To build new habits, identify a ‘cue’ (e.g., leaving the bathroom), establish a ‘routine’ (e.g., 3 minutes of meditation), and create a ‘reward’ (e.g., tracking progress in an app) to reinforce the behavior.
Start a meditation practice with a realistic, short duration (e.g., 3 minutes daily) and gradually increase the time as the habit solidifies, eventually reaching longer sessions like 10 or 30 minutes.
To slowly strip stress from your body and improve intuition, practice Vedic meditation by sitting comfortably with eyes closed, gently and effortlessly repeating a mantra, and returning to it when thoughts arise.
For immediate relaxation and reduced reactivity, practice Shambhala meditation by sitting upright with eyes open, gazing softly downwards, and bringing attention to your breath for about 10 minutes.
Make decisions based on what ‘feels right’ or your gut intuition, even if logical reasons are not immediately apparent, as this can lead to powerful life changes.
Avoid the ‘comparison story’ with peers and focus on your own unique path, as constant comparison can lead to ‘instant torture’ and distract from personal growth.
Use mindfulness to draw the line between useful comparison (which can be motivating) and useless comparison (which is painful and wasted energy), recognizing when it becomes unproductive.
Share your personal struggles and vulnerabilities publicly, as this can inspire others, foster deep connection, and help people relate to your message.
When creating or communicating, prioritize delivering something genuinely useful to others rather than being burdened by narcissistic self-obsession or worrying about what people think of you.
In difficult conversations or transitions, speak from your heart; people tend to respect this, even if the message is challenging or emotional.
When uncertain about your next steps or career, ask trusted people what they perceive your greatest gifts or abilities to be, to generate new ideas and directions.
To pursue passion projects or new ventures, be willing to adjust your lifestyle, such as moving to a more affordable living situation, to free up resources and time.
Identify your passions (e.g., meditation) and combine them with your leadership or community-organizing abilities to create meaningful initiatives and shared experiences.
Organize gatherings that not only share an activity (like meditation) but also ‘hold space’ for safe, vulnerable conversations about real-life challenges (e.g., relationships, money, career).
When building a community, combine large-scale events that create mass connection with smaller, intimate peer-to-peer support groups to maintain depth and personal connection as you grow.
When creating something, stand for what you believe in and stay true to your vision, even if it means not appealing to everybody or facing criticism; trying to please everyone can lead to mediocrity.
Practice emotional intelligence in communication by understanding where others are coming from and adjusting your communication style to stay in sync, without alienating them with overly earnest or specific language.
Strive for a balance between being authentic and being approachable, ensuring your communication and initiatives are genuine without pushing people away with excessive earnestness or niche styles.
Connect meditation practice to active and important areas of people’s lives, such as creativity, sex, relationships, money, and career purpose, to increase engagement and perceived value.
Utilize meditation to enhance various components of your life, including improving your role as a lover, partner (romantic and business), and a creative person, leading to clearer decision-making.
Approach your meditation practice without a specific goal like ’enlightenment,’ instead focusing on consistent sitting, trusting that ‘whatever happens is perfect,’ even if you’re thinking or experiencing plateaus.
Create community and connection by starting clubs based on shared interests (e.g., cheeseburgers, biking), which can evolve into support groups or larger movements.
Look for ways to lend more purpose to your side projects and passions, such as turning a bike club into a bike share program for students in need, to increase meaning and impact.
When hosting group meditation events, provide a simple, short technique (e.g., 4 minutes) for newcomers who may have never meditated before, to ensure they have a positive initial experience.
Foster a community where participants are encouraged to explore different meditation techniques, talk to others about their practices, and utilize diverse resources to find what works best for them.
For events or community gatherings, offer tiered pricing with varying contribution levels to accommodate different financial means, making participation accessible while supporting growth.
Before expanding a concept globally, focus on refining, testing, and iterating it successfully in one location (e.g., a specific city) to ensure a strong foundation for broader reach.
In group settings, incorporate interactive elements like ‘make your own handshake’ or ‘snap instead of clap’ to break people out of their routines, loosen them up, and foster connection.
Seek out or join existing mindfulness clubs or groups in your community to practice meditation with like-minded people and build a consistent routine.