Think Like a Monk from Jay Shetty is one book I am proud to say I have read because of the vital lessons buried within the book. Here is a link to a previous post I made about the book, talking about the need to stay open-minded.
Today I decided it would not be a bad idea to talk about a new lesson from the book, as Jay Shetty says in the first few pages of the book,
If you want new ideas, read an old book.
For me, I would say if you need a new perspective, check out a new lesson from an old book you have read. The lesson in this post will center on the power that comes with knowing your purpose. Jay describes how knowing your purpose on this earth is a tool to drive your focus and clarity. A person driven by purpose will not be easily distracted by comparison with others. You will not be focused on is the next person doing better than me, or what they have that I do not have.
Rather, you become fixated on your goal and how you want to achieve what you have set out to accomplish. Purpose comes with an innate fulfillment when one accomplishes it. I have a purpose of wanting to become a good chess player, which is why whenever I attain a new high rating or win a chess tournament, either online or over the board, I am excited. This is the kind of fulfillment that can come with purpose in a world where people are busy but not fulfilled.
It is easy for one to get carried away with social validation and accolades from people because of an innate need to impress. Do not mistake this to be a fuel to drive your purpose. Here, you could get stuck in a loop of constantly doing something you have no love or zeal to do. Thereby leading to burnout in a non-filling career, an unhappy relationship, or marriage, and forgone dreams.
A helpful tip Jay Shetty shares in the book from his time in the monastery with the monks is that finding your purpose in this life can be discovered through the act of service. You cannot sit back and do nothing, hoping your purpose will spring out to you where you are. You have to do the work, keep reinventing yourself, and try out new things to see which will stick with you. Another helpful tip he shares is to ask yourself: What I am about to do, can it be helpful to another person? This way, you can discover your purpose by helping others, no matter how small it may be.
The author sharing personal tales from his life is something that contributes to how good the book is. He does not come from the angle of an individual who has his life all figured out, or like somebody who got his shit together. Rather, he shares his struggles, challenges with the readers and, in return, reminds us that he is also a human being trying to figure out things as he moves through the journey of life. I find it better when I can relate to the author on some level, either professional or personal. It shows me that whatever challenge I might be experiencing at a given time, somebody has definitely gone through the same, and this is what they have to say.
In conclusion, the power of purpose should not be underestimated, because energy with direction is simply chaos.
I am @samostically, a chess player and writer. I love to share the experience I have gained from different battles over the 64 squares and the knowledgeable insights from books I have read. But most importantly, I am a Midnight Owl and I founded the community Midnight Letters.
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Beautiful book.
Another amazing lesson to keep in mind. When you focus on your goals, it won’t be easy to get distracted and lose focus. No one can achieve a good result by copying someone else’s idea unless they learn and reinvent themselves.