Embark on a personal journey of self-discovery to uncover your true capabilities and find fulfillment, which requires bravery to face yourself in silence.
Actively make your life more difficult than it needs to be, as this is the only way to find true meaning and avoid the mistake of always choosing the easiest option.
Make a daily practice of solitude the single most important routine in your modern life, as even 10 minutes is better than none for self-discovery and well-being.
Be aware that noise and distractions (from phones, sounds, light) are often about running away from yourself; reduce these to discover your inner silence and live a richer, happier life.
When seeking silence or solitude, expect initial restlessness and discomfort for the first few days, but persist through these feelings as you will calm down, adapt, and begin to listen to yourself.
Regularly engage in activities that test you and are uncomfortable to build physical and mental resilience, ensuring you can cope when life inevitably gets tough.
Use walking, without your phone, as a form of meditation for any duration, as it helps you connect with yourself, the present moment, and can change your perception of time and environment.
Recognize that it is healthy to be bored every now and then, as this state, where nothing is happening, can lead to deeper self-understanding compared to modern ’existential boredom’ from too much stimulation.
Simplify your life by establishing fixed daily routines for activities like waking, eating, breaks, and sleeping; this can lead to a meditative state and help you live in the present.
By simplifying life and reducing noise, you can gradually become more present, forgetting the past and ceasing to overthink the future, which are often sources of mental noise.
Experiencing silence helps you see the earth from a different perspective, respect others more, appreciate your own company, and ultimately love life even more.
To truly appreciate and respect other people, first become content with yourself and capable of enjoying your own company, as unhappiness often stems from living through others.
Consider taking solitude retreats, even if you have dependents, as it can lead to personal growth, making you a nicer, more caring, and wiser person upon return, ultimately benefiting your family.
Support and encourage your partner to take time for personal exploration and solitude, viewing it as an opportunity for them to return as an even greater person, enriching the relationship.
Encourage generosity and understanding in your relationships to allow partners space for personal growth and soul-nurturing, expecting them to return as a more positive person.
Recognize that father-son relationships are often complicated and can drive significant life choices; actively work towards understanding and reconciliation to foster deeper bonds.
Actively practice forgiveness in complicated family relationships, as it can lead to reconciliation and stronger bonds later in life.
For partners, make an effort to understand the complexities of their significant other’s father-son relationship, as this insight can lead to a better and more empathetic relationship.
Make an effort to get into nature daily, even if it’s just a local park, as this connection is vital for well-being and finding meaning.
Introduce variations into your daily life and significantly reduce screen time, as monotonous routines and excessive screen engagement are detrimental to self-discovery and finding meaning.
Significantly reduce the time spent on social media, as excessive use consumes years of your life and contributes to the feeling of being ‘short on time’.
As a parent, enforce a rule for children to leave their phones outside the bedroom at least one hour before bed to prevent sleep disruption and promote mental well-being.
Strive to create an ‘analog house’ with as little digital technology as possible, especially for children, to foster an environment conducive to natural human experience.
In dangerous situations, actively suppress fear to remain rational and focused on the necessary actions, as fear can lead to irrational behavior.
In high-stress situations, suppress fear to perform necessary actions, but allow yourself to process those suppressed emotions and physical reactions once the immediate danger has passed.
For simple pleasures like food, practice delayed gratification by waiting a few seconds before indulging, as this can enhance the experience and make it taste even better.
Uphold self-imposed rules or principles, even when it means personal sacrifice, to maintain the integrity of your goals and achievements.
Release grudges and negativity towards others from earlier in life, as it allows for healthier relationships and personal growth, as demonstrated by former competitors becoming friends.
Seriously consider and apply wisdom that has endured for over a thousand years, as it often contains profound truths relevant to living a good life.
When engaging with content like books, prioritize the full experience and journey of acquiring information over quick summaries, as the process itself is deeply valuable.
Opt for more difficult and time-consuming methods of learning, such as reading a book thoroughly over several evenings, as this deeper engagement is the only meaningful way to truly benefit.
Learn and practice self-hypnosis for about 20 minutes in the late afternoon to refresh yourself, gain energy, and potentially manipulate your subconsciousness to be on your side.
After a prolonged period of solitude, gradually reintroduce yourself to civilization and social interaction, as a sudden return can be abrasive and cause discomfort.
When seeking deep solitude or self-discovery, avoid daily communication with the outside world, as constant connection can dilute the experience and prevent you from fully facing yourself and finding meaning.
Reduce reliance on watches and constantly checking your phone for time, recognizing that clock time is a human construct and disconnecting from it can alter your experience of time.
Challenge the common tendency to underestimate your capabilities and possibilities in life, recognizing that you are capable of more than you think.
Be a little brutal to yourself to break free from the negativity that shapes you from childhood into adult life, as most people underestimate their capabilities.
Understand that the most important silence is within you and can be accessed anywhere, even in the busiest environments, by consciously choosing to explore it.
To truly commit to a goal or practice, remove any possibility of temptation, as even the awareness of an option (like a phone nearby) can drain willpower and distract you.
Recognize that deeper, more authentic connection and conversation often require an initial period of adjustment and loosening up, so allow sufficient time for these interactions to unfold naturally.