Is there a shortcut to becoming wiser, smarter, and more aware of your surroundings? Michael L. believes there is—but it’s not free.
It takes effort, honesty, and consistency. And yet, among all the ways to grow, he discovered one practice that accelerates everything: meditation.
In this insightful article, Michael shares how meditation helped him uncover his original mind—a mind free from distraction, ego, and emotional clutter. Through this meditation, based on the teachings of Master Woo Myung, he learned that intelligence and awareness aren’t things we add—they’re what naturally remain when the mind becomes clear.
🔍 Whether you want to improve focus, emotional stability, or gain deeper self-understanding, meditation is a powerful and efficient path.
💬 What Are Some Hacks to Become Wiser, Smarter, and More Aware of Your Surroundings?
By Michael L.
Let’s begin by defining what a “hack” really is.
Nothing in life comes for free. Every meaningful result requires effort, time, and dedication. However, there are certainly more effective and less effective ways of approaching things. So for the purpose of this article, I define a “hack” as the fastest and most effective path toward gaining wisdom, intelligence, and awareness.
Meditation
My personal recommendation for the ultimate life hack is meditation.
Meditation is the foundation for becoming wiser, smarter, more aware, and more mentally clear.
No matter what skills we want to develop or talents we hope to cultivate, we will always need effort and practice. However, with a proper meditation routine, we can build the mindset necessary to grow from every experience life gives us.
The Mind, Intrinsic Wisdom, and Why We Struggle
Everything we experience in life happens through the mind.
You could say that the mind is both the window through which we view the world and the vehicle through which we participate in life itself. If that is true, then keeping the mind healthy and clear should be one of the most important priorities in life.
Wisdom, intelligence, awareness, and insight already exist within every human being.
We are all born with these qualities, and life itself becomes the process of discovering and refining them. Naturally, people seek the most efficient way to develop these abilities.
The reason we struggle in life is because our original wisdom becomes buried beneath countless thoughts and emotions.
Stress, worry, fear, greed, expectations, jealousy, anger, resentment, inferiority, and emotional pain clutter the mind and prevent clarity.
Meditation works by gradually removing these accumulated mental burdens, allowing wisdom and awareness to naturally emerge from within.
Discovering Wisdom, Intelligence, and Awareness
Through meditation, we gradually become more aware of ourselves.
Eventually, the line between “meditation” and “daily life” begins to disappear. Every moment becomes an opportunity for self-reflection and awareness.
For example:
If I become aggravated in a certain situation, it reveals that I still carry aggravation within my mind.
If I become lazy, it shows that laziness exists within me.
Through meditation, we can observe these minds honestly and gradually release or discard them.
The more we let go of these negative minds, the more we notice genuine changes in ourselves.
The next time a similar situation occurs, we may react with less anger, less judgment, less attachment, or more understanding than before.
That is growth.
That is wisdom.
You could say that meditation is the process of revealing the “original mind.”
This original mind is naturally clear, open, and unobstructed. It is not weighed down by excessive thoughts, emotional resistance, or negativity.
When we live from this original mind, we naturally respond to situations appropriately and harmoniously. This is wisdom. This is living in accordance with nature’s flow.
The Journey Is Not Always Easy — But It Is Deeply Rewarding
As we continue meditating, we inevitably discover aspects of ourselves that are uncomfortable to face.
We may find selfishness, jealousy, anger, inferiority, greed, entitlement, resentment, or fear hidden within our minds.
Because of this, the process of cleansing the mind is not always easy. At times, it can feel painful and emotionally challenging.
But despite those difficulties, the process is incredibly rewarding because it leads to lasting wisdom, freedom, peace, and happiness.
And honestly, this inner work is something every human being must eventually face.
Without growth and self-reflection, people tend to repeat the same patterns, make the same mistakes, and experience the same forms of suffering again and again.
A Life of Wisdom, Intelligence, and Awareness
The more we meditate, the more natural the process becomes.
As we gradually release the minds that react negatively to every condition in life, the mind becomes lighter, emptier, and more aligned with reality itself.
Eventually, we begin realizing that true wisdom is not about clinging to fixed thoughts, emotions, or perspectives. Wisdom comes from not being trapped by them.
It comes from living from the original mind — a mind that flows naturally with life itself.
When we live this way, life begins flowing more smoothly. We become less blocked by fear, emotional resistance, overthinking, or negativity.
Instead of constantly struggling internally, we are able to focus more fully on what is in front of us. And often, when we do that sincerely, answers and results unfold naturally.
A life lived in harmony with nature’s flow is one of the wisest, clearest, and most aware ways to live.
In that sense, meditation truly became the “hack” I was searching for — the fastest path toward wisdom, intelligence, awareness, and inner clarity.
But like any meaningful transformation, it still requires sincerity, effort, and inner work.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please also refer to the video below, which further explains how meditation can become a powerful productivity and life-improvement tool.
