S10 Ep13. Suneel Gupta on Discovering Your Everyday Dharma

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, host Patrick McGinnis welcomes special guest Suneel Gupta, author of the book "Everyday Dharma", who shares his experience of writing his first book while working in private equity, dedicating just 30 minutes a day to writing. 

Suneel's new book, "Everyday Dharma," is a guide to making ancient wisdom relevant to the modern world, and applicable to our daily lives. Gupta discusses the concept of wisdom being sought after throughout history, emphasizing the importance of finding equanimity, or space, between being triggered and responding. 

Throughout the conversation, we highlight "Opeka," which focuses on finding comfort in discomfort. He shares an analogy of a prickly porcupine to illustrate how we can navigate challenging situations in life, and stresses the importance of taking a moment of reflection before reacting to difficult circumstances. 

The conversation delves into the works of Victor Frankl, particularly his book "Man's Search for Meaning." Gupta and Patrick discuss how previous generations viewed and pursued meaning in their lives through financial success, while younger generations are prioritizing meaning over money. They explore how integrating ancient wisdom into our lives doesn't mean giving up ambition or financial success, but rather examining whether material possessions truly bring fulfillment. 

Suneel encourages self-inquiry and avoiding reaching old age with regrets about not living life differently. He shares the story of Karen, a nurse who brought her passion for writing into her job without leaving it, demonstrating that approaching life differently can be achieved within existing circumstances. 

The discussion also touches on the concept of FOMO (fear of missing out) and how external desires and accumulation of wealth often fail to bring internal fulfillment. Suneel also introduces the "arrival fallacy," the belief that reaching a certain point of accumulation or success will bring complete fulfillment, which he argues is a flawed notion. 

The episode explores the importance of self-awareness and avoiding impulsive actions, as well as the societal pressure to respond quickly in every communication channel. Gupta questions the urgency of immediate responses and suggests that decision-making power should be placed at the beginning to determine if a situation truly requires an immediate response or if it can be addressed later. 

Tune in to discover your dharma (inner calling or essence), and find ways to express it while managing responsibilities and obligations.

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