Recognize that you are in control of your own life and have the power to make different choices. Courageously change aspects of your life (career, relationships, location) that do not bring you joy, understanding that prioritizing your own well-being is ultimately beneficial for everyone around you, much like putting on your own oxygen mask first.
Live an authentic life that is deeply aligned with your personal values. Inauthenticity creates a void and a ‘fracture’ in your core self, which people often try to fill with unhealthy coping mechanisms like sugar, alcohol, or other distractions.
Prioritize your ‘being’ – who you are and how you live – as the fundamental foundation for all creative output. The ‘making’ of art or creative work will then naturally emerge as a ‘reverberation’ of your authentic state of being, rather than being the primary focus.
When engaging in any creative act, prioritize making the best possible thing from your heart, without primarily focusing on external outcomes, audience reception, or commercial success. Trying to create for an outcome or for others can ‘water down’ the art and ‘fracture the core of who you are’.
Define ‘art’ as your curated output in life and strive to live in an ‘artful way’ by being fully engaged, paying attention, and making each choice count. Avoid ‘sleepwalking’ through your days by repeating yesterday’s patterns without conscious thought.
Approach all knowledge with humility and an open mind, recognizing that much of what we ‘know’ are reflections and thoughts, not absolute, unchangeable facts. Be open to being surprised and learning new perspectives, even in established fields like medicine.
Be skeptical of rigid ’truths’ and established norms, as much of what is accepted as fact can be wrong, obsolete, or limiting. Challenge assumptions and be willing to go beyond conventional boundaries to discover new possibilities.
Cultivate a mindset where learning and understanding are prioritized over being ‘right.’ Embrace opportunities to learn when proven wrong, fostering curiosity rather than competition or ego.
Let go of the flawed idea of ‘hero worship’ by recognizing that even high-profile or successful individuals are complex humans with insecurities and struggles, just like everyone else. This helps in personal growth and avoids unhealthy comparisons.
Engage in deep listening during conversations, as people often reveal their true needs, wants, and identity even when they claim not to know themselves. Listen for what ’lights up’ for you, as they may be telling you exactly what’s going on without realizing it.
When giving critical feedback, externalize the critique by focusing on the ’thing’ (e.g., ’these lyrics’ or ’this model’) rather than making it a personal affront to the ‘person.’ This approach makes feedback more specific, external, and productive for collaboration.
Replace the phrase ‘I can’t do that’ with ‘I haven’t done it yet.’ This simple linguistic shift helps maintain an open mindset about your capabilities and potential, encouraging practice and discovery.
Recognize that insecurity is only a hindrance if it prevents you from authentically expressing and sharing what truly matters to you and what is ‘in your heart.’ Overcome this barrier to allow your true self to emerge.
Understand that creativity is an eternal and limitless resource, not something that can be ‘used up.’ While you may experience energy depletion, engaging in diverse creative practices actually enhances all of them, rather than diminishing any single one.
To find your authentic voice in a new creative domain (e.g., songwriting or writing), commit to consistent practice and production, treating it as a ‘hobby.’ Trust that your unique voice will naturally evolve and emerge through dedicated work over time.
Actively experiment with different tools, methods, and starting points to break old creative patterns and discover new approaches. Try new instruments, different chord progressions, or writing to pre-made beats to ‘shake things up’ and surprise yourself.
Beware of assuming that your current way of working is the best simply because it’s familiar. Be open to trying completely different approaches, using new ‘palettes,’ or collaborating with different people to avoid limiting beliefs and foster new creative possibilities.
In creative projects, generate an abundance of material (e.g., writing many more songs than needed for an album). This increases the likelihood of selecting the highest quality output, as the ‘best’ pieces may not be the first ones created.
When developing a creative project, regularly refer back to the initial inspiring ‘fragment’ or core idea. Compare current progress to this original essence to ensure the work maintains or surpasses its initial quality and purpose.
Recognize that working on something longer does not automatically make it better; sometimes, you can ‘go past it’ and diminish the quality. Know when to stop and embrace completion to avoid overworking and messing up the art.
Embrace the reality that any creative work is a ‘snapshot in time,’ accepting it as the best you could make it at that moment. This perspective helps in letting go of unattainable perfection and allows for completion.
While early creative phases benefit from open-ended exploration, set deadlines for the final ‘finishing’ and editing stages of a project. This structured approach can be a ‘good thing’ to aid completion and prevent endless tinkering.
