Last week American sage-in-residence Bill Murray sat down with Charlie Rose for an hour to enlighten him on the path to self-actualization. He covered all the key topics, from his start at Second City to fatherhood to Wes Anderson making his shirt cuffs too short. It’s fair to say that we’re all due for another dose of wisdom from Murray, so here are 10 of the life lessons he shared with us during this most recent interview.
1. Be alert and available. “More than just for work, but available for life to happen to you. We’re living this life; we’re in this life. If you’re not available, ordinary time goes past and you didn’t live it. But if you’re available, then you jump up dimensions. Life becomes much more full. You’re really living it.”
2. When the opportunity to prank Matt Damon presents itself, take advantage of it. Always good advice to keep in your back pocket should you suddenly find yourself in the situation.
3. Do what you need to do to keep the plates spinning. Even if it means heading back to South Carolina from Berlin every two weeks, be present where your presence is needed.
4. If you’re on a TV show where there’s a billion people watching, show up and do something. Critical advice for day-to-day life.
5. Squeeze all the schmaltz out. Nobody likes the exaggerated sentimentality. Getting rid of it is part of having integrity.
6. If you don’t make a fool out of yourself by selling your soul for money or fame early on, people will trust you later. Be like Wes Anderson and Sofia Coppola, generally speaking.
7. Get good at showing up at places you aren’t expected (or don’t belong). “If you don’t feel like you’re taking over anyone’s space or there to rob their fun, that you’re instead there to share and contribute, people will let you go.”
8. There’s no limit to how much fun you can have or how much you can give. Pretty much how Bill Murray has lived his entire life. Even if you can’t crash an upscale Manhattan restaurant at midnight and give the wait staff the experience of a lifetime, this is a good thing to remember.
9. Choose your own distractions. You can get rid of the unnecessary people and things that appear in your life and cause stress. It “cleans your life out and purifies your space.”
10. This is not a dress rehearsal; this is your life. It’s the only one you got. Try to wake up better. Keep watching your own channel. Everything you need to become fully present is contained in your body.
The zen of Bill Murray. Now go incorporate it into your daily life!
Check out the full interview with Charlie Rose below:
