I’ve listened to plenty of gurus and leadership experts out there in the media today. The number of people that claim to be experts are endless. And I am a genuine fan of many of them. I listen to them proactively on how to appropriately improve my life and how to become a better human being. And I genuinely try to live up to their instructions to the best of my abilities.
I appreciate that there is so much available information out there at the drop of hat due to the miracle of the Internet and general technology. I appreciate these thought leaders coming out to share their wisdom thru years of tried-and-true experience. I think the world is better off when experts can disseminate their information in a thorough and straightforward manner for the benefit of mankind.
At the same time, I also try to take everything they say with a grain of salt. I kind of pick and choose to see which advice works for me and which ones don’t. Because these thought leaders are – at the end of the day – simply another human being trying to make ends meet. They might have a platform significantly larger than mine, but that doesn’t make everything they say correct or at least applicable to the way I live my everyday life.
Not everyone who writes a book may speak to your current situation. Not every inspirational artist may motivate you to succeed and achieve. It really depends on the situation and the context. So, take what these experts say with a grain of salt. Take whatever I write in this blog with a grain of salt.
Because at the end of the day, everyone is simply human. And humans are prone to vulnerabilities and mistakes. There really is no foolproof method out there on how to live a beautiful and successful life. And in some cases, it’s pretty much just a matter of trial and error. Of tinkering in the lab of life. And seeing what works for you and seeing what doesn’t. Of falling and getting back up on the bicycle to continue to ride it out.
For me, there are certain individuals that I respect and follow when it comes to leading a spiritual path. People like Sadhguru and Eckhart Tolle are some primary figures in this realm and have written books and given countless talks on how to be fulfilled and to live at peace. Eckhart Tolle’s book, The Power of Now, did sincerely resonate with me as I read it. And I remember many of the teachings that he laid out.
But I think this life is so flawed and so beautiful. And we really need to just figure it out by ourselves at times too. Thoughts and advice can only get us so far. It’s kind of like going to school for all those years and learning theory after theory. But what really matters it to proactively apply what you learned to the so-called “real world”.
To get out there and challenge yourself. To improve your resilience and empathy and human soft skills. To grow as a community member. It is one step at a time and there is much opportunity out there for all of us to grasp and seize. It’s important to know that there is no one size fits all policy out there that can solve all of life’s problems. Problems will be there until the end of time.
The advice that we get on YouTube or media in general is there to guide us in the right direction. It is like the finger pointing to the moon. But it is not the moon itself. It is up to each and every one of us to walk our own paths and see what does and doesn’t fit into our respective journeys. What works for one person may not work for the other.
So, it’s important to take all the advice out there with some hesitancy and healthy doubt. To do your own research and determine what works best for your own case. Because everyone is unique out there. Everyone marches to the beat of their own drum. Everyone goes thru different life experiences that shape them in completely different ways.
Make your own determinations. Yes, do listen to the experts, because there is a reason why they are where they are. And why they have significant public platforms to espouse knowledge. But do consider your own situation and realize that no matter how well-intentioned their advice may be, sometimes it’s best to double check to see whether or not their guidance fits your needs and goals.
You do you. We are like snowflakes in that we are all exposed to different experiences in this external world. It’s not up to me or anyone else to tell you how to live your life. Guidance is important. But it is up to you to determine whom you want to listen to or disregard. Your journey is your own to cherish.