"Let me just scarf down this lunch real quick and then I'll join you in that super important meeting." – Sound familiar? If you’ve ever found yourself saying this, you’re not alone. In fast-paced, high-intensity environments, it's easy to push our basic needs aside. During my 20+ years in corporate America, I often found myself gulping down lunch in five minutes or less at my desk, rushing to finish a report or prep for a meeting that now, in hindsight, I can barely remember.

The average American finishes a meal in just 6 minutes. Let that sink in. When you start eating, your stomach releases hormones like ghrelin (which increases appetite) and CCK and leptin (which signal fullness). But here’s the catch: it takes 15-20 minutes for these signals to reach your brain, which means many of us eat far more than our body needs. Here’s why that’s problematic:

We often focus on what we eat to stay healthy, but how we eat is just as important. If you want to prioritize your health, start by creating a relaxed, mindful meal ritual. Slow down, savor every bite, and enjoy the time you have with your meal. Even if the only change you make is ensuring your meals last at least 20 minutes, you’ll notice your body responding with gratitude.

This article is for those ready to experience massive change in their lives. If you're not up for a challenge, this might not be for you. But if you're tired of feeling stuck, keep reading. This concept may seem radical, but it's a game-changer: stop blaming others or circumstances for your life and take full accountability.

I know—it’s easier said than done. I've been practicing this for years and still find myself falling into the blame trap. It’s tempting to think, "If that person wasn’t like that, things would be fine." But the real work comes from looking inward. What are your own triggers, beliefs, and biases that lead to these feelings of frustration?

Circumstances are another easy target. "I didn’t grow up like you," or "You don’t know what it’s like in my family." These stories may be true, but they often become excuses that keep us limited. We let our circumstances define what’s possible for us.

Here’s the truth: real transformation begins when you take 100% responsibility for your life. This mindset is often embraced in leadership but ignored in personal life. We create stories about what we can or can’t do and use them as safety nets to avoid stepping out of our comfort zones.

​But you can break free. You can be anything and do anything you truly desire. The only thing standing in your way is the story you tell yourself. So, take charge. Stop saying, "I’ve never been able to do that," and instead, learn how. Take a class, practice, open your mind. The change you're seeking will follow.

Though I’m not a practicing Buddhist, I’ve found many of the teachings apply universally to life. One of the most important concepts from Buddhism’s Eightfold Path has helped me manage difficult emotions like sadness, anger, grief, and even annoyance.

The Buddha teaches that a major cause of suffering (dukkha) is unreasonable or excessive expectations. In simple terms, we suffer because we want things to go a certain way, and when they don’t, we feel frustrated. Whether it’s wanting someone to act a particular way or expecting things to unfold exactly as we envision, unmet expectations often lead to disappointment.

This shows up in all areas of life: relationships, work, family, even something as trivial as trying to mow the lawn before it rains. We’ve been taught to control as much of our lives as possible to ensure success, but when things don’t go as planned, we need to practice faith that everything is unfolding as it should.

Faith in something larger—whether that’s God, nature, or a personal belief system—helps us accept that we aren’t in full control. The real key is acceptance. Trust that the outcome, even if not what you expected, is exactly what’s needed. That person may never change, and traffic may never part for you like the Red Sea, but lots of good things will happen in ways you never imagined.


​Your ability to find gratitude in these unexpected outcomes will determine your ability to live a life free from unnecessary suffering.