Adopt a consistent meditation practice, ideally twice daily, as it subtly but profoundly transforms your life, helps process significant events, and maintains sanity amidst challenges.
Consciously prioritize “eulogy virtues” like kindness, generosity, and compassion over “resume virtues” such as career achievements, to orient your life spiritually and find deeper, lasting meaning.
Find answers and direction by going within and getting quiet, as this internal “GPS” provides true, sustainable peace and equanimity, rather than relying on external noise or gratification.
Strive to make your mind a servant rather than a master, recognizing that being enslaved to its constant thoughts, self-loathing, or anxiety is a source of suffering, especially in the modern world.
Cultivate the ability to be quiet by yourself, understanding that this internal stillness is fundamental for solving problems, fostering cooperation, and enabling deep, impactful leadership, as “all of the world’s problems stem from man’s inability to be quiet in a room by himself.”
If you believe external successes like fame or wealth will bring ultimate happiness, pursue them to disprove this belief to yourself, then turn to the deeper, more meaningful work of internal quietude.
Utilize meditation to tap into a wellspring of creativity, as it can generate a flood of new ideas and connect you to a larger source of inspiration, enhancing your work.
Approach creativity with humility, viewing genius as an external entity you petition for inspiration, and focus on the action of creation without claiming credit for the outcomes, as “the fruits of the labor are not yours.”
Concentrate on the act of making your work and “just keep making it,” detaching from the outcomes or “fruits of the labor,” as these are beyond your control and not your responsibility.
If you possess creative talents, especially writing, actively create your own work to utilize unexploited abilities and generate opportunities, rather than passively waiting for external recognition or provision.
Develop a meditation practice to strengthen your instincts and improve your ability to quickly assess people and situations, guiding your decisions in collaborations and personal interactions.
Cultivate a strong internal “GPS” to quickly size up people and discern their true intentions, especially when encountering those who may have ulterior motives or “vampiric energy.”
Cherish and cultivate friendships with individuals who genuinely connect with you, irrespective of your public persona or achievements, as these relationships are more likely to be authentic and lasting.
Actively nourish your life by reading books that resonate positively with you and by decisively removing toxic individuals from your social circle.
Embrace your current life circumstances, whatever they may be (e.g., illness, success, financial struggle), as your personal “yoga” or spiritual practice, finding lessons and growth within them.
Adopt a “marathon” mentality for your career, understanding that after a highly visible success, it’s acceptable and often beneficial to step back, pursue quieter projects, or take a break.
Prioritize engaging in work and projects that genuinely “light you up” and resonate with your personal values, trusting your good taste and intuition as your guide.
Strive to create work that is both high-quality (“good”) and widely appreciated (“popular”), rejecting the false dichotomy that one must sacrifice quality for visibility or vice versa.
Endeavor to create work that contributes valuable, spiritually informed content to the world, counteracting the prevalent toxicity and noise with centeredness and positive influence.
Counteract the mind’s tendency to view current challenges or situations as an “end” by recognizing that you are likely just in a “middle chapter” of your life’s story, with more possibilities ahead.
To slow down the perception of time and enrich your experience, consciously observe the world in a vital, engaged way, similar to how children experience everything as new.
When practicing mantra meditation, aim for effortlessness in repeating the mantra, understanding that even the intention to think it is sufficient, and thoughts are simply a natural release of stress.
When seeking spiritual instruction, be prepared to invest financially in a way that “pinches a little,” as this exchange of energy can increase your commitment and perceived value of the practice.
Be aware of projection in your relationships; often, what you perceive as someone else’s problem might be a reflection of your own unmet needs or issues.
Resist the urge to be guided by external pressures or the “voices” of others’ expectations, especially regarding public relevance or career trajectory, and instead follow your internal compass.
Avoid excessive focus on future goals, as it can distract you from recognizing and seizing present opportunities that are already coming your way.
Be mindful that complaining about the challenges of success can be isolating, as few people are receptive to such grievances, so find appropriate outlets or internal strategies for processing these feelings.