My Codex Vitae (Book of Life)

This is inspired by Coach Tony’s post about his Codex Vitae. The purpose of this post is to collect and write down the bits of wisdom I have gained over the years and the new beliefs I have been developing with them.

I am planning to update this once a year at least.

Before you read further, a few points to note —

• This is meant to be Dipanshu Rawal’s “Codex Vitae/Book of life”. If you’re not Dipanshu Rawal, don’t follow this word by word. Feel free to pick what you like or what you would want to try and ignore the rest. This is how Dipanshu will be living his life, and your life is different than his.
• I am posting it publicly so you can take some inspiration/wisdom/ideas from this post to try in your life. I recommend trying one thing at a time.
• Why don’t you write your own Codex Vitae too? Think about it. (DO IT!)

Chapter One: My Principles, Philosophy, and Beliefs

Things that guides everything else in life —

1. What is the purpose of life?

• Nobody knows the answer to this. Everyone’s guessing. The less I stress on finding an answer to this, the more peaceful I’d be.
• Chasing happiness brings me dissatisfaction. Happiness is impermanent, like sadness. My life purpose is to live peacefully and serve others.

2. How are you living / Principles

• Try not to hurt anyone — with thoughts, words, and actions. Don’t increase anyone else’s suffering.
• Live a life of service. Help others. Help yourself.
• “You” can change so many things for yourself and for others. But you can’t change everything. The only way to find the distinction between what you can and what you can’t is to try and test your boundaries.
• Peace is a balance between different life zones — between improvement & acceptance, planning & action, hustle & surrender, and motion & stillness.
• More compassion and less judgment — that’s the easiest way to live a life of service — and that’s what the world needs the most right now.
• Everything is impermanent and you will die. People you love will die. Some day, and you don’t know when. Practice detachment and accept reality.
• We are social animals, and it’s okay to take help. Communicate with your fellow humans, and that will keep you grounded.
• Forgiveness is acceptance. Acceptance is freedom.
• Be conscious of your ego. It follows you everywhere.

Chapter Two: Personal Systems

How to get the most out of life —

1. Physical Fitness

• Move every day. Try working out — strength training, yoga, whatever you want to try. Also, the body is temporary and it’s bound to die, so detach yourself from a specific body image.
• Eat plant-based food. Being vegan has so many perks. You are made up of what you consume. Don’t consume violence. 5 days of a week, eat according to a plan or diet. Hire a dietician for better food plans, don’t bother doing so much research of your own. Hire a cook and you’ll eat more healthy food. Don’t try to make cooking your responsibility — cook for fun.
• Sleep well. When I sleep 8–8.5hr a day, I work a lot better than when I sleep less than that.
• Go for a walk thrice a week, in open. Fresh air matters to your lungs.

2. Mental and Emotional Health

• Talk to a therapist/coach at least once a month and be 100% transparent with them.
• Meditate every day. It’s the best practice that helps in so many life areas. Talk to monks, participate in group programs to learn more about meditation, and join a community.
• Daily reflection is important to grow and stay emotionally healthy.
• Switch from fear-based emotions to love-based emotions, as quickly as possible for a better growth-mindset.
• Accept the life truths — we will always be WIP, we can never be perfect, everyone makes mistakes, everyone needs help at some point in their lives, and if you’re not living your truth, you’re doing an injustice to everyone including yourself.

3. Productivity

• Practice essentialism. Focus on one thing at a time.
• Always write things down. Write your to-do list, meeting points, affirmations — write this kind of stuff every day.
• Try to work inflow. Minimum distractions.
• Start really small with any new goal or process. Build momentum.

Chapter Three: Work

Business and work —

1. Career

• Switch jobs. Try new professions. Earn money. Don’t stick to anything for long if you’re not sure about it.
• Learn — Experiment — Earn.

2. Money

• Money is a part of life and it’s important. It’s an exchange of energy/value. Don’t make it your whole life.
• Money comes easier to you when you do what comes naturally to you.

3. Business

• Keep an open mind. Talk to people 5–10 years ahead of you in business, and learn new things regularly.
• Always plan to delegate as much as you can. And if you like doing a part of the business, eg — writing Social Media captions, don’t outsource it. Make business fun too.
• You fail when you stop trying.

4. Creativity

• Have some time off-screen every day and sit with a pen and notebook. Let the ideas flow.
• Creativity is your inner truth that wants to express itself. Writing, speaking, drawing — all these are different media you can use to express yourself. If you are not expressing your creativity, you’re doing injustice to everyone, including yourself.
• Marketing is an integral part of creativity. It’s like the micronutrients of your diet — essential for healthy survival and growth.
• There are no shortcuts. You have to do the work. Some tiny amount of people might get lucky, but those are exceptions. Focus on the effort more than luck.

Chapter Four: People

Beliefs and practices for other people —

1. Strangers

• Everyone is trying to do the best they think they can at the moment.
• Talk to more strangers, and you’ll learn a lot about yourself.
• Less judgment and more compassion can spark heartful conversations with strangers.

2. Friends

• Be clear with your boundaries. Communicate your values. Be open.
• Stay in touch with friends. A thoughtful “hey, how are you? Wanted to say hello” text can be really resourceful.
• Chat less. Talk more. (Chat= Gossip and random conversation, Talk = Deep meaningful conversation)
• Send birthday gifts. Or even otherwise, gift books. It’s a great way to keep in touch.

3. Family

• Your family must not only include blood relations.
• Try staying in touch with extended family. It helps in the long run.

4. Romantic Relations

• Totally optional.
• Marriage or no marriage — that’s a choice. The important point is to be aware of why you’re choosing what you’re choosing.
• Be aware of why you’re dating someone.
• Nobody is going to make you feel complete. Only you complete yourself.

Chapter Five: Nitty Gritty

Important habits to take care of the details of life —

• Dress simply. Take help from a friend, if there’s any special event.
• Outsource washing your clothes to someone else.
• Prefer comfort over style.
• Carry an extra pair of all clothes whenever you’re traveling one-day trips.

Chapter Six: Influences and Recommendations

Lists that I would return to and recommend to other people —

Movies

• Godfather 1 & 2
• La La Land
• The Dark Knight
• James Bond: Skyfall
• Dictator
• Arrival

TV Series

• Comedy: FRIENDS, Brooklyn 99, Modern Family, Seinfeld, Scrubs, The Office
• With deep meaning: Grey’s Anatomy, House MD, Game of Thrones (First 6 Seasons)
• Political Drama: House of Cards (First 5 seasons)

Books

• Spiritual — Mind Full to Mindful by Om Swami, The universe has your back by Gabrielle Bernstein, The best way to catch a snake by Karma Yeshe Rabgye
• Philosophy — The subtle art of not giving a f*ck by Mark Manson, The ego is the enemy by Ryan Holiday, Stoicism for a purpose-driven life by Dipanshu Rawal
• Fiction — Post Office by Charles Bukowski, The fault in our stars by John Green, Harry Potter series by JK Rowling.

Chapter Seven: A Timeline of My Life

Annual Gratitude Lists

• 2020: WIP (Will be adding the link here later)

Named Years

2020: The first year of my purposeful living.

2018: Graduated with an honors degree in Biotechnology.

2016: When I woke up.

1996: Birth year.