Lessons from 'Think Like a Monk' by Jay Shetty

I recently read ‘Think Like a Monk’ by Jay Shetty , a global bestselling author, award-winning podcast host of On Purpose, Chief Purpose Officer of Calm, and a purpose-driven entrepreneur. My profound experience while reading it has convinced me to share my thoughts and reflections here.

Key Themes

Jay has diligently compiled stories for your heart to get inspired, insights for your intellect to become aware, and small exercises so you can take charge of your life from where you are. The book provides guidance on multiple topics of relevance around letting go, growth, and giving. These include:

1. ?? Our implicit and made-up identities, fears, motivations, and the mind in general
2. ??? Our routines, intentions in life, and purpose
3. ?? Our relationships, gratitude, and service

Jay offers a contemporary and highly relevant perspective on the operating principles of a monk that all of us can apply. Similar to the idea of System 1 and System 2 thinking made famous by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman in his book Thinking Fast and Slow(great read if you’re into psychology, behavioral economics, public policy, or homosapien in general), Jay distinguishes between the monkey mind and the monk mind.

In doing so, he draws from ancient wisdom across cultures, academic knowledge from universities, encounters with friends and colleagues, and his own experience of discovering his true potential and calling.

Practical Exercises

I believe the best self-improvement books are those that offer small DIY practices you can follow along the way, and Jay's book is a perfect example. Drawing from his own experience at the ashram, and handcrafted with care, some of these exercises include:

1. ??? Becoming aware of your inner voices that pulls you down and your deep-rooted fears in life
2. ?? Gratitude exercises to develop humility and grounded-ness
3. ??♂? Exercises and meditation practices to help you be in the moment, declutter your digital lives, nourish your monk mind as against the monkey mind
4. ?? Visualisation practises to rewire your narratives of the past that’s limiting you today and to build positive attitude towards your future

Personal Reflections

1. ?? Dharma: Which equals Skills + Passion + Purpose. He talks about finding and living your dharma, which involves pursuing your capabilities in work where your passion lies and which also serves a purpose in society. This reminded me of advice from professor Manas Kumar Mandal of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur , who said our careers are driven by our capabilities, interests, or others' expectations of what’s worthwhile for us to pursue. Finding harmony and fulfillment involves aligning all three. This realization has since helped me put my pursuits into perspective and work towards finding harmony and Jay's take on Dharma reignited that spirit and gave me a refreshing view of it
2. ?? Skill vs. Passion: Jay has also laid out a simple and effective framework to visualize yourself in the skill vs. passion coordinate system and plan towards transitioning to the quadrant where both skill and passion intersect. In my role at Metadome.ai and that of others, I have witnessed the value of job crafting firsthand, which allows you to find and engage in areas of your work that align with not just your skills and company needs, but also personal passion, and where your personality thrives naturally.
3. ??♂? Jay's Journey: Jay’s personal story of becoming inclined towards the monk’s way of living while in college, balancing this with corporate internships, turning into a full-time monk for a few years, and later applying those principles to his community work is truly gripping.
4. ?? Journaling: Jay emphasizes journaling about things you feel grateful for, little achievements, and breaking goals into manageable daily chunks. I've been following this since January via a simple app, which has helped me build awareness and consciously drive my life.
5. ? Powerful Quotes: For example, "All spiritual training is about how to be present to the moment" OR each morning we should make some time for T.I.M.E. -(expressing)Thankfulness, (gaining)Insight, (practising)Meditation, and (doing)Exercise
6. ?? Routine Changes: I am trying to end my day early (~10 pm), start early morning (~5 am), avoid my phone for the first ~30 minutes of the day, and build a morning routine around exercise, meditation, and a healthy diet. As Jay admits, this is challenging and requires starting small, setting priorities, building routines, and being wary of slipping back into old habits. For me, the process of integrating these activities into my life has been refreshing.

Discussion

What practices from 'Think Like a Monk' have you found most impactful in your daily life?

If not read, what books or resources have you found helpful in cultivating a more mindful and purpose-driven life?

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