Today we’re talking with journalist Melissa Hirsch about how her Buddhist practice helped her navigate her career journey. This episode is especially relevant for anyone who may have a dream they are pursuing but is finding the path to get there a bit more winding than they expected. Melissa explains how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her transform her childhood dream of becoming a journalist into a deep desire to use her voice for justice.
CHEAT SHEET
1:04 How Melissa started practicing Buddhism
6:46 Why she wanted to pursue journalism
9:05 Her first steps on her career path
15:03 The tension between survival and purpose
18:08 The challenges she faced in graduate school
22:35 How chanting helped her succeed in her investigative work
25:54 Overcoming social anxiety and imposter syndrome
32:40 Melissa’s favorite Buddhist quote
37:35 How her growing sense of purpose allowed her to open a new career path
45:48 What she does now
49:05 The role that the Buddhist community played in her journey
51:20 What true confidence is
53:10 Advice for anyone navigating their career
References:
- The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, volume 6, p. 244
- Discussions on Youth, p. 73