Consciously define and articulate your top-level goal or mission statement for your life, such as ‘make awesome stuff and be kind while doing it,’ to guide your actions and ensure alignment with your core values.
Explicitly state your top-level motivation or purpose to yourself first thing in the morning and revisit it throughout the day, as it is a powerful practice for staying aligned with your goals.
Use your articulated top-level goal as a yardstick to measure choices, asking ‘Does this go toward what I’m all about?’ to make decisions more intentionally.
Counter the natural human tendency for ’either/or’ explanations by intentionally considering that both individual actions and societal structures matter and interact, leading to a more accurate and compassionate understanding.
Strive to hold both structural issues and individual actions in mind, fostering a compassionate understanding of other people’s positions rather than passing judgment, which leads to greater accuracy and personal growth.
Recognize that individual achievement is influenced by societal structures, support, and opportunity, and avoid solely focusing on individual effort without acknowledging structural inequality and racism.
When facing serious setbacks or crumbling dreams, appeal to your higher-level goals to find flexibility and consider alternative ways to achieve your ultimate purpose, rather than fixating on a specific, now-impossible path.
Intentionally incorporate challenging activities like woodworking, music, long walks, or exercise into your life as a form of rest, as great people view rest and work as two sides of the same coin.
Avoid working when tired, go to bed when you feel tired, and avoid waking up to an alarm to ensure adequate rest, as even gritty individuals prioritize sleep and recovery.
When feeling tired while working, step away to practice mindfulness, lie down, or connect with loved ones or pets, as these short breaks can prevent burnout and improve focus.
Integrate mindfulness and compassion into your daily interactions and work process, as it improves relationships, which in turn enhances your work and creates an upward spiral of benefits.
Actively seek ‘hot’ emotional experiences, such as intentionally failing at something, rather than just intellectual understanding, as these visceral experiences are crucial for personal change and learning.
Dedicate time to reading and thinking about scientific findings and concepts, as this metacognitive reflection is a valuable component for personal growth and understanding.
Process experiences and learnings through writing and conversation, as these methods aid in deep reflection and understanding, allowing you to fully grasp concepts and emotions.
Seek out and observe role models who demonstrate desired behaviors or skills, as visual modeling can be far more effective for learning than just reading or theoretical understanding.
Engage in a ’taste testing’ process by trying out many different activities and fields early in your career and life to discover what genuinely sparks your passion, as you cannot know what you will enjoy in advance.
Actively choose to be present in the moment with loved ones to avoid living entirely in future desired states and missing out on current life.
Remember the quote ‘be kind to all you meet, for each carries their own heavy burden’ daily, especially during difficult times, to foster compassion for others’ visible and invisible struggles.
Engage in regular physical activity like yoga, as demonstrated by the grit researcher, to support physical and mental well-being and aid in sustained effort.
Download the ‘10% with Dan Harris’ meditation app to access guided meditations for stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, and self-compassion, participate in live Zoom community sessions, and listen to ad-free podcast episodes.
Utilize the free ‘Coronavirus Sanity Guide’ meditations available on the 10% Happier app to develop coping skills for fear, stress, and anxiety during the pandemic.