Have you ever wanted to turn your life upside down and make a massive change?

Something crazy like move to a new country, turn your career upside down or leave a relationship that isn’t making you happy? Or maybe you’ve done one of these in the past.

It’s funny how some decisions can shape our lives entirely. As Tony Robbins said, “Decisions shape your destiny.”

One decision can literally change the outcome of your entire life. For the good or the bad.

A great example is social media mega-star Jay Shetty. He’s a former monk turned entrepreneur and social media sensation whose motivational videos have received billions of views.

He’s someone who made that kind of crazy decision to try something new several times and went on to create the life of his dreams.

Use his story to get inspired and figure out how you can create your own epic journey in 2019.  

Who is Jay Shetty?

If you don’t know Jay Shetty, he’s a viral sensation whose influential videos have reached over 2 billion views worldwide! His powerful videos have helped shift so many people perspectives of what’s possible and helped inspired people around the globe.

He became a monk after graduating college and turning down offers from top job offers. He traded business suits for robes and went on to live in a monastery for years.

Eventually, he was told by his mentor that he needed to leave and share his gifts with the world. After he entered the real world he got asked to do speaking events and his videos caught the eye of Arianna Huffington.

Now he works with brands like Facebook, Google, Coca-Cola, and others.

5 Life Lessons from Jay Shetty To Crush 2019

Here are the five epic life lessons I’ve learned from the former monk turned entrepreneur.

1. Don’t Let Technology Own You | Monk To Entrepreneur

Technology doesn’t have to be a bad thing as long as we control it, not the other way around. Unfortunately, most people are literal slaves to their phones and check it hundreds of times per day.

After leaving the monastery, Jay couldn’ believe how much people were slaves to their devices. Here’s how most people are zombies with technology: 

• Wake up with the alarm on your phone. Check your emails and texts in bed until you feel “connected.”  
• Browse one to three social media channels while lying in bed.
• Waste countless hours at work mindlessly checking emails, scrolling and using Slack throughout the day.
• Take out your phone whenever you’re alone on a subway or walking.
• Lay in bed and check social media, email, and messages one last time before bed.
• Wake up and repeat.

Sounds familiar?

Instead of falling victim to this hamster wheel, you have to use technology for your benefit, not become enslaved to your device. Jay’s a great example of someone who uses technology and social media to spread a positive message while still balancing real life experiences.

2. Success is Combining Your Passion With Purpose | Monk To Entrepreneur

The old adage “find your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life” is true in my opinion. Doing what you love usually takes more effort but also more satisfying. It’s important to find out what you love to and share it with others.

Jay Shetty says that finding your passion is nothing combination of these four questions:

• What am I good at?
• What do I love doing?
• How do I get paid for what I love?
• What does the world need?

When you find the intersection of the four, you are able to unlock your passion and find your purpose. Once you find this you can enjoy life more as you’re constantly working on projects that excite you and help others.

3. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone | Monk To Entrepreneur

Our minds love familiarity, that’s why its so hard to leave the comfort zone. But remember, growth only happens outside your comfort zone.

As Jay Shetty said, “We live in echo chambers. We’re just surrounded by the same thinking. How often do you bump into a monk?”

Had Jay not had an open mind when he first met a monk at 18 years old, his life would’ve been in a very different place. Make sure you try to leave the familiarity as often as you can in 2019. Try to push the boundaries and challenge yourself on a daily basis.

Most of the time, we meet people who are similar to us, which is why we live the same emotions, conversations, and experiences over and over again. If you want a different year, you need to do different things.

4. Simplify Your Life | Monk To Entrepreneur

As Jay Shetty said, “Detachment is not that you own nothing. It’s that nothing owns you.”

After hearing about how monks really live with such few “things,” I realized that consumerism and materialism were dragging me down.

Can you relate?

All the excess stuff we think we need can really weigh us down.  I’ve since simplified everything about my life.

I stopped buying more clothes I didn’t really need and decluttered my environment. I’ve realized the more physical and mental space I have, the more relaxed, focused, and disciplined I’ve become.

5. Gratitude is Everything | Monk To Entrepreneur

Jay Shetty talks about the importance of gratitude. As a monk, the first thing he practiced was giving thanks to Earth for the food, water, and ability to live as part of his morning routine.

He said that while the gratitude movement of journals and studios seems new to most, it’s a tradition that has been around for centuries. Meditation as well.

It’s an old tradition that has helped me find clarity, focus, and tons of other benefits.  Try to incorporate some sort of mindfulness practice into your year for increase clarity and gratitude.

The more simple and pure life that you lead can result in more clarity and drive than ever before.

Final Thoughts | Monk To Entrepreneur

Is 2019 the year that you’re finally going to step up and make it happen? Use some of these tips from Jay Shetty to take control of your life and become the person you want to be in the new year.

Life is way too short to not live up to your full potential. I am confident if you believe and trust yourself you can make these kinds of shifts in your life.

Push past your comfort zone, simplify your life and be grateful for every moment!