Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa business area for Serge Ferrari, NITIN GOVILA is constantly on the move. But despite very busy days he finds time to recharge his batteries to be in tune with himself. His secret? For 19 years now he’s been meditating as an integral part of his life.
After having collaborated for seven years with a French roofing company, Nitin joined
Serge Ferrari in 2016, a choice that reflects his desire to meet new challenges in a more extensive geographical
area.
“Serge Ferrari stands out by their ability to be active in many market segments and have a desire to function as a
local company in the countries where they are established. The Group takes on more and more local people to deal with
markets that vary from country to country. The scope covered by the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa business area
means we rub shoulders and deal with various cultures that lead us to aim at both multiple and unique market segments.
Such diversity makes work both very interesting and very demanding,” he explains.
His first meditation experience dates back to 1998 when one of his sales managers at
that time raised his awareness and introduced him to Heartfulness Meditation. This was a discovery that did not occur
without questions.
“It took me a certain time and understanding to plunge into the first meditation session but I’ve never regretted
making that choice because it turned out to be a very good way to find a balance between my working life and my
personal life,” says Nitin.
Heartfulness Meditation began in India, and is now practiced in over 130 countries
around the world. It is a silent meditation with attention centered on the heart, and it can be practiced anywhere,
without excessive requirements.
“There is no dress code, nor a position to respect; just close your eyes and direct your attention to your heart. You
can meditate anywhere, at any time, even in a noisy environment, in a plane, in a train, or in the office – whenever
you have a moment to spare. Depending how much time you have, you can meditate for a short period of 20 or 30 minutes,
or for an hour. It doesn’t matter where or how long, it all depends on your willpower,” explains Nitin.
Meditation provides inner peace
that ultimately reflects
— consciously or not —
outwards and is part of our ability
to interact with our environment.
Meditation improves our concentration.
You can really manage to concentrate
when your mind is not disturbed.
As for taking an hour or more each day to meditate, he adds: “Instead of thinking we must take so much time to meditate, we need to reverse the perspective. Meditating enables us to have more time, inasmuch as a mind that has meditated allows us to do everything more efficiently.”
During those 19 years of regular practice Nitin has observed many benefits:
“Meditation provides inner peace that ultimately reflects — consciously or not — outwards and is part of our ability
to interact with our environment. Meditation improves our concentration. You can really manage to concentrate when
your mind is not disturbed. In that respect there is also some serious reasoning to integrate: if meditation is
introspective and initially requires effort, we don’t concentrate in order to meditate but we meditate to develop the
ability to concentrate. At Serge Ferrari, I have considerable responsibilities and so my meditation helps me face up
to any problem or react to challenges in that context. That’s one of the reasons why I continue with Heartfulness
Meditation. And today I cannot do without it.”
At Serge Ferrari, I have considerable
responsibilities
and so my meditation helps me face up to any problem or
react to challenges in that context.
That’s one of the reasons why I continue
with Heartfulness Meditation.
And today I cannot do without it.
In 2001, Nitin became a life coach (trainer) for Heartfulness Meditation. In his spare
time he accompanies people to discover meditation by giving them some keys to learning. Voluntary coaching satisfies a
desire to share with others what he sees as freely accessible kindness.
“No money interest motivated that choice. I simply want to exchange with people who would like to understand better
what they practice,” he explains. “Briefly, as you will have understood, everyone who feels the need can start and use
it. All Heartfulness Meditation coaches are volunteers. Likewise, being a coach has no hierarchical notion. Those who
practice are asked to meditate at their own pace and conveniece of time; we lead them all to evolve at their own pace,
depending on their own feelings. When I speak for the first time with a beginner, I tell him, ‘You only need only one
thing – your willpower.’”
In short, you can understand that all who feel the need are capable of meditating. There’s no particular esoteric need or initiation rite liable to stir up skepticism. It’s sufficient to want and be ready to dive deep into yourself.
Reprinted with permission from Serge Ferrari’s internal magazine, Zebu, printed in English, French and German.
Nitin Govila
