Recognize that actions truly beneficial for personal well-being, such as strong relationships and community engagement, are also inherently better for the world, and vice versa.
Hold the question “How may I help?” in your mind like a mantra throughout the day to discover opportunities to be helpful, even within a challenging profession.
Engage in Zen practice by asking “What am I?” and observing thoughts as mere phenomena, allowing you to react to the present moment from intuition rather than preconceived stories.
Approach Buddhism as “something to do” rather than “something to believe in,” focusing on active engagement and practice.
Understand that the point of spiritual practice is not solely to achieve personal peace or nirvana, but rather to use that peace to perceive and respond to the suffering of others.
Apply the concept of “don’t know soap” to clear your mind, approaching thoughts and ideas with a spirit of ’not knowing’ to allow intuition to rise and react to the present moment.
Recognize that helping others is a fundamental need for living a meaningful and purposeful life, and cultivate sensitivity to opportunities to do so.
Rather than making drastic, ego-driven career changes, leverage your current position and privilege to help others and propagate positive ideas in the world.
Mindfully assess your personal situation, available time, and levers of power in your life to determine the most effective ways you can contribute to helping others.
Actively inquire how your personal life and actions intersect with the social problems you observe, seeking ways to contribute to solutions.
Continuously examine your own biases and assumptions, especially concerning race, to understand your personal situation and responsibilities in addressing societal issues.
Engage in a regular, committed meditation practice, such as 40 minutes daily, to cultivate inner peace and self-understanding.
During meditation, follow your breath, mentally repeat a mantra (e.g., Kwan Sem Bo Sal), and add a layer of inquiry by asking “What is this?” or “Who is this?” to bring attention back to the moment.
When meditating, don’t believe that simply saying the mantra perfectly is the goal; instead, maintain curiosity and ask “What is this?” to stay present.
Continue meditation practice, understanding that it changes your behavior and makes you more compassionate, even if you don’t always perceive the transformation yourself.
Engage in spiritual practices to develop the ability to cut through personal feelings and act with compassion in the moment, even as life’s circumstances change.
Understand that engaging in spiritual practice does not exempt you from life’s challenges or “cause and effect”; accept that difficulties are a natural part of life.
Dedicate your voice to persuading others to adopt ways of life that are beneficial for both themselves and the planet, as learned from the “No Impact Man” experience.
Focus on using your current job title and position to help others, rather than being concerned with whether your job title inherently sounds helpful.
Advocate for fair hiring policies at your workplace that avoid relying solely on personal networks, ensuring that diverse and qualified candidates have equal opportunities.
Actively support and participate in organizations run and owned by people of color by spending money, giving power, and offering your support.
Identify and actively join organizations that are working to address systemic racism in society.