Swami Gaur Gopal Das shared the solution to leading a happy life at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2022 on November 5. In a session titled, Guruspeak: Life Lessons, Das, a personal coach, monk, author, lifestyle, and motivational strategist, said that most people have a professional life built on what they are great at but “aren’t satisfied with it.”

“Under performance pressure, even roosters have to lay eggs. What do I mean by laying eggs under pressure? Doing something that I don’t love. Doing something I am not cut for. Doing something that I am not passionate about,” he said.

On how one can lead a happy life, Das said, “I travel the world speaking to people in big corporate houses and it is not an exaggerated number, but over 80% of professionals who are working out there are getting thick, fat pay cheque because they are absolutely great at what they do but they are not satisfied with it. I jumped out of the corporate world, I jumped out of Hewlett-Packard to chase something that I love to do but I simply don’t advocate that. My principle that I talk to people about is to get paid for what you are great at and also, side by side, add to your life what you love, your passion,” stating, “So, do what you love, love what you do.”

During the session, he also spoke about the purpose of life. “While most of us know when we were born, But to find out why we were born is an existential question. When we talk of purpose, there are a lot of people trying to figure out what is the answer to the question – why was I born? I surely wasn’t born to pay 30% income taxes, I surely wasn’t born to pay mortgages and liabilities. There’s probably something more that I was born for,” he said.