5 life lessons to learn from Gaur Gopal Das

Gaur Gopal Das, a man who describes himself as ‘a personal coach, monk, lifestyle & motivational strategist, author’ is a modern-day spiritual leader and motivational speaker. He is associated with the ISKCON foundation and has inspired millions of people with his simple, practical, and straightforward lessons and teachings. Be it through his books, or through videos that he shares on his social media, Gaur Gopal Das has been an inspiration for many.
Here we mention 5 life lessons to learn from him.

(Image: Instagram)

One of his most famous teachings that is also an important life lesson is that people need to change themselves before they expect the same thing from another person.
There are times when we get frustrated about how a certain thing is being done, an activity is being planned, or anything that someone else is doing not in the ‘right’ way. But, before trying to change their way of doing something, it is important that we ask ourselves - ‘If there was a particular way I wanted it to happen, why did I not do it myself, or why am I interrupting their way of doing things?’.
So, shift your focus inward, and try to drive the change within yourself first instead of fixing others.

Another very popular teaching and life lesson given by Gaur Gopal Das is that being happy, and choosing happiness is a choice.
The thing is, everybody wishes to be happy, and everyone is trying their best to achieve things in order to be happy. But, for some, the achievement and happiness have started to depend on external factors. Receiving validation from a senior colleague, a compliment from a partner, appreciation by the parents, etc. If your happiness is dependent on an external player, it will be fleeting and you will not be able to feel complete.
So, choose yourself, make your own happiness, and remember that being happy is your own choice.

Another important life lesson to take from him is - Don’t always change yourself for others. In one of his videos, Gaur Gopal Das shares that if by making a few adjustments you are happy and satisfied with someone, that is fine. But if these ‘minor’ changes are endless, it might be time for you to change.
In our everyday life, we might feel there are moments when there is so much pressure to be a certain way. Dress in a certain way, talk in a specific accent, and whatnot. And while it is okay to adjust here and there, you cannot go out and change your whole personality for someone else. So, follow your heart and remain steady in your choices, even if that means some people may not fully understand or agree with them.

Forgiving and apologising are both important parts of leading and living a peaceful life. Without apologising to certain people your relationship with them might never be the same again, and without forgiving some people, your inner peace will never be the same again. And so, it is important to walk on this path of forgiving and apologising.
The more you hate someone or dislike them for their actions or what they did in the past, the more negative energies you will attract. And it will always stay like a heavy stone on your heart, remembering them and cursing them all over again. So, forgive them, protect your sanity, and move on.
Similarly, sometimes we know that we are or were wrong. If this realisation arises, ask for forgiveness, and move on.

While this sentence might feel like a tongue twister, it is quite easy in meaning. You are, as a person and personality, a mix of the people you are around.