The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Remarkable Story about Living Your Dreams by Robin Sharma.

4/5 rating. 198 pages.

Book #44 of 2022. Read November 30, 2022.

I absolutely loved this (admittedly cheesy) book about a former lawyer, turned monk.

Julian, the main character of this book is a hot-shot lawyer who has everything he could possibly want, but has a heart attack in court. He leaves law, and disappears from John (the narrator)’s life. One day, a long time later, Julian reappears, unrecognizable, as a wise monk to give John advice for how to change and improve his life.

Part of me is almost embarrassed that I liked this book so much because it’s kind of woo-woo and really self-helpy, but the ideas that are laid out make up for all that. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

• “Stop making excuses and just do it!”
• “I am an artist at living—my work of art is my life.” – Suzuki
• “Worry drains the mind of much of its power and, sooner or later, it injures the soul.”
• “Discover your real reason for being here and then have the courage to act on it.”
• “a day without laughter or a day without love was a day without life.”
• “Every experience offers lessons. So stop majoring in minor things. Enjoy your life.”
• “Time mastery leads to life mastery. Guard time well.”
• “‘But the real key to remember is that happiness is a journey, not a destination. Live for today—there will never be another one quite like it,’ stated Julian,”
• “Today is the day to live fully, not when you win the lottery or when you retire. Never put off living!”

Additional Quotes:

“I was a deeply unfulfilled lawyer, living a life that was not my own. I was caught up in trying to look successful in the eyes of others—and betraying myself in the process. I’ve since discovered that success is all about running your own race, feeling comfortable in your own skin and living your life on your own terms. You don’t want to get to your deathbed and realize you were not the real you (and that you ended up living someone else’s dreams). That’ll break your heart. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen.”

“I didn’t listen to their laughter. Because if you listen to your critics, you will never do anything great.”

“Real generosity toward the future consists in giving all to what is present.” – Albert Camus

“‘I realized that my mission is to serve others and somehow to contribute to making this world a better place. Now I live to give,’ he told Julian.”

“But I have learned that self-mastery and the consistent care of one’s mind, body and soul are essential to finding one’s highest self and living the life of one’s dreams.”

“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make.”

“‘Never overlook the power of simplicity,’ Julian was told.”

“However, the ones who do more than just exist, the ones who fan the flames of their human potential and truly savor the magical dance of life do different things than those whose lives are ordinary. Foremost among the things that they do is adopt a positive paradigm about their world and all that is in it.”

“When you dedicate yourself to transforming your inner world your life quickly shifts from the ordinary into the realm of the extraordinary.”

“What really separates people who are habitually upbeat and optimistic from those who are consistently miserable is how the circumstances of life are interpreted and processed.”

“From tonight onwards, forget about the past. Dare to dream that you are more than the sum of your current circumstances. Expect the best. You will be astonished at the results.”

“If you study the happiest, healthiest, most satisfied people of our world, you will see that each and every one of them has found their passion in life, and then spent their days pursuing it.”

“Too much stress does this to you. Once you find your purpose, however, life becomes much easier and far more rewarding. When you figure out what your main aim or destiny really is, you will never have to work another day in your life.”

“Trust yourself. Create the kind of life you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into the flames of achievement.” – Foster C. McClellan

“Lasting happiness comes from steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing confidently in the direction of your life’s purpose.”

“All I’m saying is make sure that you have fun while you are advancing along the path of your goals and purpose. Never forget the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration. Never neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things. Today and this very moment that you and I are sharing is a gift. Remain spirited, joyful and curious. Stay focused on your lifework and on giving selfless service to others. The universe will take care of everything else.”

“Change is the most powerful force in our society today. Most people fear it, the wise embrace it.”

“Truly enlightened people, those who experience deep happiness daily, are prepared to put off short-term pleasure for the sake of long-term fulfillment.”

“[S]pending less time on those things that are less important to make time for those things that are more meaningful, requires a great deal of courage.”

“After all, how could I ever hope to improve myself and my life if I hadn’t even taken the time to figure out what I was supposed to improve?”

“When you start to focus on good thoughts only, and refuse to think the bad ones through sheer willpower, I promise you they will shrivel up very quickly.”

“[W]hen all is said and done, no matter what you have achieved, no matter how many summer homes you own, no matter how many cars sit in your driveway, the quality of your life will come down to the quality of your contribution.”

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