundreds of books about the topic. The key takeaway here is that what you want, what you truly desire, is yours for the taking if you align your energy with it. What does that mean? The easiest way I’ve come to understand it is raising your energy to the level of the thing you want. And how do you do this?

Close your eyes and imagine your business at the level of success that you dream of. What does that feel like in your bones? Does it make you smile with joy? I can tell you that this simple exercise just raised your energy level, and that energy level is completely aligned with what you’re trying to accomplish. Try this everyday—you’ll be amazed at the results.

Be led by your personal ethics rather than by rules

This is a big one for me. The reason that being led by your personal ethics instead of standard rules is important is because your ethics guide you down a path of authenticity and trueness to yourself. What you believe in makes you passionate, and when your business is aligned with what you believe in, you instill that passion and higher level of energy into everything you do.

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Now, think about how your energy changes when you’re merely adhering to rules. Your shoulders slump, your eyes aren’t as open, and your passion is diminished. Being mindful of your own ethics and your deepest beliefs about life will fill you with energy, especially when you apply these ethics to your daily work. Are you supposed to treat your employees well because it’s some kind of social standard? Or do your ethics lead you to believe that treating people well betters their lives as well as your own?

Entrepreneurs must lead by example

I cannot stress this enough, and it’s a big part of intention and mindfulness in entrepreneurship. To become the entrepreneur that you want to be, and to grow the business that you want, you need to act as if (as if you are already a successful entrepreneur, as if your business is already where you want it to be, and so on). Sure, you might not feel like a huge success yet, and some days it’s a Sisyphean effort to keep moving forward, but those are the days where you must take a breath and just try to embody the person you’re striving to become.

This not only elevates your energy, it elevates the energy of everyone around you. So many entrepreneurs have an infectious energy that inspires those around them, but I can promise you that many days they don’t feel it—they’re acting as if. This isn’t some form of lying to those around you, it a way to lift them up while lifting yourself up. The effects are pure magic.

Be as conscious of others as you are of yourself

Let me explain this one. It’s easy for us ambitious entrepreneurs to have a one-track mind, to be so focused on ourselves and our own goals that we forget the goals, intentions, and emotions of those around us. But this actually diminishes your own power and your ability to self-actualize. When we’re conscious of those around us, it does diminish our power but only makes it greater.

In this world, we’re all one massive tribe, so think of your business as a smaller tribe. Imagine how much more successful a tribe (or any group) can be when there is open communication and mutual understanding among all its members. When a tribe is in sync, it’s because they understand the individuals they’re working with to achieve a larger goal. Not only that, the more you try to understand others, the more you begin to understand yourself.

You’re on your own unique hero’s journey

If you’ve never read Joseph’s Campbell’s groundbreaking book The Hero With a Thousand Faces, it’s something that all entrepreneurs should check out. Like any hero’s journey, we entrepreneurs are on a difficult path with many obstacles in our way. There are twists and turns, and it’s our character, intelligence, mindfulness, and determination that will see us through to the other side.

On this path you will face challenges, not because you have made mistakes along the way, but because overcoming challenges is an important part of anything difficult that’s worth doing. You’ll run into storms, you’ll be attacked by wolves, your city will come crashing down, and a plague will strike—sometimes metaphorically but, as we’ve seen recently, sometimes literally. The obstacles that you face—and conquer—are a part of your own unique hero’s journey. Embrace them and learn from them.

Karma is a thing

There needs to be no religious connotation here. Karma exists, and to put it simply, the energy that you put out into the universe is what you’re going to get back. Every decision that you make out of mindfulness and ethics is going to bring a tidal wave of positive energy back towards you. This applies to the intention of your business as a whole.

Really ask yourself: what impact do I want my business to have? Is this a positive force for good, and am I undertaking it by supporting and benefiting others along the way? If the answer is yes, then karma is about to give you and your business a sweet kiss on the cheek. It’s just a matter of time.

Your business is going to teach you things about yourself, and with your actions you’re going to guide your business. That’s why I believe that entrepreneurship is a form of self-actualization, and the importance of mindfulness in entrepreneurship. You’re seeking something deep within yourself, and you’re touching others’ lives along the way. Be mindful, let ethics and passion guide the way, and you’ll find that your business becomes a reflection of yourself, your life, and the world that you wish to see. And all of this will make you a better, stronger person.

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About the Author

Meeta Vengapally is founder and CEO of Garnysh and a Top Influencer on social media, where she is a spokesperson for over 700 brands. Follow Meeta on Instagram, read her profile on Forbes, and see her articles and full bio at AllBusiness.com.

This article was originally published on AllBusiness.com.