10 LEARNING LESSONS FROM THINK LIKE A MONK

The former monk turned storyteller and podcaster, Jay Shetty is on a quest to make the timeless wisdom of the world accessible and relevant. Making Wisdom Go Viral is Shetty’s goal. He was recognized in 2017 as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for changing the media landscape.  Shetty is the host of the #1 Health and Wellness podcast in the world, On Purpose, and has produced more than 400 viral videos with over 5 billion views.

The goal of the book is to help readers develop a peaceful, purposeful mindset. Shetty is a contemporary monk who can apply wisdom to the fast-paced world of today. The book teaches you new ways to look at how you live your life and new ways to think about and respond to particular stories.

The only way to build a meaningful life is to filter out the noise and look within. The process of developing your monk mind starts with this. We need to examine the external influences that mould us and lead us astray from our principles. Then we evaluate the principles that now guide our lives and consider whether they are consistent with the kind of person we want to become and the kind of life we want to live.

Here is a beautiful metaphor Gauranga Das gave to illustrate the external influences that obscure our true selves.

We are in a storeroom, lined with unusual books and boxes full of artifacts, unlike the rest of the ashram. Which is always tidy and well swept, this place is dusty and draped in cobwebs. The senior monk leads me up to a mirror and says, “What can you see?”

Through the thick layer of dust, I can’t even see my reflection. I say as much, and the monk nods. Then he wipes the arm of his robe across the glass. A cloud of dust puffs into my face, stinging my eyes and filling my throat.

He says, “Your identity is a mirror covered with dust. When you first look in the mirror, the truth of who you are and what you value is obscured. Clearing it may not be pleasant, but only when that dust is gone can you see your true reflection. “

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The following are the top 10 lessons that I have learned from the book Think Like A Monk:

Become an objective observer

Monks lead with awareness. You develop greater credibility when you give up trying to spread rumors and start attempting to see things from a broad perspective. People begin to trust you more because they understand that since you avoided gossiping with them, you won’t gossip about them either.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty emphasizes the importance of becoming an objective observer as a means to cultivate a more mindful and intentional life. The idea is to detach oneself from the emotions, thoughts, and judgments that often cloud one’s perception of reality, and to instead observe experiences objectively, with a sense of curiosity and detachment.

By becoming an objective observer, one can gain a deeper understanding of oneself and the world around them. This can lead to a more peaceful and fulfilling life, as well as improved relationships, decision-making skills, and overall well-being.

In order to become an objective observer, Jay Shetty suggests practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques, as well as learning to identify and challenge one’s own thoughts and beliefs. It can also be helpful to surround oneself with positive influences and to engage in self-reflection and introspection.

By incorporating the practice of becoming an objective observer into your life, you can cultivate a more mindful and intentional approach to life, leading to greater peace, fulfillment, and happiness.

Find, Accept and Work with your fear

Understanding that fear has value and committing to doing the work of recognizing and attempting to shift out of your pattern of distraction whenever it appears are both essential components of the process of learning to work with fear. Learning to work with fear involves more than just performing a few exercises that will solve all of your problems.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty emphasizes the importance of finding, accepting, and working with one’s fear as a means of overcoming it. Fear can hold us back from reaching our full potential and experiencing happiness and success, but by facing and working with it, we can turn it into a powerful motivator.

According to Jay Shetty, the key to working with fear is to find and acknowledge it, rather than denying or ignoring it. Once we are aware of our fears, we can begin to understand the underlying beliefs and thought patterns that contribute to them. From there, we can work to challenge and change these patterns, allowing us to overcome our fears and achieve our goals.

Jay Shetty suggests taking small, gradual steps towards confronting your fears, rather than trying to overcome them all at once. This can include facing your fears in a controlled, supportive environment, or seeking the guidance of a trusted mentor or therapist. It can also be helpful to engage in self-reflection and introspection, and to surround yourself with positive influences.

By finding, accepting, and working with your fear, you can turn it into a powerful motivator, empowering you to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. This can lead to greater personal growth, confidence, and happiness

You need to ask yourself the WHY

Why do you do things the way you do? Why do you need to do them? You need to comprehend your intention behind doing things the way you do them. Your primary motive serves as the basis for the intentions that propel you onward. To behave with purpose and believe that what you do has meaning, you must be who you intend to be.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty stresses the importance of asking yourself “why” in order to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, beliefs, and motivations. By asking why, you can delve deeper into the underlying reasons for your actions, thoughts, and emotions, which can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

According to Jay Shetty, asking why can help you uncover hidden beliefs, patterns, and thought processes that may be holding you back from reaching your full potential. Once you have a clear understanding of these underlying factors, you can work to challenge and change them, leading to greater self-awareness, personal growth, and overall well-being.

