Book 263 - A Year of Magical Learning (5/5)

Reflection Title: Share the Elixir!

Book – Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty (Part 5 /5)

Book Description: Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the #1 podcast On Purpose, distills the timeless wisdom he learned as a monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.

In this inspiring, empowering book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us. He transforms abstract lessons into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve relationships, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can—and should—think like a monk.

Reflection:

Per the author, this is the point of living a purpose driven life at the end of the day is…service!

We may start with serving the pain that we know best for ourselves. Slowly over time, through serving our pain that we discover our purpose in this world. Then, as we are living our purpose, we magically find ourselves in service of others somehow. Then, we realize what the whole journey was really all about in the first place.

A life well lived, is a life of service!

For the author, he began by serving his own pain which led him do want to explore becoming a monk, so he joined an ashram. In the ashram he found his purpose. By living his purpose, he found his calling was pulling him away from the ashram toward a life of helping others through channels he felt compelled to explore that later became his podcasts, books, etc. Through sharing his wisdom, his story, and his knowledge to help others…I find myself at my computer hacking away on how I plan to apply some of this to my own life.

Think about what I just wrote for a second!

Some random guy learns something from some other random person, who learned from some other random person, and now I’m here some random guy sharing what I’ve learned as you follow along with my journey. Someday, I hope, you will take what I’m sharing, make it your own, and share it with your world. The beat goes on, and on, and on.

What an incredibly magical world we inhabit!

The final stage of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey is to return with the elixir to share with the world! Because…if you don’t, what was the point of it all in the first place?

The point is simple. The point of all our hero’s journeys is and will always be service!

It may start from a selfish state in service to yourself and trying to heal your own pain. Before you know it, that self care will quickly manifest itself purpose. Then that purpose will magically evolve into service to others, service to all the other creatures and living beings that inhabit or world, and service to everything else that exists in this incredible universe once you get the hang of it. It’s a beautiful thing to watch and take part in.

Emilia, my family, and I went through hell together only to find ourselves right back at where we started ready to share what we learned with others. Through this journey I’ve found my purpose and I’m slowly seeing that purpose evolve into that service for others. The Year of Magical Learning is my first attempt of many at sharing the elixir with the world.

While I’d rather have Emilia here with me, if service in her honor is all I have left than I will never stop.

Question: How are you sharing the elixir with the world?

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Links:

What is The Year of Magical Learning? An Introduction

YOML Podcast Discussion - Coming Soon

YOML Bookstore - Think Like a Monk