At first, I was weary of any label, but eventually, Buddhism felt so right and natural to me that I did not want to deny it. Unlike some other doctrines, it focuses inward, thereby becoming very personal. I hold myself accountable that I alone am responsible for my well-being. In a world where we lack so much control, this is powerful stuff.
I went all in, pouring over the wisdom of great souls such as Thích Nhất Hạnh and the Dalai Lama, whom I admire, but from afar, as many of their teachings still felt outside my grasp. Yet they opened my heart and eyes, so when the light shined on the right path for me, I walked straight toward what I had been seeking all along.
I was listening to my friend’s podcast while doing the morning dishes when his guest, Sadhguru, caught my attention. I immediately put the plates down, turned off the water, and grabbed my notebook as I was transfixed. I was attracted to his logical and practical articulations as opposed to other great thinkers' lofty and sometimes perplexing words. Sadhguru was relatable, humble, and humorous. My kind of guy.
Sadhguru is a yogi, a mystic, and a real man who rides his motorcycle all over the world on a quest to share his wisdom. He garners respect speaking to the elite at the United Nations, Oxford, and Harvard, but he spends most of his time touching the masses. He offers compelling thoughts on every topic imaginable, from self-discipline to self-doubt and digestion as he peppers personal stories and jokes into his messages. He has many powerful sayings, but one deeply resonates with my approach to life: “Do not worry about setting goals for yourself – just see how to constantly grow. All that is needed is relentless striving to be a full-fledged self.”
More on this topic and others in my forthcoming memoir, Aggressively Human, to be released on all platforms in November 2023.
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