Member-only story
How to Focus on the Present Moment and Calm Your Fears
“Your past is your ego. Your future is your pride.”
Six days ago, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first NBA title in 50 years. On the strength of a god-like effort from their extraordinarily talented, Greek star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks reached the summit of the basketball world. But this post isn’t about basketball.
It’s about what mindfulness and emotional intelligence are all about.
What this two-time MVP and now world champion has learned about the mental and emotional side of the game of basketball is most important to you and me as we journey through our own path in life. I want to share his words here — there are lessons in mindfulness and presence that we can all benefit from.
“I figured out a mindset to have. When you focus on the past, that’s your ego.
And when I focus on the future it’s my pride.
And I kind of like try to focus on the moment, in the present. And that’s humility, that’s being humble. That’s not setting no expectations. That’s going out there and enjoying the game. Competing at a high level.
And I think I’ve had people throughout my life that helped me with that but that’s a skill I’ve tried to perfect it, master it. And it’s been working so far so I’m not going to stop.” — Giannis Antetokounmpo
