Think Like a Monk

Love is in the small things.

Forgiveness actually conserves energy. Transformational forgiveness is linked to a slew of health improvements including: fewer medications taken, better sleep quality, and reduced somatic symptoms including back pain, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Forgiveness eases stress, because we no longer recycle the angry thoughts, both conscious and subconscious, that stressed us out in the first place.

We have three core emotional needs, which I like to think of as peace, love, and
understanding (thanks Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello). Negativity—in conversation, emotions, and actions—often springs from a threat to one of the three needs: a fear that bad things are going to happen (loss of peace), a fear of not being loved (loss of love), or a fear of being disrespected (loss of understanding)

If you don’t let go physically, you won’t let go emotionally.

Cancers of the Mind: Comparing, Complaining, Criticizing.”

Unconsciously, we’re all method acting to some degree. We have personas we play online, at work, with friends, and at home.

useful fear alerts us to a situation we can change.
If the doctor tells you that you have poor health because of your diet, and you fear disability or disease, that’s a useful fear because you can change your diet. When your health improves as a result, you eliminate your fear.

“It is not possible to control all external events; but if I simply control my mind, what need is there to control other things?” This is detachment, when you observe your own reactions from a distance—with your monk mind—making decisions with a clear perspective.

Play hardest in your area of strength and you’ll achieve depth, meaning, and satisfaction in your life.

Play hardest in your area of strength and you’ll achieve depth, meaning, and satisfaction in your life.