Lead your Best and most Fulfilled Life — Inspired by the Monk who Sold his Ferrari.
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is an extraordinary tale written by Robin S. Sharma. It tells the story of a lawyer who faces a spiritual crisis resulting from his out-of-balance life.
The Monk discovers wise and powerful lessons along the way. He encourages us to Master our Minds and Follow our Life Purpose. He also presents ideas such as Cultivating self-discipline and Nurturing our Relationships.
In his book, Sharma presents 10 Ancient Rules of Radiant living as a Practical Key to Success.
It’s important to state that the book provides some (vague) actions to apply for each ritual. But, in this article, I’ve added some of my own tips 🙂
May these 10 rules bring you wisdom and encourage you to go within yourself and thrive as a result.
1. The Ritual of Solitude
“Ensure that your daily schedule includes a mandatory period of peace.”
Think of it as a little pitstop for the soul that could range anywhere from five minutes to as much as an hour. This is a time for yourself to sit in stillness to restore your inner peace and energy.
I understand it can be hard for some people to sit in quietness without knowing what to do. Some amazing apps offer meditation guidance such as Headspace, Calm or Simple Habit.
Other ways to meditate could be contemplating a rose or a lighten candle or going for a walk in nature. You can even unwind with some colouring pages. Whatever works for you as long as you’re doing it alone and are taking that time to free your mind.
2. Ritual of Physicality
“As you care for your body, so you care for your mind”
Take some time every single day to nourish the temple of your body through exercise. It’s important to get your blood circulating and your body moving. This will increase your energy levels and your metabolism among many other benefits.
You can start small like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You could park further away from the destination and take a walk. For some, signing up for a marathon or a swimming competition can keep them motivated. It sets a daily routine to follow and a trackable progress along the way.
3. Ritual of Live Nourishment
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Hippocrates had a point; It is no secret that a poor diet has a pronounced effect on your life. It drains your mental & physical energy and affects your mood. It could also tamper with the clarity of your mind. Always aim for a balanced diet and strive to add more Fruits, Vegetables and Grains to your plate.
4. Ritual of abundant knowledge
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” ― Albert Einstein
Knowledge is potential power. It’s only when we apply it that it manifests. Our duty is to become students of life and to apply what we have learned. It could be from our own experiences or the experiences of others.
We should educate ourselves to be able to make the right decisions in any given situation. Reading books or watching TEDx videos is a great way to increase your knowledge.
There are some fantastic educational podcasts like Waking up with Sam Harris. The show explores important questions about the human mind, society, and current events.
You could always Sign-up for Workshops like Cooking, Art, Photography — Sky is the limit.
5. Ritual of Personal Reflection
“The problem is that most people think only enough to survive.”
What Robin Sharma presents in the book is Thinking to Thrive (and not only to survive). Believe in the power of inner contemplation and take the time to know yourself.
The author refers to the Self-improvement system Benjamin Franklin used to adopt:
At the end of the day, retire to a silent corner and consider your actions. Assess all the positives and negative activities that you did during the day. Come up with a clear course on how to act on them.
Spend more energy on the positive attributes. Focus on taking immediate steps to improve and advance along the path of self-mastery.
6. Ritual of Early Awakening
“Rise with the sun and start off your day well’
Most of us sleep far more than we need to. I encourage you to check out these 10 Benefits of Rising Early, and How to Do It to set a morning schedule. ‘It’s normal to feel a bit tired the first few days…But, it is definitely a “short term pain for a long term gain”
Focus on the quality of sleep, and try to allow only the most inspired and serene thoughts into your mind. This is relevant in the 10 mins before you sleep and the 10 minutes after you wake up. These times have a profound impact on your subconscious (That’s right, keep the smartphone away!).
7. the Ritual of Music
“Music is the strongest form of magic.” ― Marilyn Manson
Music has the power to inspire and motivate. Spend a little time listening to music every day. When you feel lonely, low or weary, remember to turn on some music. It provides comfort, eases pain and definitely reduces stress. It’s also one of the best mood boosters known to mankind.
8. Ritual of Spoken Words
“Don’t ever diminish the power of words. Words move hearts and hearts move limbs.” -Hamza Yusuf
The words you use with yourself affect your self-image, thus the actions you take.
It is our words that provide a bold affirmation of our innermost thoughts. They are a confirmation to the world of how we see others, our lives and ourselves. Choose your words. Pay attention to how you describe yourself and your life. Take out words like ‘can’t’, ‘shouldn’t’, ‘need’, ‘won’t’ from your dictionary.
Turn phrases such as ‘I am unhealthy and overweight’ to a more constructive statement. Instead, say ‘I am becoming healthier and every day I get closer to my ideal weight’.
9. The Ritual of a Congruent Character
“Integrity isn’t a destination. It is a way of life. It is an internal guidance system that will never guide you astray.” -Kelley Kosow
Take daily incremental actions to build your character. Building up your character influences the way you view yourself and the actions you take. The actions you take mould your habits and your habits are the route to your Destiny.
Act in a way that is in agreement with your true character. Be guided by your heart and the rest will take care of itself.
10. Ritual of Simplicity
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ― Clare Boothe Luce
Focus on your priorities and opt for a simple life.
Robin Sharma described it best; “I stopped wearing expensive clothes. I kicked my addiction to six newspapers a day. I stopped needing to be available to everyone all the time, I became a vegetarian and I ate less’.
Unless you scale down your needs, you will never fulfill yourself.
You will always be like that gambler in Las Vegas, staying at the roulette wheel for ‘one more spin’ in the hope that your lucky number will come up. You will always want more than you have. How can you ever be happy?
I hope the 10 Rules of Ancient Living will inspire you to live a healthier life. My aim is to encourage you to take your self-Improvement Journey to the next level.
Story originally published on Medium
Written By Luciana Younis