I May Be Wrong by Björn Natthiko Lindeblad
A Life-Affirming Meditation on Letting Go, Slowing Down, and Living Fully
In a world that seems to demand more, faster, and louder, I May Be Wrong by Björn Natthiko Lindeblad is a gentle yet powerful reminder that peace and clarity often come when we pause, reflect, and accept uncertainty. This book is not your average self-help title. It’s part memoir, part spiritual guide, and entirely rooted in the profound simplicity of Buddhist wisdom—filtered through the lens of a modern man who walked away from success to seek something deeper.
If you’re on a journey to live more intentionally, reduce anxiety, or gain clarity in your daily life, this book is worth your time. It fits beautifully into the core themes of Better Life Action, particularly those focused on calm and focus, mindset and motivation, and building healthier habits and routines.
Who Was Björn Natthiko Lindeblad?
Before diving into the lessons, it helps to know the author. Björn was a successful Swedish economist who left the corporate world in his 30s to become a forest monk in the Thai Buddhist tradition. He spent 17 years in monastic life before returning to Sweden, where he became a public speaker and mindfulness teacher. He wrote this book while living with ALS, a terminal disease that gave his reflections a deeper poignancy and urgency.
1. Letting Go of Certainty
“I may be wrong” is more than a title—it’s a mantra for peace.
At the heart of the book is the humble acknowledgment that none of us truly knows everything. This phrase, “I may be wrong,” becomes a liberating tool. Instead of insisting on being right, Lindeblad invites us to soften our grip on certainty. That mental shift reduces conflict, cultivates humility, and opens up room for connection.
Better Life Action link: This echoes ideas from our Mindset and Motivation pillar—especially in understanding that fixed mindsets can be broken not by grand gestures, but by small shifts in how we perceive challenge, disagreement, or failure.
Try This:
When facing a stressful conversation, repeat silently: “I may be wrong.” Notice how it shifts your emotional response. It doesn’t mean you lack convictions—it means you remain open to learning.
2. The Art of Slowing Down
The antidote to modern life is presence.
Much of Björn’s wisdom is drawn from the slowness of monastic life: mindful walking, eating in silence, watching the breath. He doesn’t prescribe rigid routines but instead encourages tuning into the rhythm of the present moment.
This is incredibly useful for anyone feeling overwhelmed. As he puts it, “We don’t have to chase a perfect life. We can live a good one, right here.”
Better Life Action link: In your Calm and Focus series, we talk about mindfulness, breathwork, and reducing digital noise. Lindeblad gives those practices context—they are not productivity hacks, but ways to connect more deeply to what matters.
Try This:
Pick one daily routine—like brushing your teeth or drinking your morning tea—and do it with full attention. No phone. No multitasking. Just you and the moment.
3. You Are Not Your Thoughts
One of the deepest lessons from the forest is this: “You don’t have to believe everything you think.”
Lindeblad breaks down the illusion of identity. Many of us live as though our thoughts are facts. But as a monk, he learned to observe the mind like clouds in the sky—constantly changing, rarely worth clinging to.
This is vital if you’re prone to anxiety or overthinking. Just because your mind says “I’m not good enough” or “This will go wrong” doesn’t make it true.
This insight supports both Calm and Focus and Habits and Routines, especially in creating distance between impulse and action. Recognizing your thoughts as mental events rather than absolute truths allows more conscious living.
Try This:
Next time a critical thought arises (e.g., “I’ll fail at this”), say to yourself, “I notice I’m having the thought that I’ll fail.”That subtle shift gives you space to respond rather than react.
4. Embracing Suffering Without Being Ruled by It
Lindeblad does not sugar-coat suffering. Instead, he invites us to meet it gently.
One of the most moving parts of the book is how he approaches his ALS diagnosis. He doesn’t rage against it or romanticize it—he meets it with grace, curiosity, and even humor. This kind of emotional maturity is rare and deeply instructive.
His method? Allow space for pain without identifying with it. Feel it fully, then return to the breath.
Try This:
The next time you’re feeling low, don’t rush to “fix” it. Sit for five minutes and ask, “Where do I feel this in my body?”Let the emotion be there, without judgment. Often, that alone is enough to reduce its hold.
5. Building a Meaningful Life
“We don’t need to know everything. We just need to know what matters now.”
Despite its spiritual depth, the book is practical. Björn reflects on friendship, love, loss, and the power of small joys. He encourages a life of contribution, presence, and kindness.
Importantly, he does not suggest that happiness is constant. It’s something we cultivate, moment to moment, by showing up as we are and responding with care.
Our posts on Habits explores how small, consistent practices build identity. Lindeblad reinforces that. It’s not about the perfect routine—it’s about choosing practices that align with your values.
Try This:
Each morning, ask yourself: “What really matters today?” Write down one word or phrase. Let that be your north star, no matter how the day unfolds.
Final Thoughts: A Quiet Masterpiece for Troubled Times
I May Be Wrong is one of those rare books that doesn’t scream for attention—but quietly earns it. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to read slowly, perhaps even repeatedly. Its lessons are gentle, but they stick.
For Better Life Action readers, it’s a rich resource—especially if you’re seeking peace, reflection, or simply a wiser way to move through the world.
Takeaways at a Glance:
| Theme | Key Idea | Action Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Letting Go | Admit “I may be wrong” to open up space in relationships | Use the phrase before responding in conflict |
| Presence | Life is lived now, not in the past or future | Choose one task per day to do mindfully |
| Thought Awareness | You are not your thoughts | Use “I notice I’m having the thought…” |
| Pain | Meet suffering with compassion, not resistance | Sit with emotion before reacting |
| Meaning | Focus on values, not perfection | Ask “What matters today?” each morning |
Want to Go Deeper?
- For daily presence practices, revisit our Calm and Focus post.
- If this book resonated, you might also like our reflections on Atomic Habits or The Obstacle Is the Way—both of which build on ideas of identity, mindset, and intentional living.
