A Guru is a Sanskrit term which is derived from two words: Gu (“ignorance”) and ru “dispeller.”  The guru is a dispeller of ignorance, all kinds of ignorance; thus, there are gurus not only for spiritual development but also for dancing, music, wrestling, and other skills. ¹ A guru is synonymous with being a guide, mentor, expert, or master in a particular area of specialization. As author and educator James Thom once said, “Probably the most honest self-made man ever was the one we heard say: ‘I got to the top the hard way—fighting my own laziness and ignorance every step of the way.’” One of life’s great truisms is that “Everyone is trying to figure it.” No one has every area of their life figured out; the motivational speaker does not have their relationship intact, the fitness expert is struggling with their finances, and the celebrated movie star is battling with drug addiction.

We live in a world full of gurus and influencers, where “fake it before you make it” is the order of the day. I strive to become a better version of myself daily by waking up very early, having a gratitude and meditation practice, averaging 2-3 hours of exercise daily, reading an average of 100 books yearly and running 15 full marathons in the past two years. One of the challenges with executing the stated goals is that people begin to see you as a guru. Still, I know that I am not as proficient in many areas of my life, such as interpersonal relationship skills, networking, and financial management, among other things I strive to improve. People are always asking for strategies for achieving their goals, but I believe that doing one thing is how you do everything. Guruship is not a goal of mine in any shape, form or magnitude. There is so much work to do oneself, endless books to read, masterclasses to view, strategies to implement that becoming a guru to anyone is not a priority of mine.

Our natural human tendency is homeostasis, our ability to gravitate towards normalcy, our baseline and maintaining the status quo. One of the reasons why we are attracted to gurus and influencers is because we want and like to attain their level of expertise, but most of us are not ready for the sacrifice. Nothing in life comes easy; it takes a lot of sacrifice, dedication, commitment and persistence to master any skill. You cannot win the prize if you cannot pay the price. If you take shortcuts, you will be cut short. Most of us want the reward of winning, but we are unwilling to put in the hard work necessary for achieving worthwhile success. Hence, the appeal of sweet-talking influencers who continuously push vitamins instead of a painkiller and supplements instead of working out in the gym.

I am not your guru; I am just here to show you what is possible by striving to lead a life worth emulating. Gurus are also humans that have their quirks, weaknesses and excesses. In the social media world that we live in, everyone is a guru on almost anything, and the algorithm rewards this showmanship. We have more travel agents than travel guides, talkers than doers, and influencers than practitioners.

Meditation

• Daily Calm with Tamara Levitt – Dedicated Rest
• We’ve forgotten what it is like to disconnect, reset, rejuvenate, and rest. Many ancient traditions have practices that encourage regular rest. Remember to dedicate time to disconnection from the demands of life, carve it into your calendar, and defend it, perhaps inviting others.

“Every person needs to take one day away.  A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future.  Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence.  Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.  Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” ― Maya Angelou, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now

• Daily Jay with Jay Shetty – Do Big, Talk Small.
• Do Big, Talk Small: Be circumspect; no outcome is ever guaranteed. By talking much about an unachieved goal, you are putting yourself through both internal and external stress. Hedge your excitement, and clarify that it is not definite but hopeful. Apply your energy to whatever may materialize, and then if it comes through, let your work, accomplishment and relationship status speak for itself.

Podcast

• Oprah & Arthur Brooks: Build the Life You Want – Episode 1 | Oprah’s Super Soul | OWN Podcasts

• French Podcast – Faut-il réinventer le bénévolat ? – 49 min.

Le collectif ” Le bénévolat parlons en” nous invite à réfléchir sur l’avenir du bénévolat, à l’occasion de la journée mondiale du bénévolat le 5 décembre prochain.

All the Best in your quest to get better. Don’t Settle: Live with Passion.