Lunch Program - Part 1: Well Being in the Digital Era

Event Context and Acknowledgments

• Michael Clowden, CEO of the Milken Institute, opened the session by thanking hosts, partners (St. Regis, Spark, Vision Matrix), and sponsors for enabling the summit's programs, including the Financial Innovation Lab and policy discussions.
• Clowden specifically recognized the logistical team (Intrasite, Louise Tavener) and Milken Institute staff for their contributions.
• The session features a moderated dialogue between Deepak Chopra (physician, author, New Age advocate) and Paris Hilton (CEO, Paris Hilton Entertainment) focused on storytelling, archetypes, and the impact of social media.

Storytelling and Personal Narrative

• Chopra posits that storytelling is a unique human capability distinguishing Homo sapiens from other hominid species that lacked narrative structures.
• He states the evolution of human storytelling has progressed from mythology and religion to theology, philosophy, science, and technology.
• Paris Hilton identifies her origin story as emerging from her persona on The Simple Life, where she played a "ditzy blonde" character that masked her underlying entrepreneurial drive.
• Hilton leveraged her television platform to build a diverse business empire, citing sales figures of $170 million in sunglasses, $50 million in pet products, and a total addressable market of $3 billion.
• Chopra asserts that "who you are is your story," encompassing a backstory, present story, and future story, which serves as the foundation for creativity, vision, and higher consciousness.

Social Media, Archetypes, and Engagement

• Chopra defines social media engagement not as connectivity alone, but as alignment with one's "higher calling" or archetype; he categorizes Paris Hilton's public persona as the archetype of Aphrodite (beauty, love, sensuality).
• Paris Hilton describes her social media ecosystem as having over 11.6 million Instagram followers and 70 million+ across platforms, which she treats as a community ("Little Hiltons") comparable to family.
• Hilton confirms she spends significant time on social media, often managing it while traveling (250+ flight days annually) to maintain a global business presence.
• Chopra warns of the "narcissistic culture" paradox where high connectivity correlates with increased loneliness, citing suicide as the second leading cause of death for ages 10–30.
• To counter isolation, Chopra promotes his foundation's "I Am Never Alone" campaign, utilizing social media to foster forgiveness, joy, and equanimity.
• He argues that social media succeeds when combined with a clear theme (like Hilton's "playfulness and love") rather than superficial posting.

Philosophy on Success, Hard Work, and Energy

• Chopra challenges the conventional definition of success, rejecting "hard work," "driving ambition," and "exacting plans" as the primary drivers, labeling them the "last refuge of the failure."
• He advocates for "surrendering to the wisdom of uncertainty," suggesting that success follows automatically when individuals pursue their inner purpose and higher calling.
• Hilton describes her work ethic as "hard work" but emphasizes that it is fueled by playfulness and intrinsic joy, stating she does not stop working seven days a week due to her passion for her brand.
• Chopra introduces a diagnostic framework for well-being:
  • Energy level of 1–7 indicates struggling or crisis mode (linked to chronic disease).
  • Energy level of 8–10 indicates thriving.
  • Only 5% of chronic disease is genetic (fully penetrant); 95% is determined by the quality of life, including stress, sleep, and relationships.
• Paris Hilton attributes her groundedness to her parents' long-term marriage and their advice to work hard while maintaining a creative, happy disposition.

The Science of Happiness and Stress Management

• Chopra presents a formula for happiness: H = S + C + B.
  • S (Attitude to Life): Accounts for 50% of daily happiness; viewing life as an opportunity for love rather than a problem.
  • C (Conditions of Living): Accounts for 12% of daily happiness; includes money, but notes that wealth becomes a negative factor if it defines one's identity.
  • B (Voluntary Choices): Accounts for 40% of happiness; distinguishes between choices for short-term pleasure (addictive, fleeting) and choices for fulfillment and purpose.
• Chopra notes that lottery winners typically return to their baseline happiness level within six months, often becoming unhappy due to financial stress and anxiety.
• To combat stress, Chopra proposes the STOP acronym:
  • S: Stop (hit pause).
  • T: Take three deep breaths and smile.
  • O: Observe current sensations and thoughts.
  • P: Proceed with compassion and awareness.

Interactive Meditation and Closing

• The session concluded with a guided reflective meditation led by Chopra to demonstrate the technique.
• Participants were instructed to focus on four questions: "Who am I?", "What do I want?", "What is my purpose?", and "What am I grateful for?"
• The meditation utilized name repetition ("I am Paris," "I am Deepak," "I am") to strip away identity labels and rest in "infinite possibilities."
• The final directive asked participants to assess their present-moment awareness before the lunch break.