Belief
Believe and know yourself like no one will ever will. If you don't, who will? Love yourself and be your biggest fan and your harshest critic – not because you hate yourself but because you want to improve yourself. There will be times when you will have to display self-belief that is far superior than what it should be. Doesn't matter. Believe you can. It is vital to make a period of your life and then gradually afterwards, a deep source of evidence which you can rely on to say "I did that", "Why can I not do that?". Some will call it arrogance or overconfidence. Doesn't matter. You know yourself. You know its self-belief.
Progress
The pursuit of the betterment of your life and society in the face of adversity and challenges is the most beautiful and meaningful thing there is. Whenever that pursuit is threatened or there is no incentive to progress, then that, in my belief, is a precursor for a hollow and meaningless life.
Agency
Initiative and an entrepreneurial spirit are foundational to drive action that leads to progress and impact. To be independent, identify problems and gaps, and have the audacity to problem-solve is necessary – not only because it suppresses the stagnant and passive nature of humans, but because to overcome that uncertainty is the only way to know for certain that you have done what is necessary to change the outcome of something you thought undesirable or problematic.
Health
An energetic, mobile, and capable body is essential to have self-belief and self-respect, to develop a strong mindset, and to drive impact. Can these be accomplished without health – yes, but not at the same level. You don't have to go keto on day one, but pursue gradually a life where you embody a lifestyle of nutritious food, exercise, community, and sleep. You can have fun without drinking or smoking – you just need to believe that you are capable of doing so. Many believe taking care of oneself is a selfish act. What many don't understand is that being healthy means optimizing for being the best version of oneself for others as well.
Balance and burning out is a myth
If you love what you do, if you are crazy about it, if you think about it 24/7, there is no balance. If you want to drive real impact, there cannot be balance. I've been told forever that I need balance and that I will burn out. I love what I do, which is why that doesn't happen. I'm not someone who "works" 100 hours/week like investment bankers, but its not about how much time you are "working" at your job or doing classes, its about how you define "work". If you truly enjoy what you do, you will research about it, take notes, speak to people about it, interview about it, listen to podcasts about it, read tweets and Instagram posts about it, watch videos about, documentaries about it. It is your life. No balance doesn't mean you can't work out 60 minutes a day, have good sleep, and eat healthy, it means being all-in to the mission you've set out to achieve.
Be all-in or all-out
Believe in something or don't believe in it. Act a certain way or don't act like it. You are either healthy or unhealthy, enjoy your work or don't enjoy it. Know yourself like no one else will. There is certainly a spectrum but you don't want to be half-in half-out. It's a state of confusion and fragmented understanding of who you are and what you represent. Its also tiring and created unnecessary noise. Know who you are and what you want, and then act.
Gratitude & Optimism
Look at the bright side of things. Strive towards having a positive impact. Be thankful for whatever you believe elevates you in some shape or form. It can be family, being healthy, being injury-free, going to a certain school, or having a certain job. The good thing is that there is always stuff to be grateful for and it is also a way to be immediately placed in a positive mood. Think in possibilities, in the good, and in what is capable of being achieved. Don't limit yourself or be narrow-minded. There is enough "bad" stuff happening around us. Exercising this mindset whenever I could was essential in allowing me to persevere in the toughest of times.