Dr. Srikumar Rao is a remarkable voice in the world of leadership and personal growth, whose teachings are as practical as they are profound. His work is a bridge between ancient, enduring wisdom and the challenges we face in today’s fast-paced world, and through his courses, coaching, and acclaimed TED Talks, he has helped thousands unlock a new way of living—one filled with clarity, joy, and a sense of purpose.

Dr. Rao’s Creativity and Personal Mastery course has been transformational for countless people across six continents; his insights have a way of sticking with you, surfacing in your mind just when you need them most. This conversation will leave you energized, curious, and will have you rethinking the way you approach life’s challenges.

Here are just a few of the gems of insight you will hear Dr. Rao explain, along with with stories and ah-ha moments you can use every day: 

You Don’t Find Purpose—You Create It

Dr. Rao flips the idea of finding your life’s purpose on its head. He says,

“Purpose isn’t out there, waiting to be discovered; It’s something you create with intention and focus.”

The secret lies in noticing what lights you up. Instead of letting inspiration fade, pause to capture it, and then start building on it. Imagine how different life could feel if you leaned into those sparks and allowed them to shape your days!

Mental Chatter: The Thief of Joy

Every one of us has a voice in our heads—what Dr. Rao calls mental chatter. It’s there when we wake up, throughout the day, and sometimes even keeps us from sleeping. It’s also sneaky, often telling us stories about our lives that aren’t entirely true.

Dr. Rao shares a story about a father and son on a fishing trip that beautifully illustrates this. The father found an old journal in which his son called it “the best day of my life,” but when he went to look at the same date in his own journal, he was dismayed to find that he’d called it a lousy day, and only focused on the things that went wrong.

How many moments like these do we miss or mislabel because of the chatter in our minds?

Dr. Rao’s challenge to us is simple: What if we could step back and see life for what it really is?

“Good Thing, Bad Thing—Who Knows?”

Here’s a game-changer: Dr. Rao’s simple practice of suspending judgment when things happen. Too often, we rush to label events as either good or bad—but what if we’re wrong? What if the very thing we’re dreading today becomes a blessing tomorrow? This mindset shift not only eases stress, but opens up a world of possibility.

Redefining Success

For so many of us, success is tied to reaching a specific goal: the promotion, the house, the marriage, the perfect family, et cetera. Dr. Rao invites us to think differently. 

“The real benefit of setting a goal isn’t achieving it; it’s who you become in the process.” 

Life is about falling in love with the journey, finding fulfillment in the daily steps you take, and letting go of the idea that happiness lives somewhere “out there.” It can live wherever you look—and if you can’t find it, often, you can create it.

The Stress of Wanting Control

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by stress, Dr. Rao has a powerful insight: 

Stress doesn’t come from what’s happening—it comes from our resistance to it. “We want the universe to play by our rules,” he says. “But the universe has its own plans.” 

The key isn’t to fight what’s beyond your control, but to flow with it. Just imagine how much lighter life could feel with this perspective in the front of your mind.

Be a Vortex of Calm

This is where Dr. Rao’s wisdom really shines: In a world full of chaos, he believes we each have the power—and the responsibility—to create peace; first within ourselves, and then for others. 

“Instead of being pulled into someone else’s vortex of turmoil, be so centered in your own calm that you pull them into your serenity,” he says. 

This mindset shift can transform our relationships and the way we show up in the world.

A Conversation Worth Revisiting

Dr. Rao’s teachings aren’t just ideas to ponder; they’re tools to use, over and over again. Hopefully, this episode of the Conspiracy of Goodness Podcast will hold a mirror up to your life and show you where a few small mindset shifts could open the door to more joy, peace, and meaning.

This conversation has layers. It’s one you’ll want to come back to, again and again, because as you practice the ideas Dr. Rao shares, you’ll discover new depths and connections in his words.

If you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or uncertain, lean into this. You can improve your worldview in little shifts that, taken together, create a big transformation. And as Dr. Rao so brilliantly puts it: 

“Would you rather get what you want, or outgrow the need for it?”

There’s something profoundly freeing about that question—and the journey it invites you to take.

• Website: The Rao Institute
• Contact Dr. Rao: [email protected]
• Video: I Will be a Hummingbird
• Podcast: John Sabraw’s CoG Episode #196
• Podcast: Srikumar’s First CoG Appearance Episode #05
• Podcast: Srikumar’s Second CoG Appearance Episode #107

• 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
• 03:16 – Creativity & Personal Mastery
• 09:17 – Confidence and Facing Uncertainty
• 11:54 – Joy, Perspective, and Mental Models
• 15:12 – Break
• 17:26 – The “If, Then” Model
• 20:54 – Separating Reality from Perception
• 31:10 – Create Meaning
• 25:27 – Fulfillment Beyond Circumstances
• 37:13 – Laughter, Desires, and Gratitude
• 44:26 – Overcoming Stress and Embracing the Journey
• 59:59 – Final Thoughts on Living with Purpose
• 1:03:17 – Closing