Last Updated on June 14, 2023 by Louisa
Jay Shetty is a social media icon and the host of the ‘On Purpose‘ podcast. He has become the voice of ‘changing your mindset’ approaches and has picked up a barrel of wisdom from the time he was a practicing monk.
In his book, Think Like a Monk, he shares some of that wisdom, teaching all important lessons to think less negatively, change your mindset and live a more purposeful life.
If you loved reading Think Like a Monk and want to remember some of the life lessons by Jay Shetty, these are my favorite quotes from Think Like a Monk.
May these insightful Think Like a Monk quotes help you to reduce stress, increase motivation and improve relationships – and of course – think like a monk.
Think Like a Monk Quotes About Changing Your Mindset
One of the biggest themes in Think Like a Monk is changing your mindset to be more positive.
If you’re someone who needs to change how they perceive themselves and others, then these quotes will be your enlightenment.
“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.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Cancers of the Mind: Comparing, Complaining, Criticizing.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Negativity is a trait, not someone’s identity. A person’s true nature can be obscured by clouds, but, like the sun, it is always there. And clouds can overcome any of us. We have to understand this when we deal with people who exude negative energy. Just like we wouldn’t want someone to judge us by our worst moments, we must be careful not to do that to others. When someone hurts you, it’s because they’re hurt. Their hurt is simply spilling over. They need help. And as the Dalai Lama says, “If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Find me someone who has gone to the darkest parts of their own character where they were so close to their own self-destruction and found a way to get up and out of it, and I will bow on my knees to you. … You’re my teacher.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Monks understand that routine frees your mind, but the biggest threat to that freedom is monotony. People complain about their poor memories, but I’ve heard it said that we don’t have a retention problem, we have an attention problem.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“When you deal with fear and hardship, you realize that you’re capable of dealing with fear and hardship. This gives you a new perspective: the confidence that when bad things happen, you will find ways to handle them. With that increased objectivity, you become better able to differentiate what’s actually worth being afraid of and what’s not.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“When you are hired for a job, take a moment to reflect on all the lost jobs and/or failed interviews that led to this victory. You can think of them as necessary challenges along the way. When we learn to stop segmenting experiences and periods of our life and instead see them as scenes and acts in a larger narrative, we gain perspective that helps us deal with fear.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Sometimes we can trace our fears through the actions we take, and sometimes it’s the actions we’re reluctant to take”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“The grass is greener where you water it.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“A monk mind practices detachment. We realize that everything—from our houses to our families—is borrowed.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
Need more inspiration? Check out these Can’t Hurt Me quotes…
Think Like a Monk Quotes About Life
Another major theme in Think Like a Monk is how life is too short and should be lived to the fullest. May these Think Like A Monk quotes about life be of some comfort to you.
“Yesterday is but a dream. Tomorrow is only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“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.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Location has energy; time has memory. If you do something at the same time every day, it becomes easier and natural. If you do something in the same space every day, it becomes easier and natural.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“When we acknowledge that all of our blessings are like a fancy rental car or a beautiful Airbnb, we are free to enjoy them without living in constant fear of losing them. We are all the lucky vacationers enjoying our stay in Hotel Earth.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“To live intentionally, we must dig to the deepest why behind the want.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“But monks believe that when it comes to happiness and joy, there is always a seat with your name on it. In other words, you don’t need to worry about someone taking your place. In the theater of happiness, there is no limit. Everyone who wants to partake in mudita can watch the show. With unlimited seats, there is no fear of missing out.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Life’s too short to live without purpose, to lose our chance to serve, to let our dreams and aspirations die with us.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“When you try to live your most authentic life, some of your relationships will be put in jeopardy. Losing them is a risk worth bearing; finding a way to keep them in your life is a challenge worth taking on.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Researchers have found that by the end of our lives, on average, each of us will spend thirty-three years in bed (seven years of which will be spent trying to sleep), a year and four months exercising, and more than three years on vacation.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“No one organ was more important than another; all of them worked in concert, and the body needed them all.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
Need more inspiration? Check out these Start With Why quotes…
Short Think Like a Monk Quotes
The best quotes are often short and powerful ones. These are my favorite short Think Like a Monk quotes.
“Salt is so humble that when something goes wrong, it takes the blame, and when everything goes right, it doesn’t take credit.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Our search is never for a thing, but for the feeling we think the thing will give us.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Too often we love people who don’t love us, but we fail to return the love of others who do.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“When you learn to navigate and manage your breath, you can navigate any situation in life.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Being present is the only way to live a truly rich and full life.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“We say things to ourselves that we would never say to people we love.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“But when we look for the good in others, we start to see the best in ourselves too.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“If you don’t break your ego, life will break it for you.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Revenge is the mode of ignorance—it’s often said that you can’t fix yourself by breaking someone else.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“Everyone has a story, and sometimes our egos choose to ignore that. Don’t take everything personally—it is usually not about you.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“It is impossible to build one’s own happiness on the unhappiness of others.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“I wish” is code for “I don’t want to do anything differently.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
“The arrogant ego desires respect, whereas the humble worker inspires respect.”
Jay Shetty, Think Like A Monk
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Final Word on Think Like A Monk Quotes
So there you have it, my favorite quotes from Think Like a Monk, from the enlightening to the thought-provoking.
Do you have a favorite quote from my list? Let me know in the comments.
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