After spending several years in business and politics, I devoted the next ten years to study, service, and traveling the world. During this time I immersed myself in learning about life through scientific theories, psychology, religious traditions, the world of art, and spiritual experiences.

One of the lessons I learned is that core human motivations have remained remarkably consistent throughout history. Most people have always wanted good health, rewarding relationships, success in their activities, pleasure, passion, respect and acceptance from others, and the financial means to pursue what they desired. A drive to understand ourselves and the world around us has always been present. Some have been drawn to seek answers through science, others through a religious tradition, and still others through a personal spiritual journey to discover meaning for themselves. And we have always created and been involved with art—whether it be music, novels, poetry, painting, movies, or plays. One of the challenges we face today, however, is determining where to focus our time in a world filled with countless voices vying for our attention. There are so many offerings to fulfill our desires, so many different answers to our questions that the sheer number can be overwhelming. How, then, do we decide what is truly important? Whose guidance do we follow?

This book explores four approaches to seeking answers:

(1) engaging with science, (2) creating and experiencing art, (3) following a religious tradition, and (4) undertaking a personal spiritual journey. Although these paths may appear different on the surface, at a deeper level they have much in common. As Albert Einstein noted, "All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree."In the chapters that follow we will examine these four branches of the tree of life—art, science, religion, and spirituality—the commonalities between them and the guidance they each provide for a fulfilling and meaningful life.