Born and raised in London to Indian parents, he earned a management science degree before trading his suits for robes and becoming a Hindu monk. During this three-year journey, he lived between an ashram in India and the UK, following a strict regime involving community service and inner work. Up to eight hours of daily meditation was coupled with immersion in ancient Eastern philosophies. Following this period of self-discovery, Shetty returned to live full-time in the UK in 2013 with the calling to help others find their purpose.
Inspirational YouTube videos led to a career in media, and ultimately, the launch of his top-performing podcast On Purpose in 2019. Though rooted in his monastic learnings, his messages are blended with modern science and framed with a contemporary lens. Spiritual themes are obvious, but they draw upon practical strategies such as mindfulness rather than the metaphysical.
Resonant and masterfully articulate, Shetty has amassed a wide digital audience of more than 50 million globally. Interviews with the likes of former president Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Selena Gomez, Kobe Bryant and other influential figures, as well as experts like Mel Robbins and Stephan Speaks, have also helped to boost the Los Angeles-based podcaster’s profile.
On Purpose went on its first live tour this year, kicking off in Vancouver and ending this past Thursday, June 5, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. It was Shetty’s debut show in Denver, and the venue was radiating with anticipation as the lights dimmed. “I don’t want the world to miss out on your purpose; I don’t want you to miss out on your purpose,” he stated in his opening. “Tonight is about making sure you have the strength, resilience and courage to be yourself.”
Here are five key takeaways from the event:
“I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am.”
This is not a tongue twister, but a quote attributed to sociologist Charles Horton Cooley. Shetty refers to this remark often and mentioned it again during his talk in Denver. Basically, it highlights how your identity is often tied to what others think of you — or more accurately, what you think others think of you. The problem is that your interpretation of how people see you is not necessarily accurate.
Imagine someone struggling with confidence at work. Their supervisor sees their potential but assigns a project to another co-worker, leading the employee to think that their supervisor sees them as incompetent. Their identity as “incompetent” comes from their perception of the supervisor's decision, which may be entirely unrelated and not a true reflection of their abilities. No one can read minds. But even if we could, Shetty argued…
“We think there’s a constant spotlight on us” — and everyone is thinking the same thing.
We often over-analyze and are our harshest critics. Many can relate to that internal loop that questions why we said something a certain way, or how we cringe over something that we did years ago. While that monologue can be uncomfortable, there’s a certain ease in knowing that everyone experiences it. No one is thinking about your awkward comment because they’re too wrapped up in their own embarrassing exchange earlier that day.
Let it go and consider Shetty’s closing remark before intermission: “People will misunderstand you no matter what you do, so you might as well do what you love.” For the second half of the evening, Shetty was joined by a special surprise guest on stage: Lilly Singh, an iconic YouTube personality, former late-night talk show host, actress and author who appeared on the fifth episode of On Purpose.
Shetty interacted with several audience members during the first segment of the evening.
Abigail Bliss
Singh spoke on this idea at length, recounting her experience growing up as a queer Indian woman. She often struggled with loneliness and living up to her family’s expectations. “I chased something I knew they would understand” — influence, fame and money. She added that, though initially hesitant, she accepted the role with A Little Late With Lilly Singh from a place of ego and obligation to pave the way for others.
Her show ran for two seasons before its cancellation in 2021. She recalled feeling like she had let women and queer people down, and joked that she had disappointed a billion Indian people, too. But therapy and additional self-work led her to pivot her outlook: “Actually, it’s not my job to make a billion people proud.” On a smaller scale, many can relate.
“If you really want to find confidence, you only have to look at your past.”
Shetty shared this statement in agreement with Singh as she explained her reframing of hardships. “You need to get your butt kicked a little bit to learn some lessons,” she said, adding, “Thus far in life, you have a 100 percent success rate in getting through it.”
They discussed the importance of journaling as a reference tool, as well as a self-improvement strategy. In particular, Singh discussed her habit of writing down three ways she showed herself compassion at the end of each day, which developed her ability to channel grace toward others. Shetty built upon her point, commenting that the greatest achievers hold these qualities: “High standards for themselves and really high grace for themselves.”
“It’s not about getting rid of judgment of self; it’s about learning to live with it.”
Singh stated this as she compared her inner voice to the animated movie Inside Out. She joked about her six traits, each having names like Susan, her inner manager. She’s also labeled her inner dictator, critic, curiosity, compassion and loneliness as an effort to create distance between her emotions and identity.
When made distinct, Singh explains that it’s easier to lounge poolside and say, “Today, Susan, I don’t need you.” As she and Shetty discussed, the goal isn’t to eradicate critical aspects of yourself but to celebrate their ability to impact your performance and growth. Singh concluded with a poignant objective: “Commit to being a student for life.”
