Michael Acton Smith: Reduce Stress in 7 Minutes a Day & The Surprising Way the Founder of the Biggest Meditation Company Meditates and How We Can Easily Apply This Tip

Building a strong partnership and friendship can lead to incredible opportunities and impact. The relationship between Jay Shetty and Michael Acton Smith started with a lunch meeting years ago, and it has evolved into something truly remarkable. Through their partnership, Jay Shetty became the Chief Purpose Officer at Calm, a leading mental wellness brand. Their friendship and shared values have allowed them to create content, such as The Daily Jay, that they are proud of. Additionally, the Calm team is filled with individuals who have personal stories of how Calm has positively impacted their lives. This demonstrates that when people come together with a common purpose and passion, they can create something truly meaningful.

Meditation, as practiced by Calm, aims to make it more accessible and simplified for everyone. Calm founders Alex Chu and Michael Acton Smith recognized that the world was becoming more stressed and anxious, and they wanted to bring more calm into people's lives. They saw the potential in building a brand around the word "calm" and believed in the power of meditation and mindfulness to transform lives. Despite the initial high price of the domain name calm.com, they decided to invest in it, seeing the magic in that word. Their vision was to make mental health and meditation as accessible as a popular brand like Nike, and to bring the ancient practices of meditation and mindfulness into the modern world. They believe that meditation should be easy and accessible to all, just as it was thousands of years ago when it was part of everyday life.

Variety and storytelling are key components in engaging people in meditation and improving their overall well-being. The introduction of The Daily Calm, with different content every day, made meditation less monotonous and more enjoyable for users. Additionally, the incorporation of sleep stories, with engaging narratives, music, and sound effects, helped people fall asleep naturally and peacefully, addressing the common issue of sleep deprivation. The recognition of the importance of sleep by society, supported by studies like Matthew Walker's book, contributed to the increased focus on finding effective sleep solutions. Furthermore, the involvement of celebrities and talented individuals in recording content for Calm added popularity and coolness to the practice of mindfulness and mental health.

Calm's success in making meditation accessible and relevant lies in its ability to connect with people through entertainment. By presenting meditation in a joyful and entertaining way, Calm captures people's attention and helps them see it as something enjoyable rather than serious or boring. This approach has allowed Calm to break down the barriers and misconceptions surrounding meditation, making it more appealing to a wider audience. The use of quirky and unusual ideas, such as creating an eight-hour movie of sheep grazing or turning GDPR legislation into a sleep story, has garnered attention and publicity for Calm, further dispelling the notion that meditation is weird or "woo woo." Ultimately, Calm's strategy of meeting people where they are and starting with their struggles has been more compassionate and effective in getting people to begin their meditation journey.

Building a successful business doesn't make you immune to burnout and stress. Michael Acton Smith and his team at Calm, despite practicing mindfulness, felt the impact of the pandemic and the pressures of running a company remotely. They realized the need for balance and decided to bring in a new CEO to focus more on their passion for creativity and building something new. This decision allowed them to detach from certain aspects of the business and create space for fresh ideas and innovations. It's a powerful example of knowing when to let go and focus deeply on what you're good at, even in the midst of building a thriving company.

Detachment and focus are key to achieving success and making a meaningful impact. Both Jay Shetty and Michael Acton Smith emphasize the importance of letting go of ego-driven desires and attachments to titles and roles in order to truly serve the world. They highlight the value of collaboration over competition when working towards a common goal for society. Additionally, Acton Smith emphasizes the need for focus, saying that we can't do everything in life and that it's important to know what truly lights us up and where we can have the biggest impact. Taking the time to step back, clear our heads, and immerse ourselves in areas of interest helps us connect the dots and find clarity in our purpose. It's also important to remember that success may not come immediately and that it's okay to take years in the process.

Success does not happen overnight. Many people may feel the pressure to build something big and achieve instant success, but that mindset can be damaging. Instead, it's important to focus on doing the deep work, conducting research, and building a strong foundation. Patience is key, as the journey to success takes time and persistence. It's crucial to understand that overnight successes are rare and often the result of years of hard work and dedication. Additionally, timing plays a significant role. Instead of chasing trends and building something because it's popular, it's better to identify upcoming waves and be prepared to catch them at the right moment. By putting in the necessary effort and being patient, success becomes more likely.

