In times of uncertainty, “love your questions themselves” and avoid rushing to answers, as they may not be livable or available. This approach allows questions to teach you and prevents denying the gravity of complex issues.
Actively seek and acknowledge what is life-giving, creative, and worthy of aspiration (“the generative story”) to counteract the overwhelming focus on catastrophic narratives. Recognize that those leaning into their “best humanity” are the majority.
Understand and leverage your capacity for positive, life-giving action to effectively meet the challenges of the current extraordinary and perilous times. This involves confronting reality directly and articulating your personal agency.
Expand your understanding of “vocation” beyond your job title to include all the multitudinous ways you contribute to the world, such as being a friend, parent, teacher, or kind person. These roles are elemental and defining, shaping your presence in the world.
Orient yourself towards “wholeness” and flourishing in yourself and institutions, rather than perfection. This means integrating all aspects of human experience and aiming for a life of “inner abundance” regardless of external conditions.
Clarify your “pure intention” for why you want to be a certain way or have a particular presence, and hold lightly to specific goals. This allows for action based on clear motivation while accepting that you don’t control the results of your actions.
Recognize and embrace moments of failure, frailty, pain, and precarity as opportunities for significant growth. This counter-cultural perspective allows for learning and re-engagement rather than viewing shortcomings as definitive failures.
Comprehend love not merely as a feeling, but as action and ways of being, especially in navigating differences within relationships. This understanding allows you to stay in relationship and act with care even when feelings are not perfect.
Maintain the question “how to live a worthy life” as a constant companion and aspiration, using it as a “thresher” to evaluate how you spend your time. This continuous discernment leads to ongoing learning and integration of insights.
Combat existential despair by refocusing your attention on real people and problems “close to home” that you can comprehend and influence. This makes large structural issues less abstract and provides concrete ways to engage.
When addressing problems, consciously choose love and care as your motivation, rather than anger, hatred, or fear. This provides a sustainable and positive fuel for long-term work and personal well-being.
Actively cultivate knowledge of what you love and how to take joy, even amidst challenges and brokenness. This provides essential fuel and prevents burnout for long-term, important work.
Strive to be a “live human signpost” in challenging times, offering guidance and hope to others. This positive imprint on lives around you is a measure of a wise life.
Actively practice navigating differences in relationships, as this is a key aspect of love and allows relationships to endure even when feelings are not ideal or understanding is incomplete.
Develop and trust your intuition as a “course corrector” in life. By consistently engaging with guiding questions, intuition becomes more reliable and helps navigate decisions more intuitively.
View your work and contributions as part of “multiple lifetimes” or generations, acknowledging that your efforts may not be completed in your lifetime. This can be a relief, reducing pressure for immediate, total solutions.
Consciously decide not to use words as weapons for arguing or putting others down. This promotes healthier communication and avoids pathological cultural habits.
Recognize and acknowledge that you are your “own most vexing problem.” This self-awareness is presented as a beginning of spiritual life and deeper self-understanding.
Actively seek instruction on how to lead a worthy life and how to love, as most secular formation ignores these fundamental truths.
Understand and internalize the idea that “we are all one,” not just as a comforting saying, but as a truth supported by science. This perspective fosters connection.
Value and integrate both the wisdom of experience (e.g., the Dalai Lama’s) and the righteous impatience of youth (e.g., young activists). Both energies are collectively needed to navigate complex challenges.
Recognize that with time and age, you can gain more space for thoughtfulness and discernment. This is a natural evolution that can lead to deeper self-understanding and wisdom.
Cultivate “ardor” (passionate enthusiasm) and “remembering” (re-situating, reorienting) in your aspirations. These practices prevent aspirations from becoming empty and ensure sustained engagement.
Be aware of the tendency to use questions as a way to hide or avoid being interrogated yourself. Asking questions can be a powerful but sometimes evasive tactic.