True Self-Improvement Rests on Only 3 Things

"I can" is more important than "your IQ".

It was one of the lessons Julian Mantel learned from the Himalayan sages he sought out after selling his Ferrari and giving up his seven-figure legal career after a stress-induced heart attack.

The coat isn't real - but Robin Sharma is. Sharma worked as a trial lawyer until the age of twenty-five. He was rich, prosperous, and miserable. To free himself from the shackles of societal power and status, he wrote a book about a fictional character who had returned from the Himalayas to teach the real Robin what he had learned about life.

This book became the monk who sold his Ferrari - a bestseller with a million copies. It was written as a conversation between Mantle and Sharma – and the former has a lot more advice on happiness and purpose than the latter.

Here are 3 lessons on what really matters in life.

1. Learn to keep your mind with basic meditation.

When Mantel reaches the Himalayas, a yogi named Raman tells him a story. The story takes place in a garden full of beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers. It is an oasis of calm and cool - a place where you can recharge your batteries at any time.

Wouldn't it be cool if your mind also had a place like this? Alas, for most of us, our minds are like a wasteland – filled with clutter, useless information, and unfounded fears.

That's why the number one value of the Sivana system is: Control your mind. Know that it is up to you to decide what goes into your beautiful brain garden in the first place. You are his guardian and you stand at the door, choosing to whom and what to pass on.

The Yogi Mantle taught a simple exercise to improve his guard ability: "Heart of the Rose". He gave her a real rose and told her to watch her center in a quiet place. Then the Cloak must fill his mind with thoughts of the beauty of the rose.

It is a simple form of meditation. You try to direct your thoughts to a single, focused end. At first, your brain will send you countless distracting thoughts, but the more you practice, the better results you will get.

The only way to control your mind is to control what goes in and out. Practice discipline in all the thoughts you allow yourself to possess and transform your mind into the beautiful, invigorating garden it should be.

2. A 10-step morning routine can cover all of your personal growth.

At some point in Yu-Gi-Oh history, a sumo wrestler appeared. Sumo wrestlers are an example of self-improvement. They call it “Kaizen”. It is an old Japanese concept meaning "infinite improvement".

The idea is to never stop learning, to always improve - even if it's in small steps - and that growth is an integral part of life. Unsurprisingly, growth is also another virtue of the Sivana system.

Mantle learned a ten-step morning routine from his teachers, which covers all the personal improvements you might need. It's called the "Ten Rituals of a Brilliant Life". I tried to sort the steps in a way that would let you do them in chronological order after getting up:

1. Morning wakes up. The sages suggest six hours of sleep and waking up at sunrise. Everyone is different, so figure out how much you need for yourself, but getting up at dawn is definitely a powerful thing.
2. Solitude rituals. Each morning, take a few minutes to practice silence after getting up.
3. body rituals. Move, get up, exercise. It doesn't take a marathon to get your blood flowing. A few push-ups, jumps, or a quick run is enough.
4. Live Feeding Ritual. The sages have a plant-based diet. Fresh foods only. Again, nutrition is personal, find out what you need - but fresh foods are generally better processed and the right balance of fruits, vegetables, and proteins is important.
5. Ritual of Abundant Knowledge. Stimulate your brain every day by reading a little, studying, or completing mental puzzles, such as crosswords.
6. Personal meditation ritual. Did you do your best today? What could have been done better? When did you feel happy? Always take the time to answer these basic but important questions.
7. Musical ritual. When you're in a bad mood, just listen to the music. Nothing is more powerful than a good melody to lift your spirits.
8. Speech ritual. Write down a short mantra that you can repeat to yourself throughout the day. Having a personal motto is an authorization.
9. Matching personality rituals. Always follow your principles. Write it down, be aware of it, and stick to it no matter what. Don't compromise on what's most important to you. never.
10. Simple ritual. Live your priorities. Delete everything else.

A good morning leads to a good day. The good days add to the good life.

3. Serve others selflessly, benefit greatly.

Later in the history of the yogi, sumo collapsed. Wake up to the smell of some beautiful yellow roses in the garden. These roses represent another virtue: altruism in the service of others. It is embodied by this ancient Chinese proverb:

The trace of perfume always remains on the hands that give you roses.

When you help someone else, something good comes back to you. You won't know when and how, but karma always does its job. This is why Sharma has always said in his career after the right to help the greatest leaders in the world:

"Give the maximum you want in return."

You don't have to join the Salvation Army to do good. Small acts of kindness and compassion in your daily life are just as powerful. Every morning, take a few seconds to think about the good things you can do today.

Whether it's calling your grandma or complimenting a co-worker, she'll bring you one step closer to what Yogi Mantell might call an enlightened life.

Summary

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a classic self-help game that tells the story of fictional lawyer Julian Mantell, who sold his mansion and his Ferrari to study the Seven Virtues of Sivas in the Himalayas.

It's a great metaphor that shows us that true self-improvement depends on just three things:

1. Learn to control your mind. Practice basic meditation to organize your thoughts and you will transform your head into a calm, focused, and renewed place.
2. A routine can cover all the inner work you will have to do. Taking a few small steps each day is much better than making big plans and never following through. Learning never stops, so just learn a little each day.
3. The best way to get what you want is to serve others without thinking about yourself. Learn to be selfless and trust that the universe will reciprocate. usually does. Your kind little deeds will add sooner, thank you.