Are you searching for a greater purpose within your life or seeking true happiness and fulfillment? This life-changing book will guide and provide you with new tactical ways and perspectives to help you find deeper meaning and purpose, no matter your situation. I wasn’t too sure what I was getting myself into after picking this book up, but it has allowed me to see life from a much greater viewpoint. Think Like a Monk will challenge the way you think, act, and ultimately live. It is up to you as to whether or not you choose to commit to this journey and seek more peace, purpose, and overall fulfillment. Jay Shetty, will give you realistic ways to be more conscious in your everyday life so that you can live a life of enrichment. 

Before Shetty graduated college, he heard that a monk was coming to his school to speak so he decided to go and listen to what he had to say. After hearing the monk talk, Shetty was infatuated by his wisdom and decided to go up to the monk and express his gratitude. In fact, Shetty was so impacted by the monk's words that he decided to go to India to learn more about the monk lifestyle and eventually decided to become one himself. 

In this book, Shetty discussed his journey to become a monk as well as the lessons he learned along the way and the tribulations he had to face. One of these being the silence he experienced. As a monk, most of the time he was expected to stay in a state of silence because it allowed for deeper reflection. He was able to take the concepts he learned in the ashram and applied it into realistic tactics that the everyday person could utilize. For example, he discussed living life more consciously and that everything we do in a day is our spiritual life. Shetty is very easy to relate to and uses his experiences to educate the reader and apply different concepts that he learned along the way. I would say he is credible to discuss these topics as he lived, first hand, as a monk. I also really loved that he used the book to help guide others as well as share this sacred wisdom he learned from his own experiences. It feels as if you are talking to a friend who truly cares about you. I also really enjoyed the chronological structure of the book as it made Shetty’s journey easy to understand and follow. 

I’ve never been much of a reader. In fact, I will maybe only read one book a year which might even be a stretch for me. I always struggle to stay engaged when reading and only a few authors have been able to keep me engaged throughout a whole book, but this was one of those that did! As I continued to read it was intriguing because at times it felt as if I was learning with him. He explained his journey in such a way that I felt as though I was along for the ride with him. Shetty applied the monk mindset to many different scenarios that we encounter in our everyday life. It made me ponder about my own life and how I choose to carry myself in my day-to-day life. 

If you want to dig deeper into yourself and your mind, then this book is for you. I think everyone should read this book. It is full of so much knowledge and can be applied to everyone no matter where you are or what you want out of life. If you are searching to find your purpose, let go of negative thoughts, and discover who you truly are at your core then this book is for you. Our minds are the most powerful tool we have and it ultimately creates our reality. Once we better understand our minds we free ourselves and view the world from a greater perspective, allowing us to find more fulfillment and happiness. We can also stop looking for purpose and approval from others and instead, redefine our lives so that we can live more authentically. 

Shetty sequentially breaks down the book into three parts. The first being “Let Go” where he discusses identity, negativity, fear, and intention. The second part is “Grow” which has to do with purpose, routine, the mind, and ego. The final section, “Give”, highlights gratitude, relationships, and service. Each section ended in a meditation chapter where it would guide the reader through breathwork, a visualization, and even a chant. These were interesting and helped to wrap up each section so you could really make time to sit with what you just read. There were also many parts of the book where it said “try this”, giving tangible ways to implement different techniques and topics that were being discussed in that section of the book. This allowed me to apply, in real time, what I was learning throughout the book. I found myself taking extensive notes while reading because there was so much valuable information which I felt was too important to not jot down. 

I would definitely recommend this book and will be recommending it to everyone. It was seriously one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I personally enjoy feeling like I can apply the concepts I learn, within the books I read, into my life. Shetty makes it extremely easy to do this and it doesn’t feel overwhelming whatsoever. Sometimes when reading self-help books, the habits and tactics they tell you to implement seem too difficult and far-fetched.

 Throughout the book, Think Like a Monk, Jay Shetty was constantly breaking ideas down into parts and pieces that made it easier for the reader to comprehend. He applied these concepts to real-life scenarios and explained how he implemented them into his life as well as giving you guided steps to move forward with creating better habits and overall living a more fulfilled and purposeful life. For example, one chapter that specifically stuck out to me was the chapter on routine. Shetty discussed the importance of having a solid morning and night routine. His perspective on these topics really opened up my mind. I had never really heard someone discuss these topics in the way that he did and it made me rethink a lot about my life and my own routines. We don’t necessarily realize the impacts our routines have on us, but now I do. After reading this book, I felt inspired to explore and learn more about monks and their way of life as well as dive deeper into my own life, perspectives, and intentions. Overall, this book was undoubtedly life-changing and I hope everyone takes the time to indulge in this incredible fountain of knowledge, otherwise known as Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. 

Quotes:

“Remember, saying whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want, is not freedom. Real freedom is not feeling the need to say these things.” (Shetty, 2020, p. 35). 

“The most important aspect of the practice of grateful living is trust in life… To live that way is what I call ‘grateful living’ because then you receive every moment as a gift… This is when you stop long enough to ask yourself, ‘What’s the opportunity in this moment?’ You look for it and then take advantage of the opportunity. It’s as simple as that.” (Shetty, 2020, p. 213).

“When we let go of ownership, we realize that all we have done has been with the help of others: parents, teachers, coaches, bosses, books – even the knowledge and skills of someone who is ‘self-made’ have made their origins in the work of others.” (Shetty, 2020, p.187).

“The more your personal spaces are devoted to single, clear purposes, the better they will serve you, not just in the fulfillment of your dharma, but in your mood and productivity.” (Shetty, 2020, p.138).

“The pleasure you feel in doing your passion should equal how much others appreciate it. If others don’t think you’re effective, then your passion is a hobby, which can add richness to your life.” (Shetty, 2020, p.122).