Peace to you!

After attending Oxford and Harvard and working in investment banking, I had a spiritual experience that led me to leave the path of success to live in monasteries for over 7 years.

Through this newsletter, I share practical wisdom from my experience in the monastery. I hope it’s fruitful for your journey!

Each week, the Monk Mindset newsletter comes with:

Monk Mindset for Living Well

Monk Mindset 6
Detachment: Seek Nothing to Find Everything

Reflection on the Monk Mindset and Quote

The more we try to grasp and hold onto things, the more we can feel trapped or controlled by them. 

As humans with real needs, we have to possess things to live - food, shelter, a computer for work. It’s not so much possessing these things that’s the problem. 

The problem occurs when we desire certain things so much that they begin to control us. 

John of the Cross here is not only talking about material possessions – he’s also referring to psychological possessions as well. How much do we need to possess things like my: 

reputation

unhealthy or destructive habits 

need to have things done “my way”

need to win or be better than others

and more…

By desiring to possess nothing, we ironically become free to possess all. We become liberated from what keeps us from our true purpose: authentic love.

Put It Into Practice This Week

What’s one thing that you know deep down actually possesses you instead of you possessing it?

What’s one thing you can do this week to start letting go?

Wishing you abundant peace this week,

John