What I know about life

1

There are no special places in the universe. It's us, the people, who make some places special.

You're probably familiar with this feeling. When you find yourself in some special place and... and you feel nothing. Especially when you spend a long time in such a special place. When you live next to such a special place. When you live right next to the Eiffel Tower. You know it's nothing special.

For the universe, there's no difference between the Eiffel Tower in Paris and house number 32 on some Random street, in some Random city. Any place can be special if you make it so.

Even right now, you can go outside and feel it. You can look at your room, at people next to you, and feel it. The place you are in right now is the most special one. There’s nothing more special than right here and right now.

2

For the universe, there is no difference between wealth and poverty. There's nothing special about being rich. There’s no need to attach importance to it. No need to try very hard to achieve it.

Children who have grown up in prosperity and abundance believe that it's absolutely normal. Prosperity and abundance remain the absolute norm of their reality. Are they trying very hard? I don't think so. They get what they want easily, as it is absolutely normal. They win easily. They get well-paid jobs easily. And they build profitable businesses easily. There's nothing special about it for them.

Sure, they do what they need to do. But they don’t try very hard. As if they already know subconsciously that prosperity and abundance will be in their reality anyway. They don't think too much about it. They just do.

You see, trying very hard doesn’t matter. What matters is your attitude.

3

Any thing you’re using for a considerable time, any room you're in for a considerable time, any project you're doing for a considerable time – all of it is being filled up by you, in one way or another.

All of it is being filled with your energy, your thoughts, your attitude. Things, rooms, projects – they reflect you. Therefore, if something breaks down, if some room is uncomfortable, noisy, dirty, if some project does not lead to a cool result, then something is wrong with you.

Paradoxical, isn't it? I’m not sure if this is a fairly new concept or a very old one. There’s something in it. Solve your paddocks, clean up your head, fix yourself, and gradually everything else will come to order too.

It's impossible to get around it. It's like karma. Do whatever you want, but your results will reflect your attitude. Yours will reflect you anyway.

4

It's better to do something great than average. You'll put in the same amount of effort. You’ll spend the same amount of time. But the quality – overall quality of your life – will be different.

It's such an obvious discovery. I’ve noticed it thanks to a YouTube video about a young sushi master. In short, the man studied with an old master from childhood. He started by mopping the floors. Then, for 10 years, he cooked only rice. Then, for another 10 years, he studied the art of butchering fish. At the age of 40, he opened his sushi restaurant in Singapore and earned a Michelin star.

He uses only the highest quality products, the freshest fish, and the water from mountain streams in Japan. A dinner will cost you at least $300 (for 1 person). And you need to make a reservation several months in advance. It's a small place, around 10 seats. Therefore, there’s the highest level of clientele – businessmen, ambassadors, bosses, stars.

Do you think it's easier to open a cheap diner or a fast food place, where the average bill is $25? Maybe. But there are many such places. You will have to spend time and effort to win over the customers. You will probably spend 10-20 years becoming a staple food destination. But imagine your life in such a place. What kind of kitchen will you come to every day? What kind of ingredients will you use at the average bill of $25? And what kind of clientele will you surround yourself with?

That's why I'm talking about the quality of life.

It's better to do something great, with a high price tag. It’s better to learn for decades, practicing, perfecting your skills, and your understanding of everything. It’s better to work with high-quality ingredients (or materials). It’s better to serve top-level clients. It's better to do something great than average.

5

There is a phrase in the Nike ads – Just do it. Few people know this phrase is taken from a book about Zen Buddhism. It was about doing one thing at a time. And only one thing. For example, making sushi. If you make sushi, just do it. Just make sushi. Don't think about anything else.

There is another phrase in The Mandalorian series – This is the way. Few people know this phrase is taken from the same book. It was about the way of thinking and doing things that is understood in Zen Buddhism. When it's time to do something, do it. When it’s time to stop and do something else, then stop and do something else.

The Tao te Ching says – Anyone who talks about Tao does not understand anything about Tao. But I still have to tell you something. Roughly speaking, Tao is the natural course of events or the natural order of things. Everything is interconnected, and everything happens at the right moment. And people, not realizing this, often pressure themselves and pressure each other, hitting unnecessary walls, climbing where they don't need to, and when they don't need to.

If you just calm down, if you just sit down and concentrate on the here and now. You'll suddenly see something you didn't notice before. You'll suddenly realize something you didn't understand. You'll feel it. Just do it.

But it's unlikely that anything great will happen if you don't get your ass off the couch. When the time comes, you need to be somewhere and do something.

If you're accidentally invited to be somewhere, it might make sense to go. That's how Will Smith became an actor, by the way. If you're accidentally told to do something, it probably makes sense to consider it. That's how many great things were done in this world.

It’s becoming popular to say no to others, protecting your time. But I believe this attitude only leads to loneliness and desolation. How do you know if you say no to the wrong thing and yes to the right thing? You never know. One thing might lead to the other thing, and that other thing might lead to the third thing, which eventually might bring you to everything you wanted. So, how do you know what might bring you to everything you wanted if you are not open to the natural order of things?

Everything is interconnected, and everything somehow happens at the right moment. Even the fact that you're reading this.