Success in business requires a harmonious balance between data analysis and intuition. Just like surfing, where being connected to nature and in tune with the environment is crucial, business decisions also require a sense of mindfulness and awareness. Michael Acton Smith emphasizes the importance of stepping back and relying on gut instincts and intuition, even when faced with extensive data and projections. This intuitive art is what often leads to the most exciting opportunities in business. Additionally, Acton Smith highlights the significance of listening to the body and paying attention to signals, such as waking up at 4:00 AM, which can indicate success or trouble. By combining data analysis with creativity and intuition, business can flourish and uncover new possibilities.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to greatly support and enhance human well-being, particularly in the realm of mental health. With the advancements in AI technology, there are opportunities to use these powerful silicon brains to provide support and assistance to individuals in need. AI could act as an amplifier for mental health professionals, helping to onboard patients and even offer 24/7 support when human therapists are not available. This could bridge the gap between proactive apps like Calm and traditional therapy. Rather than getting lost in the negative news surrounding AI, it is important to focus on how it can benefit and support humanity by analyzing potential challenges and finding solutions. AI is already a part of our lives, and it is crucial to harness its potential for the betterment of individuals' well-being.

AI has the potential to revolutionize personal health coaching and make it more accessible to everyone. Jay Shetty and Michael Acton Smith discuss how AI can help monitor and measure our health data, provide personalized solutions, and even act as a 24/7 health coach in our pockets. By analyzing data and asking daily questions, AI can make insightful inferences and connections, helping us understand ourselves better than ever before. However, it's important to recognize that AI's logic-driven nature needs to be balanced with compassion and empathy to truly connect with users. Additionally, creating an engaging and entertaining interface, incorporating elements like storytelling and gamification, can help reach a wider audience and make health coaching more enjoyable.

In our digital age, it is crucial to find alternatives and support for those times when real-life experiences and connections aren't readily available. While it is important to engage in physical activities and have conversations with real friends, the rise of the digital world has provided a much-needed solution for many individuals. Developing a mindfulness practice allows us to become aware of where our attention is being directed and to consciously choose where to invest our time and energy. By finding a balance between the digital world and real-life interactions, we can harness the power of both and enhance our overall well-being. Additionally, the personalized nature of the digital world, such as tailored programs and suggested experiences, holds great potential for creating unique and impactful journeys for individuals. While social media may have its drawbacks, approaching it with consciousness and intention can lead to joy, valuable connections, and opportunities.

Being conscious and mindful in our daily choices is crucial. Whether it's scrolling on social media or interacting with people, pausing and reflecting on how these activities serve us is essential. Social media has amplified existing human tendencies such as envy and ego, but the real problem lies in not knowing our own self-worth and lacking consciousness in our decision-making. Developing a mindfulness practice and responding instead of reacting can greatly impact our lives. Additionally, examining our past choices and aligning them with our true values can help us live a more authentic life with less external distractions. It's a lifelong journey, but a worthwhile one.

The conversation around incorporating meditation and mindfulness in schools has evolved over the past decade. Initially, there was resistance and skepticism, but now thousands of schools around the world begin their day with moments of silence or short meditations. However, introducing these practices to children can be challenging, as they are often more interested in other things. To engage them, it is important to present meditation and mindfulness in a way that resonates with them and captures their attention. Innovative partnerships, like the collaboration with Disney, have proven effective in making these practices accessible and entertaining for kids. Additionally, utilizing sleep stories as a mindful approach to bedtime has also been successful. It's essential to meet people where they are and create something that works for them, combining familiarity with a new and unique twist. Ultimately, pushing boundaries and being patient can lead to tremendous success in creating something that can positively impact the world.

In order to find potential solutions to problems and serve others effectively, we need to embrace stillness and solitude. It is crucial to listen to our inner voice and not get distracted by the multitude of distractions in our lives. Taking time for ourselves, whether it's going away for a few days or practicing stillness in the mornings before turning on our phones, allows us to hear what we truly need to hear. By creating moments of silence and reflection, we can uncover valuable insights and ideas that may not emerge in the chaos of our daily lives. So, let's make a conscious effort to carve out time for stillness and listen to ourselves, because that's where true clarity and creativity reside.