Distinctly separate the creative process of making art from the commercial process of marketing and selling it. Complete the art first, ensuring its integrity, and only then engage in the ‘whole new, really creative adventure’ of how to share it with the world.
In creative endeavors like podcasting, prioritize your own genuine curiosity and passion when selecting topics or guests. Authenticity stemming from personal interest resonates more deeply with the audience than trying to meet perceived expectations.
When a creative project seems to be struggling, revisit early, seemingly ‘rough’ or imperfect work with a fresh perspective. Sometimes, underlying quality is obscured by minor imperfections that can be repaired, leading to unexpected success.
Simplify your creative work and remove distractions to allow its core essence to emerge and fall into place. Sometimes, the solution to a problem is to take things away rather than add more.
In collaborative creative work, value the unique ‘feel’ and individual interpretation each member brings, rather than striving for precise, metronomic perfection. These subtle differences and ‘imperfections’ create a richer, more authentic, and compelling whole.
Embrace imperfection in creative and communicative endeavors, as authenticity and human connection often thrive in less polished, more natural environments. Stumbles or minor disruptions can contribute to a more ‘real’ and relatable experience.
As a healthcare professional, adopt the role of an ‘invisible coach,’ reflecting back to patients their inherent autonomy, control, and influence over their own health. Guide them to realize their own power rather than dictating solutions.
Recognize that there is no single ‘right way’ to approach complex problems, especially in health. Be open to diverse and individualized solutions, understanding that what works for one person or situation may not work for another, and even the same person may benefit from different approaches.
Understand that personal struggles, such as depression, can lead to increased grounding, a deeper connection to reality, and enhanced empathy for others’ difficulties. These experiences can transform a ‘superhuman’ feeling into a more rooted and compassionate perspective.
Prioritize key health practices for overall well-being: consuming animal protein, sleeping on a cold bed, engaging in sauna and cold plunge therapy, regular physical activity, and meditation.
Prioritize diet as the foundational element for health, noting that exercise alone has limited impact. However, combining a good diet with exercise yields disproportionately greater benefits, acting as a multiplier for overall health.
Consider incorporating animal protein (like fish and eggs) into your diet and reducing processed vegan foods, soy, and nuts, as these changes can significantly improve health and vitality, even if not immediately leading to weight loss.
If struggling with weight loss despite healthy eating, consider a calorie-restricted diet and calorie counting. While not always necessary for maintenance, it may be a helpful tool to understand calorie density and reach a specific target weight.
Immediately expose yourself to natural sunlight upon waking, preferably outdoors and with as much skin exposed as possible. This practice naturally resets your circadian rhythm, leading to earlier and more consistent waking times.
Strive to align your lifestyle with ’evolutionary truths’ and the way humans lived historically (e.g., thousands of years ago). Consider what your body’s DNA prefers, as modern living often neglects these natural preferences.
Engage in low aerobic exercise by monitoring your heart rate to stay within a specific target zone (e.g., using the ‘180 minus your age’ formula). Aim to keep your heart rate as close to this target as possible for the duration of your activity.
Experiment with sleeping on a cold bed (e.g., using a sleep aid like a ChiliPad or Uller) to achieve deeper, more restorative sleep. This can significantly improve sleep quality and overall well-being.
Incorporate regular sauna and cold water therapy (like ice baths or ocean plunges) into your routine. This practice can lead to profound mood elevation, reduce anxiety, and build mental resilience.
Regularly engage in sauna and cold plunge sessions, as they can induce a euphoric effect, lead to the ‘best mood you’ve ever been in,’ and alleviate life’s concerns by forcing focus on the present discomfort.
Practice breath hold meditation to learn how to quiet your mind and achieve stillness, even when your body signals primal discomfort. This builds mental control and empowerment, translating to greater composure in daily challenges.
Engage in Metta (loving-kindness) meditation by first directing well wishes towards yourself (‘May I be filled with loving kindness, May I be well, May I be peaceful and at ease, May I be happy’). After building a strong inner ‘charge,’ gradually extend these wishes to immediate family, then wider circles, and eventually the entire planet.
Sometimes, to achieve a breakthrough, be willing to experiment by trusting an expert’s advice that seems ’extreme’ or counter-intuitive to your own beliefs. Temporarily ‘giving up what you thought was best’ can lead to unexpected positive outcomes.
When receiving praise for your work, focus on the positive impact it has on others and whether it achieved its intended purpose, rather than letting ego take over. This helps in managing external validation and staying true to your original intent.