Recognize that tying your self-worth to external accomplishments (like financial success, accolades, or relationships) can lead to internal suffering and a feeling of emptiness, even when outwardly successful. Instead, aim for actions that come from a desire to lift others up, rather than to prove yourself.
Share your deepest, most shameful past traumas or insecurities with trusted individuals. This act of radical vulnerability can lead to a profound sense of inner freedom, lift a heavy weight off your shoulders, and deepen connections with others by giving them permission to share their own stories.
If you are suffering or in a bad mood, bring nonjudgmental, friendly awareness to the present moment and the sensations in your body. This simple awareness acts as ‘kryptonite for the ego,’ stopping the mental spinning of planning, hating, or wanting, and causing the suffering to evaporate, even if only for nanoseconds.
Engage in a regular meditation practice, even if it’s just 1-5 minutes a day, to build a baseline of mental strength. This daily practice ‘supercharges’ your ability to apply mindfulness techniques effectively in acute, stressful situations and helps train your mind over time.
Understand that meditation is fundamentally about training your mind, which is a trainable asset. You can systematically develop desirable qualities like patience, compassion, and calm, while actively deemphasizing unwanted traits like anger or selfishness.
Challenge societal conditioning that discourages men from expressing emotions or being vulnerable. By revealing your authentic, caring, and vulnerable self, you can foster deeper trust and connection with others, inspiring them to do the same.
Aim to cultivate a ‘beautiful state’ of mind, characterized by love, joy, peace, harmony, and creativity, rather than an unsustainable ‘peak state.’ When you recognize you’re in a ‘suffering state’ (ego-driven resentment, anger, etc.), consciously disassociate your ego from it to return to a beautiful state.
Repeatedly share your personal trauma or difficult experiences until the fear and shame associated with them diminish. This process helps you regain control over the narrative, making it less emotionally charged and allowing you to speak about it freely.
Actively work towards forgiving yourself and others who have caused you pain. Holding onto hatred or resentment does not serve your personal peace or humanity, and releasing it can bring a profound sense of inner peace.
Balance spiritual beliefs and practices with common sense, especially regarding physical well-being. Take practical steps to care for your body (e.g., seeking medical attention for injuries) while also engaging in prayer or mental practices.
When facing an acutely stressful situation, take deep, intentional breaths to physiologically and psychologically calm yourself. Simultaneously, employ basic mindfulness by tuning into where the fear or worry manifests in your body, pulling you out of the ‘story’ of anxiety, even for brief moments.
Do not expect to achieve ‘overwhelming calm’ in stressful situations, especially without a strong meditation baseline, as this expectation can lead to self-flagellation. Accept that a degree of nervousness is normal and can even keep you alert and on your toes.
Practice a daily 12-15 minute ‘soul sink’ meditation that includes breathing strategies, visualizing your daily intention, and expressing gratitude. Incorporate a personalized visualization that cultivates compassion (e.g., gathering people into a dance party), perspective (e.g., seeing Earth from space to diminish problems), and a sense of abundance/possibility (e.g., expanding universes).
When confronted with an annoying or frustrating sound or situation (e.g., a partner’s snoring), try making it the focus of your awareness. Meditating on the sounds or sensations can transform frustration into a sense of tenderness or acceptance.
Reject the idea that your age limits your potential or dreams. Avoid focusing on age as a limiting factor, as it can create a mental barrier to pursuing what you want to achieve.
Maintain a deep curiosity about people, ideas, and how things work, continuously seeking to learn and understand. This student mindset helps you distill complex challenges into simple, actionable tools for a better life.
Consider sharing your personal vulnerabilities and struggles publicly, especially if you have a platform, to serve a broader mission. This can create awareness, give others permission to open up, and lead to unexpected positive impact and connection.
Participate in emotional intelligence workshops or group therapy sessions to explore past traumas, resentments, and pain points. These structured environments can help you process difficult experiences and clarify your vision for the future.
Before sharing a deeply personal or vulnerable truth with loved ones, ask them: ‘Is there anything I could ever say or do that would make you not love me?’ Their response can quickly indicate their openness and readiness to accept your truth.
For technical or athletic endeavors, regularly visualize the precise movements and repetitions in your mind. This mental practice can significantly enhance physical performance and help you achieve peak results.
Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset by constantly seeking ways to ’turn dirt into gold,’ add value, solve problems, and build relationships. Be proactive in learning all aspects of business (marketing, sales, branding) and execute daily with an ‘athlete mode’ intensity to achieve financial goals.
Dedicate significant time daily to connecting with successful individuals on LinkedIn, asking questions, and learning their stories. Leverage these connections to host networking events, secure sponsorships, offer consulting services, and generate income streams.
Define your personal ‘religion’ as one centered on love, inner peace, and lifting humanity up. This philosophical stance guides your interactions and life choices towards a more compassionate existence.