Think Like A Monk – Jay Shetty
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rating 4.5/5
Book Summary – Think Like A Monk – Jay Shetty
Date Consumed: May 2022
You Should Read If: you are looking to be more calm and present in your life, and have a deeper connection with yourself and others.
ISBN: 978-1982134488
The Book in 3 Thoughts
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Jay teaches us how to deal with and overcome the daily struggles of modern life with the values and techniques he learned from years of training as a monk.
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Mindfulness is a practice and not an end goal. One does not become mindful but instead grows more mindful every day, unlocking more fulfillment and happiness while removing stress and resentment.
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We should remove the inputs from the outside world that do not serve us and work through the internal obstacles that block us from growth and happiness.
My Top Takeaways
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Being present is the way to fulfillment. Living in the future or the past only robs us of the experiences of today.
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Be aware of what influences you and ensure they serve you and your character. Social media, friends, family, and careers all affect how you act and what you believe.
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Live by your values and spend your time and energy on things that contribute to helping you become the person you want to be.
What I am going to implement immediately
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Time in the morning and the evening to wind down and be free from inputs. This is a perfect time for gratitude journaling which I will continue to do with The Five Minute Journal.
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Make sure I am pursuing a life aligned with my values and not based on what I think others think I should be.
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Spend more time connecting with and serving others.
Top 3 Excerpts
Excerpt 1
When you deal with fear and hardship, you realize that you’re capable of dealing with fear and hardship. This gives you a new perspective: the confidence that when bad things happen, you will find ways to handle them. With that increased objectivity, you become better able to differentiate what’s actually worth being afraid of and what’s not.
Excerpt 2
Negativity is a trait, not someone’s identity. A person’s true nature can be obscured by clouds, but, like the sun, it is always there. And clouds can overcome any of us. We have to understand this when we deal with people who exude negative energy. Just like we wouldn’t want someone to judge us by our worst moments, we must be careful not to do that to others. When someone hurts you, it’s because they’re hurt. Their hurt is simply spilling over. They need help. And as the Dalai Lama says, “If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.
Excerpt 3
In 1902, the sociologist Charles Horton Cooley wrote: “I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am.”
