1. A lack of clarity about who you are—and what you should do—can hurt. If it lingers long enough, it leads to a chaotic mind.

2. When your heart knows what you should do but your mind isn’t willing to accept the consequences, a void begins to form inside you. You long for that void to be filled.

3. We lack clarity in our careers, relationships, and lives because we don’t know who we really are, what we want, what our core values are, and what purpose our souls should serve.

4. This inner turmoil can spill into our everyday lives. The first step is to acknowledge it, then understand and accept who we are.

5. It can be difficult to come to terms with who we are deep down and what we want. Society has conditioned us to function according to its expectations. We have forgotten our real selves.

It reduces cancer, depression, insomnia, dementia, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and many other disabling conditions — and increases healthy longevity. If you have the personality, resources, and inclination for extensive physical activity, that’s great — you’ll be much more likely to avoid disability and live independently into old age.

I can only stick with activities I enjoy. I play squash — not well but enthusiastically; for the hour I’m on a squash court, that’s all I think about, and when I finish, drenched in sweat, endorphins and other beneficial neurochemicals coursing through my body, I can’t wait to play again. So, busy as my schedule is, I fit squash in.

Try to find vigorous activities you love doing. But if that’s not for you, you can still get a large dose of the miracle drug if you build physical activity into your daily routines — taking stairs instead of the elevator, walking farther to work or stores, bicycling whenever possible. A brisk walk, ideally outdoors, is the most accessible. Four brisk walks every week for at least thirty minutes, ideally in a refreshing natural space, can do wonders.

Discipline and freedom are often seen as conflicting ideas. Many people think discipline means restricting yourself, following rigid rules, and sacrificing enjoyment. But the truth is, discipline is the key to achieving genuine freedom in life.

When you’re disciplined with your time, you create a structure that ensures you complete your work efficiently. This leaves you with free time to pursue hobbies, spend with loved ones, or relax without guilt. On the other hand, if you lack discipline and waste time procrastinating, you’re left scrambling to meet deadlines, often sacrificing your personal time.

Freedom isn’t about doing whatever you want whenever you want; it’s about having the ability to make meaningful choices. Discipline gives you that ability. For instance, if you’re disciplined with your finances—saving consistently and avoiding unnecessary spending—you have the freedom to invest in opportunities, take vacations, or handle emergencies without stress. Conversely, a lack of financial discipline often leads to debt and dependency.

1. The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
2. Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
3. The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
4. Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

1. The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama XIV and Desmond Tutu
2. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
3. The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha
4. The Little Book of Lykke by Meik Wiking

1. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
2. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
3. The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
4. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

People fear cocaine, heroin, and drugs.
But not alcohol.

And yet…

Alcohol kills 3 million people every year (WHO data)
More than 200 diseases are caused or worsened by alcohol
Alcohol is the leading cause of liver failure and cancer
Alcohol destroys more families than any drug

Even worse:

Alcohol is the only drug that people pressure you to take.

Nobody will ever say:
“Come on, have some heroin. Be a sport.”