Focus solely on perfecting the art itself, avoiding overthinking commercial outcomes or external opinions, as true artistic quality will naturally lead to commercial success.
Allow creative ideas to incubate over a long period, only moving forward with a specific piece when it feels fully formed, rather than rushing to produce a large volume of material.
Prioritize aligning your work and sleep schedule with natural circadian rhythms (e.g., working during the day, sleeping at night) to significantly improve overall health and vitality.
For significant weight loss, follow a precisely calculated calorie-restricted diet focused on high protein and low carbs, with frequent protein shakes and a light dinner.
Seek out exercise routines that are as mentally challenging as they are physically demanding, such as balance-focused or multi-tasking movements, to enhance focus and engagement.
Engage in extreme environments like saunas or ice baths to induce a ‘forced meditation’ state, where the preoccupation with survival helps quiet the mind and fosters deep presence and focus.
Understand that the most profound lessons for children are imparted through the demonstration of a loving relationship and a caring household, rather than just verbal instruction.
Embrace hard work as a fulfilling commitment, but consciously balance it with having fun, avoiding a workaholic mindset to live a more well-rounded life.
When dealing with depression, consider a comprehensive approach including psychiatrists, psychologists, acupuncture, herbal remedies, massage, and dietary changes to support brain chemistry.
To effectively lose weight, focus on depleting glycogen stores in the liver and muscles through a combination of exercise and calorie restriction, with particular emphasis on carbohydrate restriction.
For post-operative pain, advocate for a comprehensive non-opiate pain management plan, including epidurals, NSAIDs, and Tylenol, to minimize opiate use and its associated risks.
Be open to re-evaluating long-held dietary beliefs, even those considered ‘healthy’ (like veganism), if they are not producing desired health outcomes, such as weight management.
When confronted with seemingly impossible feats, seek out the methods and mentors of those who achieve them, to learn and apply their strategies to your own life.
Engage in playful, social activities with collaborators, like trying to make each other laugh, to organically generate creative ideas and material.
Experiment with applying traditional structures, like song structure (verse-chorus), to new or unconventional art forms to potentially enhance their appeal and accessibility.
Be willing to walk away from established success and financial gain if a partnership or business structure compromises your artistic vision or the well-being of the artists.
If an existing framework for your work is not optimal, be prepared to immediately dismantle it and build a new one that better supports your goals.
Recognize that highly creative individuals often possess extreme sensitivity, which can be both a source of their genius and a challenge for navigating life, fostering greater empathy for their struggles.
If experiencing crippling depression, understand that it can be a long process (e.g., two years) to navigate, and seeking professional help is crucial.
During periods of severe mental health challenges, adapt your work methods (e.g., working from bed, in ‘windows’) to continue contributing while prioritizing recovery.
If medication is deemed necessary for mental health, be prepared for a trial-and-error process, as finding the right drug can take time and multiple attempts.
Understand that experiencing profound vulnerability and personal struggles can lead to a deeper, more profound sense of empathy for others.
In times of profound grief or loss, maintain a rigorous work schedule and consistent engagement with your craft, as it can provide a vital reason to continue living.
Actively engage with poetic art forms like music and books, allowing your imagination to create personal mental images and narratives that can evolve and deepen over time.
Revisit and re-experience art, especially music, at different stages of life, as your age and accumulated experiences will profoundly change your understanding and emotional connection to the work.
Practice mindful listening by ensuring you are in the right frame of mind, present, and open when evaluating new music or art, preventing your internal state from unfairly influencing your perception.
Recognize and address generational shame and negative body image issues, as these can profoundly impact one’s relationship with weight and self-perception from childhood.
Use a heart rate monitor to practice consistent, low-intensity (Zone 2) cardio, starting with short durations and gradually increasing to an hour, to improve cardiovascular health and metabolic function.
If following a health protocol diligently yields minimal physical changes (e.g., only 5 lbs lost in two years), persist with the beneficial habits while recognizing deeper, underlying issues may be at play.
When reintroducing essential foods (like fish and eggs) that you dislike, think of them as necessary medicine and find creative ways to mask their taste to ensure consumption.
Consume protein shakes frequently (e.g., every two hours) throughout the day to maintain satiety and prevent hunger, especially during calorie-restricted diets.
When on a restrictive diet, mindfully savor the limited ’treat’ foods you allow yourself, enhancing appreciation and satisfaction.
When facing a physical challenge, adopt a mindset of ‘I haven’t done it yet’ instead of ‘I can’t do it,’ fostering a growth-oriented approach to overcoming limitations.
Experiment with creative constraints in exercise, like using lighter weights underwater for breath-hold jumps, to discover new forms of training that integrate physical and mental discipline.
Approach training and challenges with a problem-solving mindset, seeking out novel methods and figuring out how to achieve what hasn’t been done before, rather than solely relying on established routines.
Engage in consistent exercise not just for physical health, but as a means to feel more ‘alive’ and engaged in all aspects of life, extending vitality beyond specific work domains.
If undergoing surgery and accustomed to a low-carb diet, request non-dextrose intravenous solutions (e.g., lactated ringers) to avoid a metabolic shock from sugar and support recovery.
Recognize and embrace the inherent capacity of humans to handle significantly more adversity and challenge than they initially believe, fostering a sense of inner strength.
Cultivate a hunger for optimizing performance, health, longevity, and critical thinking to live a higher quality, more fulfilling life.
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Engage in creative activities you enjoy, like recording music with a band, as this can be a fulfilling first step into a professional path.
Actively seek out small, underground clubs or venues dedicated to emerging or niche cultural movements to experience authentic and groundbreaking art forms.
Focus on developing a great vocabulary and command of language in your creative expression, ensuring your presentation is believable and authentic.
Begin creative projects with very little money, as it’s possible to produce impactful work with minimal financial investment, focusing on the art itself.
For creative projects, prioritize selling enough to fund the next project rather than immediate profitability, allowing the art to sustain itself.
Understand that high barriers to entry in creative fields can lead to a higher signal-to-noise ratio and potentially higher quality output, as only the most skilled or dedicated can succeed.
Recognize that single, seemingly minor events can profoundly alter one’s sense of self and vulnerability, leading to a permanent shift in perspective.