Practice meditation by focusing on your breath and observing distractions without judgment, understanding that the goal is to ‘surf the chaos’ and not be ‘owned’ by your thoughts, rather than achieving a special calm state. The moment you see you’ve become distracted is when you are meditating correctly, as this awareness prevents your mind from blindly driving your actions.
Meditate regardless of external comfort or environment (e.g., an uncomfortable chair, a smelly van) because the practice is about internal attention and awareness, not requiring perfect external conditions. You don’t need to tell yourself the story that you need the right conditions, because they’re almost certainly not going to come.
Cultivate self-awareness through meditation to anticipate and mitigate ego-driven, negative behaviors such as overeating, substance abuse, or toxic communication before they escalate. This allows you to ‘see the storm coming’ and make fewer dumb mistakes.
Combine various wellness practices like medication (if prescribed by a physician), meditation, talk therapy, physical exercise, sufficient sleep, and healthy eating. These modalities work in concert towards the shared goal of improving mental well-being and making you saner.
Practice meditation to train your brain to focus and reduce distraction, similar to how you would physically exercise your body. This helps manage the constant barrage of information and movement in modern life.
When feeling overwhelmed or on the verge of a panic attack, intentionally disconnect from distractions like your phone and headphones in a quiet space. This allows you to slow down, process thoughts, and prevent them from driving you blindly.
Begin meditation with short sessions, such as 3-5 minutes, using an app like Headspace. This can help you experience initial benefits like a ‘zen feeling’ and make the practice more accessible, even in public places.
In creative work, trust the natural flow; if you are struggling significantly with a piece, it might be feedback that it’s not the right path or ’not a good one.’ Good, catchy ideas often ‘come out in like 10 minutes’ when they feel natural.
Prioritize listenability and simplicity in your creative output over showing off technical skill. The goal is to create something that resonates easily with the audience, rather than including ‘weird parts’ that might throw them off.
In musical performance, practice restraint and thoughtfulness, focusing on playing ‘in the pocket’ to capture a vibe rather than constantly demonstrating technical prowess. This serves the song better than ‘crazy fills every five seconds.’
Regularly ‘purge’ or declutter your possessions to realize you can be fine with less. This practice can change your outlook on the world and help you become more comfortable with going without material things.
Utilize available disability accommodations, such as handicap placards for parking or airport line skipping, when applicable. These perks can provide practical benefits and ease daily challenges.
When faced with inaccessible environments, improvise solutions for physical challenges, such as using road cases as makeshift stairs to get onto a stage. This allows you to overcome barriers and continue your activities.
When others show discomfort around you, use it as a ’litmus test’ for their own insecurity rather than internalizing it as a personal failing. Often, ’the people that are insecure with themselves are the ones that obviously feel uncomfortable around me.’
Explore meditation resources like ‘Against the Stream’ or Noah Levine’s ‘Dharma Punks’ if you are part of the punk rock community or in recovery. These resources offer a modern school of Buddhism tailored to relatable experiences.
Read ‘Buddhism Without Beliefs’ by Stephen Batchelor to understand Buddhism as a practical ‘something to do’ rather than a religion. For a slightly longer and newer perspective, ‘Why Buddhism is True’ by Robert Wright is also recommended.
Incorporate websites like Pitchfork (for new record reviews) and Metacritic (for aggregated reviews of movies, TV, and music) into your morning routine to discover new media and stay informed.
Focus your social media activity on specific, important topics or interests (e.g., your son or meditation) rather than tweeting about everything. This can make your online presence more intentional and impactful.