"Why Spirituality Might Be The Ultimate Health Hack"Season 2-Episode 27

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mblj-YQORGU

Hey FunLifers,

During the holidays I had a moment that felt… different.

Not bad—just different.

The last few years have been go-go-go: getting married, opening Palo Alto, building Mountain View, growing the team, leveling up the business. All good things. No complaints.

But when I sat down to think about “big goals” for this year, I realized something:

I don’t want this season to be about being more quantitative.

I want it to be about being more present.

Less “How fast can we grow?”

More “How good can we make what we’re already doing?”

And that reflection led me into a topic I’ve been thinking about more and more as I get older:

Spirituality.

Not necessarily religion. Not dogma. Not a label.

Just the idea of believing in something bigger than yourself—and how that belief can become an “operating system” for how you show up as a human… and how it ties directly into health, discipline, leadership, stress, and purpose.

Spirituality vs. Religion (from my lens)

I didn’t grow up religious. I’ve been to church maybe a handful of times in my entire life.

I’ve never been anti-religion—if anything, I’ve gotten more curious about it with age. But I’ve always leaned more toward spirituality because it feels more open-minded and less structured.

For me, spirituality is simple:

It’s the feeling you get in nature—stars, ocean, mountains—when you realize you’re part of something huge, beautiful, and unexplainable.

It makes you grateful.

It makes you humble.

It pulls you out of your own head.

And if we’re being honest… most adults don’t have many outlets for that.

Which is why this matters:

Work is one of the biggest “spiritual” outlets we have

For most adults, work becomes the main way we serve something outside ourselves.

That’s one reason I love what we do. We get to help people:

· move better

· feel more confident

· build community

· live longer

· manage stress

· feel like themselves again

And that’s not just “training.”

That’s purpose.

The two biggest drivers of longevity (that most people ignore)

We love to talk tactics: training, nutrition, supplements, sleep, etc.

Those matter.

But the big drivers of long-term health and happiness are:

1.    The quality of your relationships

2.    A sense of purpose / meaning

That’s why this conversation ties directly into health.

Because if you don’t have meaning… discipline gets harder.

If you don’t have community… stress hits harder.

If you don’t have purpose… even success can feel empty.

9 Universal Lessons We Can Learn From Religion + Philosophy

I went down a rabbit hole and pulled out the “parallels”—the shared truths across different religions and philosophies.

Not the labels. Not the rules.

The common ground.

1) Compassion + love for others

Universal lesson: Treat others with care, dignity, and humanity.

2) Personal responsibility + integrity

Universal lesson: Your actions matter. Who you are when no one is watching matters.

3) Discipline over instant gratification

Universal lesson: Growth requires resistance. Not every urge deserves a yes.

This one is huge right now.

We live in the era of: DoorDash, dopamine hits, “easy everything.”

But fulfillment doesn’t come from comfort.

It comes from building.

4) Humility + ego reduction

Universal lesson: Accept what you can’t control. Stop fighting reality.

When you obsess over what you can’t control, you create stress, anxiety, and frustration for free.

5) Service + contribution

Universal lesson: A life focused only on “me” eventually feels empty.

Helping people is hard. Leading a team is hard. Being a great partner is hard.

But it’s also the most fulfilling thing there is.

6) Presence + awareness

Universal lesson: If you can master one thing, master being here—right now.

Presence and gratitude are the closest thing I’ve found to a “cheat code” for living well.

7) Respect for the body

Universal lesson: Your body isn’t disposable. It’s something to steward—not abuse.

I’ve always felt this: exercise isn’t just physical.

It’s one of the fastest routes to mental health, emotional regulation, and spiritual connection.

8) Accept suffering as part of growth

Universal lesson: Pain isn’t punishment. It’s development.

You don’t get the reward without the work.

You don’t get the strength without the hardship.

9) Purpose beyond the self

Universal lesson: A life centered only around “me” will always feel empty.

The hard truth about being true to yourself

Here’s the line I want you to sit with:

When you’re being true to yourself, one downside is that a group of people will disagree with you.

Most people live their life trying to be perceived as “good,” to avoid disagreement, to keep everyone happy.

But if that costs you your character… it’s not peace.

It’s performance.

The “order of operations” I try to live by

If you want to change the world:

1.    Start by fixing yourself

2.    Then help the people closest to you

3.    Then expand outward—community, team, audience, internet

Too many people are trying to fix strangers while ignoring what they need to clean up in their own life.

Closing thought

Whether your “something bigger” is:

· religion

· spirituality

· nature

· the universe

· philosophy

· community

· virtue

· God

I truly believe connection to something bigger is vital for health, happiness, and longevity.

Not because it gives you all the answers…

But because it reminds you that life isn’t just about you.

And that’s where meaning begins.

If this episode hit home, share it with someone who’s been feeling a little disconnected lately.

See you next week,

Corey

Pursuit of Balance