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The Middle Way
In Buddhist philosophy, the Middle Way is a practice that steers clear of extremes. It involves eight interconnected guidelines. You can consider the guitar string an analogy for the Middle Way: a guitar string needs to be just tight enough—not too loose, or too tight—to sound right. In the world of creative work, balancing art…
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Wisdom starts with walking
One of the more useful practices I’ve cultivated this year is treating stress like a pet dog. When I experience high stress, I imagine a dog who desperately needs to run outside to use the bathroom. It would feel cruel and irresponsible to keep them cooped up inside, and they would eventually take care of…
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Lest we forget
My grandparents survived the Second World War. I don’t know much about what they went through. We never talked about it. I imagine part of this silence involved protecting their grandkids from the horror. Maybe protecting themselves too, from revisiting the past and risking more trauma. By the time I was old enough to learn…
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Your routines are your opinions
There is a private library in the outskirts of Kyoto, called Kissa Fang. The books are meticulously organized. When you enter, a staff member hands you a wooden block. Any time you take a book off the shelf, you place the wooden block as a placeholder. This routine also enforces two opinions: read one book…
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Fill in stories with realistic details
One of my favorite authors was hired by a prestigious media platform to do a travel show. He hired one of his favorite rappers to record the theme song. He got paid to travel. He went on adventures, gained notoriety, and grew the community of people who followed him. It all looked great from the…
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Bias for novelty
If you’re used to the same routines every day—same route to work, same apps and websites, same friends—then you have a lot to gain by exploring. Try a new coffee shop, restaurant, or bar. Visit a nearby local town. Don’t order your favorite dish, set out to find a second favorite. Don’t be surprised to…
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If they can do it, so can you
When I was 18, I had contemplated wearing contact lenses for at least a couple of years. I had a hunch that I’d look a little better without glasses. But I’d gotten familiar with wearing them, and I didn’t know if the effort put into wearing contact lenses would be worth it. This sense of…