Practice non-dual mindfulness by turning attention inward to find the ‘knower’ or ‘seer,’ realizing the illusory nature of the separate self and that you are identical to consciousness itself. This shift provides decisive, freeing insight into the nature of mind, available sooner than one might expect.
Aim to erase the boundary between formal meditation and daily life by recognizing there is no fundamental difference, punctuate every period of the day with a practice-oriented mindset, and engage in many shorter sessions rather than long, infrequent ones. This approach fosters continuous mindfulness and avoids segmenting life into ‘practice’ and ’non-practice’ periods.
Cultivate compassion by recognizing the profound role of luck in all life outcomes (e.g., health, birth, intelligence) and the universal experience of suffering, confusion, fear, and disappointment that all people share. This understanding makes compassion the only appropriate attitude towards others, as ‘we’re all in a mess together.’
Focus on influencing public opinion by actively identifying and correcting bad ideas while amplifying better ones, as ideas are the most potent force for safeguarding and increasing human well-being. This offers immense leverage in improving society, as the world is mostly filled with good people misguided by bad ideas.
When engaging in public discourse, prioritize absolute clarity, honesty, and comprehensiveness, recognizing your responsibility to the audience and the duty to speak clearly on important topics without evasion. This builds credibility and fosters productive dialogue, even on controversial issues.
Rather than striving for constant equanimity, focus on developing the ability to recover quickly from emotional disequilibrium (e.g., anger, outrage, fear) when it arises. These emotions can serve as valuable ‘salience signals’ that warrant attention and appropriate response to real dangers.
Understand the difference between genuine compassion and ‘idiot compassion,’ which can lead to inaction or non-engagement in the face of real danger or injustice. Remaining silent when important values are threatened is a failure to understand the sane project of maintaining human well-being.
Be quick to apologize and correct errors when wrong, especially in public discourse, to maintain intellectual honesty and credibility. Avoid exaggerating flaws, even of genuinely contemptible figures, as this is unnecessary and destroys your credibility.
Protect your mental well-being by intelligently curating your social media engagement, focusing on putting out your message and avoiding excessive engagement with negative feedback or things you cannot influence. This prevents unnecessary mental pain and distraction.
Deliberately build resilience against ‘cancellation’ to create a space where smart, well-intentioned people can speak honestly in public without fear of severe repercussions. This helps foster a safer environment for open discourse and challenging taboos.
Recognize conversation as the sole non-violent tool for influencing others, fostering cooperation, and resolving conflicts. Engage with the goal of either persuading others to your values or being open to adopting theirs, as convergence is essential for societal progress.
Steer clear of dogmatism and identity politics in conversations, as these approaches hinder productive dialogue and prevent the convergence necessary for resolving societal challenges. They are ’the wrong algorithms’ for constructive engagement.
When considering social policy or justice, employ philosophical tools like John Rawls’s ‘original position’ by imagining decisions from behind a ‘veil of ignorance,’ where you don’t know your own identity in society. This helps virtually all people converge on fair and just solutions.
If you haven’t started meditating, consider this a direct encouragement to begin the practice for mental well-being and contemplative development. It is a sign to start your journey.
Take advantage of promotional offers for meditation app subscriptions to access guided meditations and community support, potentially sharing a gift subscription with a friend or family member. This can help you and others stay engaged without losing your mind.