In order to ask yourself why, Jay Shetty suggests taking the time to reflect on your experiences and emotions, and to engage in self-reflection and introspection. It can also be helpful to write down your thoughts and feelings, and to seek the guidance of a trusted mentor or therapist.

By asking yourself why, you can gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, beliefs, and motivations, leading to greater self-awareness, personal growth, and overall well-being.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life

Utilizing your time and energy wisely each day makes it easier and more rewarding to understand your purpose and to carry it out. You will find depth, purpose, and satisfaction in your life if you play the hardest in your area of strength.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty emphasizes the importance of living a life that is true to oneself, rather than trying to fit into someone else’s mold. Time is a limited resource, and it’s important to use it in a way that brings you fulfillment and happiness.

According to Jay Shetty, many people waste their time and energy trying to live up to other people’s expectations, rather than pursuing their own passions and interests. This can lead to feelings of unhappiness and dissatisfaction, as well as a sense of unfulfilled potential.

In order to live a life that is true to oneself, Jay Shetty suggests taking the time to reflect on your values, beliefs, and goals, and to identify what truly brings you happiness and fulfillment. From there, you can focus on building a life that aligns with these values and interests, rather than trying to fit into someone else’s mold.

It can also be helpful to surround yourself with positive influences, engage in self-reflection and introspection, and seek the guidance of a trusted mentor or therapist. By living a life that is true to yourself, you can achieve greater happiness, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose.

Routine is far from being boring

Contrary to popular belief, following a routine allows for creativity to flourish rather than becoming monotonous and repetitive. Routines root us. They ease our cognitive burden.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty debunks the notion that routine is boring and highlights its importance for personal growth and well-being. Routine provides structure and stability, allowing us to focus on our goals and priorities, and can be an essential component of a fulfilling and purposeful life.

According to Jay Shetty, routine helps us to cultivate habits and practices that support our well-being, such as exercise, meditation, and self-reflection. These practices, when integrated into a daily routine, can lead to greater focus, discipline, and overall happiness.

In order to make routine a positive part of your life, Jay Shetty suggests finding routines that align with your values and interests, and that support your goals and priorities. It can also be helpful to be flexible with your routine, allowing for adjustments as needed, and to make room for new experiences and opportunities.

By embracing routine and using it to support your well-being, you can achieve greater focus, discipline, and overall happiness, leading to a fulfilling and purposeful life.

Master your mind and your senses

Pay attention to the conscious mind. The easiest method to reduce the mind’s propensity for reactive behavior is for the intellect to actively direct the senses away from stimuli that can cause the mind to react in uncontrollable ways.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty emphasizes the importance of mastering your mind and senses in order to live a fulfilling and purposeful life. By controlling our thoughts and emotions, and being mindful of our senses, we can achieve greater clarity, focus, and overall well-being.

According to Jay Shetty, our minds and senses have a profound impact on our thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being. By mastering them, we can control our thoughts and emotions, rather than being controlled by them.

In order to master your mind and senses, Jay Shetty suggests engaging in mindfulness practices, such as meditation, self-reflection, and introspection. It can also be helpful to practice being present in the moment, and to focus on your senses and the physical sensations they bring.

By mastering your mind and senses, you can achieve greater clarity, focus, and overall well-being, leading to a fulfilling and purposeful life. By gaining control of your thoughts and emotions, you can live in the present moment, rather than being held back by past experiences or worries about the future.

Ego: An obstacle to growth

An untamed ego harms us. We conceal our genuine selves in our quest to portray ourselves as the best and sharpest. It compels us to deceive, and yet, all that effort just makes us appear awful. We deny ourselves the chance to learn, develop, and evolve if we are not open-minded.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty discusses the impact of ego on personal growth and well-being. Ego, or an overinflated sense of self, can be an obstacle to growth by causing us to be self-centered, defensive, and resistant to change.

According to Jay Shetty, ego can lead us to be fixated on our own opinions, needs, and desires, at the expense of others and our own well-being. This can result in conflict, self-doubt, and a lack of fulfillment.

