8 lessons from Eastern philosophy that transformed the way I look at success and happiness

For a long time, I thought success was all about hustling harder, achieving more, and ticking off the next big milestone.

And happiness? I figured it would naturally follow once I got those things right.

But somewhere along the way, I realized that no matter how much I accomplished, something always felt… incomplete.

That’s when I started exploring Eastern philosophy—and it completely changed my perspective.

What I found wasn’t a magic formula or a quick fix. Instead, it was a shift in how I approached life, success, and what it means to truly be happy.

These lessons didn’t just challenge my old beliefs—they gave me a new lens to see the world through.

Here are eight lessons from Eastern philosophy that transformed the way I think about success and happiness—and how they might just change your perspective too.

1) Happiness isn’t something to chase

For most of my life, I treated happiness like a destination. If I worked hard enough, achieved enough, or hit the next milestone, I’d “arrive” at happiness.

But Eastern philosophy taught me that this way of thinking is a trap.

In many teachings, especially Buddhism, happiness isn’t something external that you need to hunt down.

Instead, it’s about being present and content in the moment, no matter what’s happening around you.

This shift in perspective was huge for me. I stopped tying my happiness to future goals or things outside my control and started focusing on how I could create peace within myself right now.

It doesn’t mean you stop striving or setting goals—it just means you stop postponing your happiness until you get there. You learn to embrace the journey, not just the destination.

2) Success isn’t always what you think it is

I used to measure success in a very traditional way—job titles, income, accomplishments.

I thought the more I achieved, the more successful I’d feel. But there was a moment that completely shattered this idea for me.

A few years ago, I landed what I thought was my dream job. The title was impressive, the paycheck was great, and on paper, it checked all the boxes.

But after a few months, I realized I wasn’t happy. In fact, I felt drained and unfulfilled.

That’s when I came across the concept of “Dharma” in Eastern philosophy—the idea of living in alignment with your true purpose.

It made me question whether my version of success was really mine, or just something I’d absorbed from societal expectations.

So I started asking myself different questions: Was I doing work that felt meaningful? Was I using my unique strengths? Was I contributing to something bigger than myself?

By reframing success this way, I realized it’s less about external markers and more about living authentically and intentionally.

It wasn’t an easy shift to make, but redefining success on my own terms has been one of the most liberating changes in my life.

3) The mind is like a restless monkey

In Eastern philosophy, there’s a saying that the mind is like a monkey, constantly jumping from branch to branch.

It’s restless, easily distracted, and always chasing after something—whether it’s thoughts about the past, worries about the future, or endless mental chatter.

This idea resonated deeply with me because it perfectly explained why I often felt overwhelmed or scattered.

The more I paid attention to my own thoughts, the more I realized how rarely my mind was actually present in the moment.

The practice of mindfulness, which is rooted in traditions like Buddhism and Taoism, offers a way to calm that “monkey mind.”

By focusing on the here and now—whether it’s through meditation, deep breathing, or simply being fully aware of what you’re doing—you can quiet the mental noise and find clarity.

It’s not about shutting off your thoughts completely (because let’s be honest, that’s impossible).

Instead, it’s about learning to observe them without getting caught up in their chaos. And when you do, life feels a lot less overwhelming.

4) Letting go is the key to freedom

One of the most profound lessons I learned from Buddhism is the importance of letting go.

So much of our suffering comes from clinging—whether it’s to possessions, relationships, expectations, or even past mistakes.

We hold on tightly, thinking these things define us or will bring us lasting happiness. But in reality, they often weigh us down.

Buddhism teaches that attachment is one of the main causes of human suffering. When I first came across this idea, it was a little hard to swallow. Let go? Of everything? That felt impossible.

But as I began to practice detachment—not in a way that means you stop caring, but in a way that allows you to accept life as it is—I started to feel lighter and more at peace.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I dive deeper into this concept and share practical ways to embrace letting go in your daily life.

It’s not about giving up; it’s about creating space for what truly matters by releasing what no longer serves you.

Letting go isn’t always easy, but once you experience the freedom it brings, it’s hard to imagine living any other way.

By learning to loosen your grip, you make room for greater joy, clarity, and connection in your life.

5) Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional

There was a time in my life when I went through a series of setbacks that left me feeling completely lost.

