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Elvis Duran, Morning Radio Show Star

Jan 25, 2017 47m 35s 26 insights
The host of the mega-popular Top 40 radio show, "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show," has never shied away from dishing out "real talk" to his millions of listeners, not even when it comes to his dramatic weight loss after "gastric sleeve" surgery. Duran is a longtime meditator and talks about keeping up with the practice while also trying to maintain his edge.
Actionable Insights

1. Live Life Fully Now

Learn from the dying by prioritizing being present for your life as it happens and nurturing relationships, to avoid regrets about not having lived fully.

2. Boost Presence Muscle

Consciously work to strengthen the ‘mental muscle’ of being fully present in the current moment, rather than dwelling on the past or future.

3. Observe Thoughts Without Engagement

During meditation, practice stepping out of the ’traffic’ of your thoughts and emotions to observe the contents of your mind without getting caught up in their stories.

4. Control Inner Dialogue

Take control of your inner voice by consciously directing what it says, rather than letting it have its own identity, as this simple shift can change your life.

5. Practice Situational Awareness

Actively observe your surroundings and how they affect you, rather than moving through life with ‘blinders on,’ to enhance your awareness of your current situation.

6. Pause to Appreciate Moments

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and fully appreciate significant experiences and opportunities as they unfold, rather than rushing through them.

7. Practice Mindful Eating

Be aware of and appreciate your food, including its origins and cultural significance, as an opportunity to connect with your passion for eating rather than just consuming it.

8. Minimize Automatic Pilot

Aspire to minimize time spent on ‘automatic pilot’ in life, consciously working to be present and aware, as this builds a mental muscle over time.

9. Learn from Life’s Challenges

View life’s challenges and unusual experiences as opportunities to learn and grow, noticing their impact and integrating them into your understanding of life.

10. Practice Bedtime Gratitude

Before going to bed, make a mental or written list of things you are grateful for, as this practice can promote happiness and aid in falling asleep.

11. Mirror Eye Self-Congratulation

Look yourself in the eye in a mirror and congratulate yourself for your day and life, acknowledging your blessings, as a form of self-awareness and positive mental exercise.

12. Start with Eight-Minute Meditation

Begin a meditation practice with short, eight-minute sessions daily to form habits and experience benefits, even with a busy lifestyle.

13. Simple Meditation Technique

To meditate, sit down, relax, focus on your breathing, and when thoughts arise, acknowledge them without judgment and let them pass like a leaf floating down a creek.

14. Utilize Guided Meditation

Use guided meditation, whether through apps, classes, or a personal teacher, to stay on track, overcome doubts about doing it ‘right,’ and benefit from the instructions and connection.

15. Re-engage with Meditation

If you fall off your meditation practice, don’t hesitate to return to it, as breaks can sometimes lead to a more profound awareness and appreciation of its benefits.

16. Reflect on Meditative Thoughts

Don’t discard thoughts that arise during meditation; instead, reflect on them later to gain deeper insights into your feelings and experiences.

17. Cultivate Curiosity in Conversation

Approach conversations, both professional and personal, with genuine curiosity to discover answers and take others on a journey with you, fostering better engagement and learning.

18. Lead by Example

Lead by example in your interactions and work, as it is the most effective way for people to understand who you are and connect with you authentically.

19. Practice Authentic Expression

Be authentic and vulnerable by letting your true emotions show, whether happiness, anger, or sadness, to foster genuine connection and intimacy with others.

20. Focus on Good Things

Despite negative news or challenging times, consciously choose to focus on the good things happening to maintain a positive outlook.

21. Commit to Writing by Writing

If contemplating writing a book, commit to the process by starting to write, as the content and direction will often become clear through the act of writing itself.

22. Be Vulnerable in Memoir

When writing a memoir, be prepared to ’let it all hang out’ and be completely vulnerable with your stories and experiences.

23. Pace Alcohol with Water

After a gastric sleeve procedure, pace alcohol consumption by having one drink followed by two glasses of water to manage reduced tolerance and avoid becoming an alcoholic.

24. Avoid Carbonated Beverages

If you’ve had a gastric sleeve procedure, avoid all carbonated beverages because they can bloat your stomach.

25. Incorporate Short Runs

Take opportunities to run short distances, like across a street before a ‘don’t walk’ sign flashes, to build and maintain physical fitness and appreciate improved stamina.

26. Avoid Political Commentary (Professional)

In public-facing professional roles, avoid engaging in political commentary, especially when your audience seeks a break from such topics, to maintain broad appeal and neutrality.