What if I tell you that I have a magic potion that can make you look more youthful, increase your happiness levels, and add around 20 years to your life! Would you want to have it?
Obviously, the “potion” does not exist but I have been working on a blueprint that can achieve exactly that. Next 8-10 minutes could transform your life and set you on a path to greater happiness and longevity.
Around two decades ago, I had a near-death experience when I drowned in a flooded stream. Attempting to cross a makeshift bridge, I tripped and fell into the gushing water. The helplessness I felt was overwhelming. I wanted to breathe but couldn’t, and the tossing and turning were devastating. For a while, I thought I was about to die. Fortunately, a boy who was with me cried for help, and a few farmers just arrived in time to rescue me. This incident made me realize the fragility and preciousness of life. We are so incredibly lucky to be here, with a 1 in 10^26, 85,000 chance of existence. We are a lot more than lottery winners.
Consider this: 37 trillion cells are working right now to make each breath possible. To put it into perspective, the number of bricks in all the buildings in the world is less than the number of cells in our bodies. That’s how remarkable our bodies are. To add to it, cells and bricks are incomparable. Lakhs of intricate processes occur in each cell every moment making our existence far more miraculous.
We live in the best time in human history. If we compare ourselves to what we were 70 years ago as Indians, our poverty levels have reduced by eight times, the number of hospitals has increased over five times, our life expectancy has more than doubled, and the amount of food available has more than doubled. The figures are clear: our social connections have become infinite. However, despite these advancements, our happiness levels have been on a constant decline for the last 30 years. Mental health issues are rising, and obesity and cardiovascular diseases have increased by around 60% in recent decades. Somehow, we are all connected, yet we’ve lost touch with ourselves and the world around us.
I’ve always wondered how to solve this problem. In the past, we suffered from scarcity and lack of direction; today, we suffer from excess and being too fixated on an issue or two neglecting the other important aspects. My idea is to live lives focusing on what truly matters. Let’s live holistic lives and try to live them optimally. TaDa! My magic potion is holistic optimalism.
I am from a small village in Kashmir and, as fate would have it, I found myself in conference rooms developing policies for 1.3 billion Indians. I also had the opportunity to work with scientists and academicians, which exposed me to the astonishing complexity with which humans are capable of functioning. I aimed to marry complexity with simplicity. For the past 10 years, I’ve collaborated with psychologists, philosophers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to find the sweet spot for living the best life possible. I’ve reached some conclusions. In dealing with the public, I realized two things: motivation is remarkable but fleeting, and having information doesn’t necessarily lead to action. For example, we all know fitness is good for longevity, but how many of us go to gyms? Globally, only 2.4% do, and in India, it’s just 0.2%. There’s a serious mismatch between knowing and action.
What really changes behavior? I consulted many behavioral scientists and realized that small, easy, actionable goals are key. Information, awareness, and motivation alone are not enough.
This brings me to the five low-hanging fruits of holistic optimalism.
1. Activity of a shepherd
Women generally live longer than men, but in Sardinia, Italy, men outlive women. Sardinia is a Blue Zone, a place with the highest concentration of centenarians. Many of these men are shepherds who walk 5 to 6 miles daily. Small bursts of activity help them live longer among many other factors. You don’t need to be an athlete; even 10 to 15 minutes of walking or stretching can be beneficial. Historically, many revered figures like Krishna, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were shepherds, suggesting a link between simplicity, activity, and wisdom.
2. Purposefulness of an entreprenuer
Entrepreneurs wake up every morning with a clear purpose, which drives them. In Okinawa, Japan, another Blue Zone, the concept of “ikigai” or life’s purpose is prevalent. Similarly, in Costa Rica, they have “plan de vida.” Knowing your purpose is associated with positive effects, including lower depression levels and increased longevity. Robert Butler’s study suggests that having a purpose can add 7 to 11 years to your life. We have a similar term in our culture, “dharma.” Let’s all find our dharma and live a life of purpose and meaning.
3. Curiosity of a child
My three-year-old daughter calls me “Toathi,” a Kashmiri word for beloved. When she started singing “Toathi finger, Toathi finger, where are you?” instead of “Daddy finger,” I saw it as a leap in her creativity. Kids form 1 million neural connections every second. While neuroplasticity decreases with age, it doesn’t stop. You can reverse your brain’s age by being curious and learning new things. Spend time daily learning, reading, or acquiring new skills. This not only makes you happier but also promotes longevity.
4. Stillness of a monk
A study at the University of Virginia found that 67% of males preferred electric shocks to being alone with their thoughts for 30 minutes. Matthieu Ricard, a former molecular geneticist turned monk, is considered the happiest person in the world. He achieved this through mindfulness meditation, prayer, and gratitude. Developing stillness through meditation, prayer, and gratitude can significantly enhance happiness and longevity. Generosity and kindness also have remarkable positive effects on longevity. If we spend a few minutes everyday in these practices, we will start seeing remakable transformation in how we feel, act and function. The seemingly insignicant changes will snowball into unimaginable feats in some time.
5. Connection of a mother
Connection, especially a mother’s selfless connection, is crucial. Dan Buettner, a Blue Zone researcher, states that lacking three people to talk to in adversity can reduce your lifespan by 7 to 9 years. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, ongoing for over 80 years, found that the quality of relationships is the biggest factor in longevity. After a certain age, its the quality of our relationships more than the cholestrol in our blood that determines how long we live. So, invest in quality relationships.
My five low-hanging fruits of holistic optimalism are: engaging in simple physical activities, finding purpose, staying curious, embracing stillness, and nurturing quality connections. If we spend a fraction of the 2.3 hours we use daily on social media on ourselves, our lives would improve significantly.
In essence, while there may not be a literal magic potion that can grant us eternal youth or endless happiness, the blueprint of holistic optimalism I’ve shared today comes close. It’s not about miraculous elixirs, but rather about the daily choices we make—the small, intentional steps towards physical vitality, purposeful living, perpetual curiosity, serene mindfulness, and nurturing relationships. These choices, consistently practiced, have the power to transform our lives profoundly. So, let us embrace holistic optimalism not as a fleeting remedy, but as our enduring magic potion—an elixir distilled from wisdom, science, and the profound resilience of the human spirit. Let us embark on this journey together, knowing that each step forward brings us closer to a life enriched with happiness, fulfillment, and longevity.