Think Like a Monk (by Jay Shetty)
For as long as I can remember I have been intrigued by the way people think. That search for understanding subsequently led me to investigating how I think. A journey I now understand to have been inevitable. While searching for knowledge to help others explore their way of thinking, I have found many people/teachers I look to for guidance and wisdom. One such person is Jay Shetty. Years ago, my husband introduced me to Jay Shetty through the below YouTube video.
In 2020, Jay published a book, Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day. Jay initially shares about his upbringing to his college years. He explains why he chose to head to India to become a monk, where he devoted the next three years of his life. As Jay takes the reader through each of the concepts, he explains how he learned the concept during his time as a monk. He also makes each concept very relatable regardless of a person’s demographics or spiritual beliefs.
This is more than a self-help book. Jay shares his personal experiences while offering tangible suggestions for the reader to try. He often writes, “Try this” as he allows the reader time to explore a concept in writing, a meditation, or through breath work. Jay makes each suggestion doable. For instance, in the chapter Routine, he talks about how we can adjust our routines so that we have more time in the morning to start our day peacefully and productive. He offers a method to do this gradually and not in a way that would be drastic or overwhelming. My favorite chapters were Ego, Gratitude, Relationships, and Service.
I recognized while reading this book, I was not open-minded to everything he offered in the chapter on Purpose. Jay seemed to be talking to a younger generation that has not yet found their purpose in a career. I understand my purpose and have been living it for a few decades. Then, I realized my purpose will be changing in the near future and if I reframe his concept to my situation, I just might learn something! I’m grateful for Jay Shetty sharing his experiences and wisdom. This book has been a great addition to my personal growth and very helpful. I love how he repeatedly talked about the Monkey Mind and the Monk Mind. My mind feels like a monkey quite often, and I definitely prefer a monk mind.
I was able to purchase a signed copy of the book from Barnes and Noble. There is an audiobook available that Jay narrates.
Jay Shetty also has a podcast, On Purpose, I highly recommend. You can check it out below.
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