Toolkit
An Ongoing Discovery
Harnessing your inner nature requires a desire to truly know yourself, and a commitment to following the path where it may lead.
Who you are, what you want, why you're here… these questions form the basis of a life well-lived. We believe that building a personal toolkit - books, quotes, music, films, art, poetry and so forth - is essential for weathering the seasons and storms, offering an antidote for any moment.
Below are a few breadcrumbs to start you off.
Read
Supercoach
by Michael Neill
Life/career/success coaching from a Buddhist perspective. The chapter on goals is particularly brilliant, and will help you get to the core of what it is you want.
“The ultimate level of change is transformation, or what I sometimes call ‘global change’ - a pervasive shift in our way of being in the world. At this level, it’s not enough for us to develop a skill or change a feeling. It’s our intangible ‘selves’ we want to change, and in doing so, we change our experience of everything.”
Sri Aurobindo or the Adventure of Consciousness, by Satprem
An in-depth exploration of the psychological and physiological changes that can occur as part of a deep inner transformation. Warning: not for those just starting out.
“The first stage, and the fundamental task that gives the key to many realizations, is to silence the mind… Clearly if we want to discover a new country within us, we have to be prepared to leave the old one behind.”
A Field Guide to Getting Lost
by Rebecca Solnit
A meditation on what it means to explore, what it means be lost. Personal stories interwoven with historical tales of America's early settlers.
“Lost really has two disparate meanings. Losing things is about the familiar falling away, getting lost is about the unfamiliar appearing. There are objects and people that disappear from your sight or knowledge or possession; you lose a bracelet, a friend, the key. You still know where you are. Everything is familiar except that there is one item less, one missing element. Or you get lost, in which case the world has become larger than your knowledge of it..."
A Path With Heart
by Jack Kornfield
Tackles some of the most common challenges faced by new meditators, providing practical techniques and guided meditations for overcoming them.
“If your compassion does not include yourself,
it is incomplete.”
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
by Eric Jorgenson
A collection of insights from one of our time’s pre-eminent entrepreneurs and investors, on building wealth (not income) and redefining success, all with a philosophical bent.
“Scott Adams famously said, ‘Set up systems, not goals’. Use your judgment to figure out what kind of environments you can thrive in, and then create an environment around you so you’re statistically likely to succeed”.
The Brain That Changes Itself
by Norman Doidge MD
Neuroplasticity and its recent advances, described in layman’s terms. Fascinating insights into the ability to unlock obsessions and compulsive behaviours, understand sexual attraction and readdress our relationship to physical pain.
“One reason we can change our brains simply by imagining is that, from a neuroscientific point of view, imaging an act and doing it are not as different as they sound… that is why visualizing can improve performance.”
Listen
Alan Watts
Philosopher, writer and speaker with the ultimate radio voice, best known for interpreting Eastern philosophy for a Western audience.
The Knowledge Project
Shane Parrish, founder of Farnam Street, dives deep into the mindsets wielded by some of our foremost creatives, athletes and entrepreneurs.
Some of our favourite episodes:
Language Transfer
For anyone wanting to learn a language, this is the most effective technique we’ve found for getting started. Employing the Socratic method with a twist, it’s particularly genius for the ability to use it on the go (we love listening while cooking or in the car).
Watch
Brene Brown
Humorous, heart-warming TED talks from the renowned researcher of vulnerability, courage, authenticity and shame.
Anis Mojgani
Spoken word artist with an incredible passion, and a talent for using poetry to pinpoint our collective misgivings.
Elizabeth Gilbert
Insights from the best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear on success, failure and the world inbetween.