It felt like everything that could go wrong did—relationships fell apart, work became overwhelming, and the weight of it all was crushing.

I thought the only way forward was to fight against the pain, to resist it with everything I had. But the more I resisted, the harder it became to move through it.

That’s when I came across a core teaching in Buddhism: pain is a natural part of life, but suffering comes from our attachment to that pain.

In other words, we don’t suffer because life is hard—we suffer because we expect it not to be.

This idea shifted everything for me. I realized that instead of trying to avoid pain or wishing it away, I could sit with it, acknowledge it, and let it pass through me without attaching a story to it.

It doesn’t mean the pain disappears overnight—it still hurts—but it loses its power to control you.

Learning this taught me how to face life’s challenges with more grace and resilience.

Instead of running from discomfort or letting it consume me, I learned how to hold space for it—and eventually let it go.

6) Striving for balance can throw you off

We’re often told that the key to a happy life is balance—between work and rest, ambition and contentment, giving and receiving.

It sounds like wise advice, and for a while, I chased this idea of balance tirelessly. But here’s the thing: trying to perfectly “balance” everything in life can actually create more stress than peace.

In Taoism, there’s a concept called “Wu Wei,” which translates to “effortless action” or “going with the flow.”

It’s not about forcing balance or trying to control every aspect of your life—it’s about aligning yourself with the natural rhythms of life and responding to them fluidly.

This idea felt counter-intuitive at first because I thought achieving balance required constant effort. But the truth is, life is dynamic—it’s always shifting.

Some seasons require more focus on work, while others call for rest or relationships. Instead of rigidly trying to maintain equilibrium at all times, I learned to embrace the ebb and flow of life.

Once I stopped forcing balance and started flowing with what each moment required, I felt less pressure and more ease.

True harmony doesn’t come from perfectly distributing your energy—it comes from being present enough to know where your energy is truly needed.

7) Your ego is not your friend

For the longest time, I thought my ego was what drove me to succeed. It pushed me to prove myself, to stand out, to be seen as “enough” in the eyes of others.

But the deeper I explored Eastern philosophy, the more I realized that my ego wasn’t helping me—it was holding me back.

In Buddhism, the ego is often seen as the root of suffering. It’s that voice in your head that constantly compares, judges, and clings to a false sense of self.

The ego thrives on separateness—“me” versus “them,” or “I’m only valuable if I achieve X.” But this way of thinking only breeds insecurity and disconnection.

What really struck me was the idea that letting go of your ego doesn’t mean losing yourself—it means finding a deeper sense of who you really are, beyond labels or achievements.

When I started practicing humility and self-awareness, I noticed how much lighter life felt.

I no longer needed external validation to feel whole, and my relationships improved because I wasn’t constantly trying to prove something.

Eastern philosophy taught me that true strength comes not from feeding your ego, but from quieting it. And in that quiet, you can finally hear who you are beneath all the noise.

8) Everything is impermanent

If there’s one lesson from Eastern philosophy that has shaped the way I see both success and happiness, it’s this: nothing lasts forever.

Joy, pain, achievements, failures—everything is in constant motion, always changing.

At first, this idea felt unsettling. I didn’t want to think about losing the good things in life or facing more hard times.

But over time, I realized that impermanence is what makes life so precious. The fleeting nature of everything is what gives it meaning.

When you truly embrace impermanence, you stop clinging so tightly—to outcomes, to possessions, to people.

You learn to appreciate what you have while it’s here and let it go when it’s time. It’s not always easy, but it’s freeing.

Impermanence has taught me to live more fully in the present moment, knowing that this moment is all I truly have. And that makes all the difference.

The journey inward

Eastern philosophy has a way of turning everything you think you know about life on its head. It invites you to stop looking outward for answers and start exploring within.

Success isn’t about how much you achieve; happiness isn’t about what you acquire. Instead, it’s about how deeply you understand yourself and how gracefully you move through life’s changes.

These lessons aren’t just abstract ideas—they’re practical, transformative tools for living with more clarity and intention.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I delve deeper into these teachings and explore how they can help you live a life of meaning, impact, and inner peace.

The beauty of Eastern philosophy is that it doesn’t demand perfection or rigid rules. It simply asks you to pay attention—to your thoughts, your actions, and the way you interact with the world.

And in that awareness, you might just find that the things you’ve been chasing were within you all along.