Think Like a Monk

Stop performing roles and tune out negative distractions.

People tend to adopt different roles and personas when navigating distinct contexts. But making others’ expectations more important than your personal values can leave you depressed, insecure and dissatisfied. Living an authentic life is a better choice, even if doing so means you risk losing relationships.

Assess the values that have steered your life so far, then identify the source of each value – for example, perhaps your school taught you the value of knowledge while the media taught you to value physical appearance. Eliminate distractions to reflect on whether you want to live a life in pursuit of these values or update them. Audit the time and money you invest each day, reflecting on whether your actions support your values.

For example, do you spend countless hours browsing social media instead of interacting with your family? Try to embody higher values from the ancient Hindu Bhagavad Gita, which include gratitude, charity, honesty and integrity. Perform a “companion audit”: Reflect on the people you spend the most time with and whether their values align with yours. Be mindful of letting those...