Inspired by Sam Altman's The days are long but the decades are short↗ listicle. I decided to share my own collection of life lessons. These are the insights that have shaped my perspective and continue to guide my journey.

• Life is a pendulum swing. Don’t expect perfect balance at all times. The swings to the extremes are how you discover the middle path.

• Your thoughts shape your reality. The inner world you nurture will eventually create the outer world you experience.

• Define success for yourself. If you don’t, someone else will, and you probably won’t like their definition.

• Seek truth above all else. It will feel uncomfortable, but clarity and authenticity are worth the discomfort.

• Think critically. Don’t take things at face value. Dig deeper, question assumptions, and continue to connect the dots.

• Authenticity attracts alignment. When you’re true to yourself, the right people and opportunities will find you.

• Trust your intuition. Your instincts know things that your conscious mind hasn’t figured out yet.

• Create your own systems. Find ways to do things that actually work for you—not what works for everyone else.

• Feel into your body’s wisdom. Sensations often carry messages your mind hasn’t yet decoded. Listen carefully.

• Keep life low maintenance. A simple lifestyle frees your mind to focus on what really matters.

• Strive to gain perspective from all walks of life. The more perspectives you understand, the more compassionate and informed you become.

• Existential crises are part of life. Seeking meaning will naturally bring moments of doubt and questioning. These are signs of growth, not failure.

• If you’re creative, value it. Creativity is a gift worth prioritizing, even if it doesn’t always fit neatly into your career. It enriches how you experience the world.

• Think of life as probabilities, not wins and losses. Every decision is a bet, and outcomes aren’t guaranteed. Evaluate your choices with an open mind rather than clinging to expectations.

• Meditate on death once in a while. Reflecting on mortality helps you prioritize what really matters and live more fully.

• Integrity and sincerity are non-negotiable. In business, friendships, and life, trustworthiness and ethics matter more than brilliance or charm.

• Invest in thoughtful people—it compounds. The impact of surrounding yourself with kind, ethical people grows over time, enriching your life in unexpected ways.

• Elevate conversations. Skip surface-level questions. Ask questions that spark curiosity and reflection—ones that help people rediscover themselves.

• Balance Western and Eastern philosophy. Explore both traditions to find insights on how to live well. Balance lies in the middle, and all philosophies aim to answer similar questions with different contexts.