In his book, Think Like a Monk, Jay Shetty offers approaches on how to lift the burden of expectation and create and strengthen healthy relationships. Shetty also reveals that how and where we invest our
time and energy, no matter how simple or complex, makes a profound difference to our everyday lives and helps us find our purpose.
Over the next week, I will share some pertinent takeaways that will assist you in deepening your clarity, sharpening your direction and elevating the quality of your life.
Let Go…
“Because the only thing that stays with you from the moment you’re born until the moment you die is your breath. All your friends, your family, the country you live in, all of that can change. The one thing that stays with you is your breath.” – ten-year-old monk.
What a profound statement! Yet, so true! All that we are and all that we do is dependant and reliant on our breath. Our breath, is in essence, who we are. In times of stress, anger, grief, excitement, happiness, our breath is different in all emotions. Every emotion is experienced with the change of our breath. So, it is safe to
say that the ten-year-old monk’s statement, “When you learn to navigate and manage your breath, you can navigate any situation in life.”, is a vitally important thing to remember and to put into practice in our everyday life.
But what kind of life are you searching for? What kind of legacy would you like to leave? Who are your mentors? Who do you follow on social media? Who do you aspire to? Who are you? What do you think you are?
Shetty says, “our identity is wrapped up in what others think of us – or, more accurately, what we think others think of us”. We live our lives trying to meet the expectations of others, living up to what they think we should be and many times, who we truly are, is hidden, kept away from others and eventually lost to
ourselves. Are you “chasing the distorted reflection of someone else’s dream”?
In these very uncertain times, it is imperative to strive to live our most authentic life. But, be aware that there will be relationships destroyed, ruined and lost due to lack of understanding of this new you that you will present to the world. On the flip side, you will be surrounded by those who will raise you up, celebrate you, shape you, and support your
values. You will find yourself in a new place, one that is aligned with who you really are and how you want to live. Your “values make it easier for you to surround yourself with the right people, make tough career choices, use your time more wisely, and focus your attention where it matters. Without them, we are swept away by distractions.”
