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Think Like a Monk Summary
About Think Like a Monk Book
Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the #1 podcast On Purpose, distills the timeless wisdom he learned as a monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.
When you think like a monk, you’ll understand:
-How to overcome negativity
-How to stop overthinking
-Why comparison kills love
-How to use your fear
-Why you can’t find happiness by looking for it
-How to learn from everyone you meet
-Why you are not your thoughts
-How to find your purpose
-Why kindness is crucial to success
-And much more...
Shetty grew up in a family where you could become one of three things—a doctor, a lawyer, or a failure. His family was convinced he had chosen option three: instead of attending his college graduation ceremony, he headed to India to become a monk, to meditate every day for four to eight hours, and devote his life to helping others. After three years, one of his teachers told him that he would have more impact on the world if he left the monk’s path to share his experience and wisdom with others. Heavily in debt, and with no recognizable skills on his résumé, he moved back home in north London with his parents.
Shetty reconnected with old school friends—many working for some of the world’s largest corporations—who were experiencing tremendous stress, pressure, and unhappiness, and they invited Shetty to coach them on well-being, purpose, and mindfulness. Since then, Shetty has become one of the world’s most popular influencers. In 2017, he was named in the Forbes magazine 30-under-30 for being a game-changer in the world of media. In 2018, he had the #1 video on Facebook with over 360 million views. His social media following totals over 38 million, he has produced over 400 viral videos which have amassed more than 8 billion views, and his podcast, On Purpose, is consistently ranked the world’s #1 Health and Wellness podcast.
In this inspiring, empowering book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us. He transforms abstract lessons into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve relationships, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can—and should—think like a monk.
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"You can’t be anything you want. But you can be everything you are."
JAY SHETTY
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"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."
GAUR GOPAL DAS
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Find Your True Identity
Our true identity is just like a mirror covered in dust of the influence of others. Shetty explains that cleaning your mirror will not be a pleasant experience. Only once you have removed the dust obscuring your mirror can you see your true reflection - who you truly are.
Know the difference between attachment and detachment -
- Attachment is wanting something to happen in a particular way.
- Detachment occurs when you want something to happen in the best way.
The problem with attachment is that we think we know the best way.
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It is only through this curiosity, thought, effort, and revelation that we find our way to peace, calm, and purpose
JAY SHETTY
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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.
JAY SHETTY
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Why approach monk mind❔
If you wanted to know how to dominate the basketball court, you might turn to Michael Jordan; if you wanted to innovate, you might investigate Elon musk; you might study Beyoncè to learn how to perform. If you want to train your mind to find peace and purpose? Monks are the experts
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In our modern society, people are so preoccupied with chasing “happiness”, and their image of happiness is based on what the media shows: fame, money, glamour, pleasure. The problem is, people will just seek more and more of these things, leading to frustration, disillusion, unhappiness, and exhaustion.
“Petty, negative thoughts and words are like mosquitos: Even the smallest ones can rob us of our peace.”
JAY SHETTY
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1. Clarify Your Identity
The first step to thinking like a monk is to get clear on your values. How?
- List your values.
- Identify the origin of that value.
- Reflect on whether or not that value aligns with your true self.
After listing your values and identifying which ones are truly your values, audit your life to see if you are living in accordance with those values.
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2. Reverse negativity with Spot-Stop-Swap
In order to overcome bad habits, Use Spot, Stop, Swap:
- Spot the negative feeling.
- Stop to understand what it is.
- Swap in a way of processing the feeling.
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Helpful takeaways that teaches you how a monk thinks and lives his life in harmony with everything around him.
Identity
It is better to Live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.
When you give yourself space & stillness, you can clear the dust and see yourself, not through others’ eyes, but from within.
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Negativity
It is impossible to build one's happiness on the unhappiness of others.
Negativity is everywhere and it's contagious.
The less time you fixate on everyone else, the more time you have to focus on yourself.
Negativity often rises from fear.
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SPOT, STOP, SWAP Strategy
SPOT a feeling or issue
STOP to understand what it is
SWAP in a new way of processing.
