Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Everyday
Jay Shetty · 2020 · Self-help
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Jay Shetty spent three years living as a Hindu monk before returning to ordinary life and building a career as a podcaster and coach. In this book he adapts what he learned, drawing largely on Vedic teachings such as the Bhagavad Gita, for people with jobs, families and busy schedules.
The book is organised in three stages. The first is letting go of outside noise, negativity and fear, and examining the intentions behind your goals. The second is growing through purpose, routine and a better understanding of the mind and ego. The third is giving through gratitude, relationships and service. Each chapter mixes stories from his monastic life, references to research and practical exercises, and each part ends with a guided practice in breathing, visualisation or chanting.
Key insights
- Separate your own values from the noise of family, media and comparison. Looking at how you actually spend time and money reveals what you currently prioritise.
- Handle negative thoughts in three steps: spot them, stop to question them, then swap in a more useful response, rather than simply suppressing them.
- Check the motive behind each goal. Actions driven by fear or desire rarely satisfy for long, while those rooted in duty or love tend to last.
- Look for your dharma where passion meets skill and usefulness to others. Purpose grows from applying what you are good at in service of people.
- Protect the first part of your morning for reflection and routine before checking your phone. How you start the day shapes your attention for the rest of it.
Read it if you want accessible practices from monastic life for calm, focus and purpose that fit a busy modern schedule.