Understand that the mind is not fixed and can be changed through practice, leading to a richer and more amazing life; commit to exploring these methods.
Practice meditation to create a crucial ‘split second’ of time between an impulse or thought and your reaction, allowing you to choose a more skillful response.
Through practice, become aware of your mind’s preset qualities or negative tendencies, recognizing them as changeable ‘overlays’ rather than your true self, and actively work to modify them.
Realize that you are not defined by your mental habits and conditioning; instead, cultivate the ability to catch these patterns and consciously make different decisions.
Actively work to diminish the volume of self-centered thinking, not through self-deprecation, but by understanding the self as a temporary construction, allowing an attitude of ‘how can I help’ and love to naturally emerge.
Recognize that suffering often arises from viewing self and others as solid and permanent; instead, perceive them as temporary energy bursts to reduce psychic pain.
Recognize that a continuum of mind states exists, from dismal to luminous, and actively work towards spending more time in states of freedom, generosity, and wonder.
Start spiritual practice, such as meditation, at a young age and with great fervor, as the ego is stubborn and early, intense effort leads to tremendous progress, despite the uphill battle.
To practice true kindness, cultivate a high degree of awareness to gather actual data about another person’s needs, while also monitoring your own mind to avoid projecting a ‘savior complex’ or overriding what is truly needed.
Understand that kindness is not merely bland agreeability or niceness; it is an alert, aware response that provides what is truly needed, even if it requires forceful intervention.
When distracting or self-aggrandizing thoughts arise, respond with gentleness, humor, and acceptance rather than self-castigation, then redirect focus back to the task.
Recognize that the various internal voices, instincts, and feelings are temporary ‘brain farts’ rather than a permanent, central self, which can destabilize the illusion of a fixed identity.
Instead of suppressing desires like praise or attention, skillfully use their energy in a functional way for creative work, extracting the negative aspects and retaining the positive drive to elevate your art.
Avoid the ‘autopilot’ tendency to make one-time life dedications; instead, recognize that life requires constant juggling of many things, and the quality of life depends on the acuity of this juggling.
Let go of the pursuit of perfection and instead be okay with the messy, stumbling process of life, accepting that everything is happening at once.
If the goal is to embody spiritual insights rather than just understand them intellectually, prioritize meditation as it is a more powerful route than writing for this realization.
View writing not just as a separate activity, but as an integral part of your overall spiritual practice, using its challenges and insights for personal growth.
To understand other people or characters, search for a corresponding part or experience within yourself, believing in your ability to summon that internal corollary to foster empathy.
When encountering others, move beyond vague labels to seek increased specificity about their motivations and experiences, which is a form of heightened attention and can be equated with love.
When making instant judgments about others (e.g., in traffic), recognize these as ‘first drafts’ and remember that more information would likely reveal a different, more nuanced story, fostering a less judgmental attitude.
Engage in writing as a high-attention mode, focusing on the text and intuitive reactions without internal narration or rational decision-making, which can quiet the ‘monkey mind’ and reduce rumination.
Practice writing for several hours daily and engage in meditation, as these activities can lead to a happier state of mind and neurological pleasure.
When experiencing frustration or self-loathing during creative work, recognize these feelings as temporary parts of the process rather than permanent realities, creating distance from the torment.
Embrace a patient approach to rigorous revision, understanding that it’s a long process that will eventually lead to good results, making it part of the enjoyable challenge.
Understand that creative inspiration (’the muse’) visits those who are actively engaged in their work, so maintain consistent effort rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.
Accept and embrace the necessity of producing a ‘crappy first draft’ to get initial ideas down, understanding that true quality emerges through iterative revision rather than initial perfection.
When your own writing seems bad, view it as a positive sign that your critical taste and discernment are still active, rather than a cause for despair.
Cultivate a quiet mind through practices like meditation, as this allows qualities like love and kindness to emerge naturally, like water filling a basket, without conscious effort.
Be aware that self-deprecation can be a subtle form of self-aggrandizement or ‘backdoor ego,’ reinforcing a sense of self-importance rather than genuinely diminishing it.
See the natural process of aging, making mistakes, and experiencing loss as a blessing, as it diminishes the illusion of being the center of the universe and not meant to go on forever.
Actively incorporate kindness as a real and important intellectual concept in public discourse, recognizing its core role in human life and avoiding the dysfunction of its absence.
Approach art and life with a deep respect for mystery, avoiding the tendency to nail things down too tightly or be overly programmatic, allowing for freedom and openness.
When trying to understand complex or disturbing phenomena, resist the urge to form theories or make quick judgments; instead, cultivate an open, listening mode to absorb information and let it percolate without closing things off.
Recognize that true kindness may sometimes require an ’edge,’ such as protective or even angry kindness, especially when it involves standing up for principles or engaging in necessary confrontation, rather than avoiding conflict.