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Former monk and self-help influencer star Jay Shetty shares various practices he learned in his monk years and makes them suitable for our modern world.
The Monkey Mind Vs. The Monk Mind
The monkey mind seeks instant gratification. It is restless, self-absorbed and worried. Negative tendencies in thinking and feeling as well as indecisiveness are characteristics of the monkey mind.
The monk mind is focused. It is striving towards a higher purpose such as serving and is willing to take the risk. Being highly empathetic, decisive and strategic, the monk mind seeks purpose.
Your goal should be in cultivating the monk mind.
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"I am not who I think I am, and I am not who you think I am. I am what I think you think I am."
CHARLES HORTON COOLEY
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Values Shape Your Identity
You should be your most authentic self unapologetically at all times possible. Who we are is defined by our values.
Figure out what you value most in your life:
- Write down a list of values that you share: Looks, status, relationships, empathy, wealth, intelligence or something else?
- Where are these values coming from? From your parents, society, the media or somewhere else?
- Do you share these values? Take a look at your actions to determine if you are really living in accordance to your deepest values.
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Let your purpose guide you
Have strong values and principles (dharma) in your life. You protect your dharma and your dharma will protect you. We can have multi-faceted principles and it is okay if they overlap each other. Often times, we may find ourselves being distracted or diverted away from our dharma. Jay Shetty asks us to aware and then shift our focus back to our original principles.
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Embrace your fears
We all have fears about our career choices and families. But when we embrace our fears and work on them, we can reach our biggest breakthroughs in life. If we don't work in our fears, they will work on us and stop us from achieving success in life. The only thing to fear is fear.
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When you try to live your most authentic life, some of your relationships will be put in jeopardy. Losing them is a risk worth bearing. Finding a way to keep them in your life is an opportunity worth taking on.
JAY SHETTY
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Modes of Relationship with Money
There are 3 simple modes to describe the relationship with money.
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#1 Selfish
"I want more and as much as I can get" - it is self-sentered and all I want is for m self. I don't want to share and serving is not my focus.
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#2 Sufficiency
"I have just enough to get by, I am not suffering but I have nothing to give."
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Think Like a Monk" is a self-help book by Jay Shetty that shares practical tools and advice for personal growth, mindfulness, and positive relationships by drawing on his experiences as a former monk.
THINK LIKE A MONK
"Think Like a Monk" is a book that offers practical advice on how to live a more fulfilling and purposeful life by adopting the mindset and practices of a monk. The book emphasizes the value of mindfulness, positive relationships, and a sense of purpose and meaning.
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Your passion is for you. Your purpose is for others. Your purpose is where your passion and skill sets meet."
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1 . Purpose And Meaning
By identifying our core values and aligning our actions with them, we can live a more authentic and fulfilling life. This means thinking about what is truly important to us and setting goals that align with those values.
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It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.
BHAGAVAD GITA
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Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.
THE DALAI LAMA
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They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego cage of “I,” “me,” and “mine”
BHAGAVAD GITA
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The ideas from "Think Like a Monk" are important to me because they offer profound insights and practical tools to enhance my overall well-being and personal growth. Each concept resonates deeply with my values and aspirations, making them relevant and significant in my life for several reasons.
Think Like a Monk: A Journey of Self-Discovery
Recently, I had the privilege of reading "Think Like a Monk" by Jay Shetty, and it proved to be a transformative experience. This book not only captivated my mind but also touched my heart, leaving me with invaluable life lessons and a newfound perspective.
The book takes inspiration from Jay Shetty's time as a monk and distills ancient wisdom into practical advice for modern living. Here are some key takeaways that left a lasting impact on me:
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Mindfulness:
One of the most profound teachings from the book is the power of mindfulness.
Learning to be present in each moment and appreciating the beauty of the present has allowed me to let go of unnecessary worries about the past or the future.
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Purpose-driven life:
The book emphasizes the significance of living a purpose-driven life. By aligning our actions and decisions with our core values and passions, we can find deeper fulfillment and meaning in our daily endeavors.
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