Flow state

Maya Angelou knew a secret. She didn’t seek “success.” She sought alignment. Think about the people who changed your life. They didn’t do it because they wanted your money…

The great teacher you still remember. The shopkeeper that always smiles. The happy taxi driver. They aren’t more intelligent, or better educated. They are aligned. Their passion is their work. They care. And that makes all the difference. Caring is the key…

In the end, the secret to happiness comes down to caring about something deeply and aligning your life with it. And as a result, becoming the good in the world…

When you’re not aligned you’re constantly fighting against the current. When you become aligned with your passion, you stop fighting against the world and start working with it. You focus on the good you can do instead of obsessing over the wrongs you see. This is often referred to as working with your strengths.

Your passion is not a distraction. It’s your compass. Purpose is the only lasting cure for a dull life. We feel tired because we are carrying weights that don’t belong to us. When you let go and start focusing on good you can excel.

This isn’t mumbo jumbo. According to the flow state research by Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, when you pursue a task you love, your brain’s prefrontal cortex partially deactivates—silencing your inner critic and allowing for a 500% increase in productivity. If you’re not aligned you’re literally operating five times less efficiently. Just think about that.

The Real Lesson. Maya Angelou wasn’t exactly giving career advice; she was giving you the keys to your best life. The life you’re made for. Don’t build a career. Build a masterpiece from your passion. Work to your strengths. Don’t fight your weaknesses. Be the good you’ve always wanted to see in the world.