In order to overcome the negative impact of ego, Jay Shetty suggests developing self-awareness, humility, and a willingness to let go of our own opinions and desires. It can also be helpful to seek the guidance of a mentor or therapist, engage in self-reflection and introspection, and to practice compassion and empathy towards others.

By letting go of ego, we can achieve greater growth, self-awareness, and well-being. We can also develop stronger relationships and a deeper sense of connection with others, leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Appreciate everything, even the ordinary. Especially the ordinary

Sometimes the people you love will shy away from intimacy and ignore you. Hold your ground in this situation. It takes openness and vulnerability to receive gratitude. When our reactive mind tries to convince us that we are useless and worthless, the more sane proactive mind fights back by reminding us of the time, effort, and love that others have invested in us. Their generosity toward us would also be meaningless if we had no value, therefore gratitude for their goodness is closely related to our sense of worth.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty encourages us to appreciate everything, including the ordinary moments of life, in order to live a more fulfilling and purposeful existence. He argues that often, it is the seemingly small and mundane aspects of life that bring the most joy and fulfillment.

According to Jay Shetty, appreciating everything, even the ordinary, requires a shift in perspective and a focus on the present moment. By paying attention to the beauty and value of the small things in life, we can cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and well-being.

In order to appreciate everything, especially the ordinary, Jay Shetty suggests practicing mindfulness and presence, seeking out new experiences and perspectives, and focusing on the positive aspects of life. It can also be helpful to surround yourself with people and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

By appreciating everything, especially the ordinary, you can cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude, well-being, and connection to the world around you. This can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life, full of joy and meaning.

Make your own family

Be open to new connections. It’s possible that our original family will never be able to meet all of our needs. Accepting this reality is OK. This does not imply that we should disregard our kin. But when we acknowledge that we have family and friends, as well as friends who become family, forgiveness and thankfulness flow more readily.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty encourages us to create our own sense of family, regardless of our biological family circumstances. He argues that the people we surround ourselves with can have a profound impact on our well-being, happiness, and personal growth.

According to Jay Shetty, making your own family involves finding like-minded individuals who share your values, interests, and goals, and forming meaningful connections with them. This can include close friends, mentors, or even a supportive community.

In order to make your own family, Jay Shetty suggests seeking out opportunities for connection, actively building relationships, and being open to new experiences and perspectives. It can also be helpful to surround yourself with positive and supportive people, and to engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

By making your own family, you can cultivate a sense of belonging, love, and support that can positively impact your well-being and personal growth. With a supportive network of people around you, you can live a more fulfilling and purposeful life, full of happiness and meaning.

Service is the direct path to a more fulfilling life

We are currently needed by an endless number of individuals and causes. Even though we should never refuse to assist others when we notice their need, we may and should identify the services we excel at and concentrate our efforts in those areas. On the basis of your own compassion, decide where to volunteer. When we give without expecting anything in return and only receive the satisfaction of helping, it feels liberating. It is a loving exchange.

In “Think Like a Monk,” Jay Shetty argues that service is a direct path to a more fulfilling life. He argues that serving others can provide us with a sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment that is often missing from other areas of life.

According to Jay Shetty, service involves using our skills, resources, and time to help others, without expecting anything in return. This can take many forms, such as volunteering, mentoring, or simply being there for friends and family in their time of need.

In order to live a life of service, Jay Shetty suggests seeking out opportunities to help others, being open to new experiences, and seeking out opportunities to make a positive impact in the world. He also encourages us to cultivate compassion, empathy, and a sense of gratitude for the opportunities we have to serve.

By living a life of service, you can experience a deeper sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. You can also have a positive impact on the world around you, and build stronger relationships with others. This can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life, full of happiness, love, and compassion.

Think Like a Monk” by Jay Shetty offers a wealth of valuable lessons and insights on how to live a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Whether it’s becoming an objective observer, appreciating the ordinary, making your own family, or living a life of service, Jay Shetty’s teachings offer a roadmap for personal growth and happiness.

Each of these lessons is rooted in the wisdom and practices of monastic traditions, and has been adapted for modern life in a way that is both practical and inspiring. By incorporating these lessons into our daily lives, we can cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness, gratitude, and purpose, and live a life that is rich in meaning and fulfillment.

Whether you’re looking to improve your relationships, find greater fulfillment in your work, or simply live a happier and more meaningful life, “Think Like a Monk” offers valuable lessons and insights that can help you achieve your goals. So, if you’re ready to take control of your life and start living with purpose and meaning, take the time to explore the teachings of Jay Shetty’s “Think Like a Monk.”

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