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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down summary
Haemin Sunim
How to Be Calm in a Busy World
16 mins
Brief summary
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim is a book that shares timeless wisdom and practical advice on living a mindful and fulfilled life. It encourages readers to slow down, appreciate the present moment, and connect with their inner selves.
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The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down
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When your mind rests, the world rests.
Have you ever become so engrossed in a project that everything else ceases to exist? The rest of the world hasn’t gone away, of course. But our perspective has focused with such clarity that the project in front of us feels like the entire universe. This, for Buddhists, is just one example of how much our mind controls the world around us.
Our reality consists only of what our mind chooses to focus on at that moment. It isn’t the situation we find ourselves in that’s making us happy or unhappy, anxious, or relaxed. It’s our perspective on the situation that’s creating those feelings.
The key message here is: When your mind rests, the world rests.
More often than not, it’s our perception of things that happened in the past or things that may happen in the future that drives negative thoughts and emotions. But we can’t control or change the past or the future. So why worry about them? Why allow our perception of them to make us unhappy?
The only thing we can control is what’s happening right now. So release those thoughts of the past and future, and allow our waves of emotion to flow freely. They’ll heal themselves and disappear in due course.
Focusing on the present means practicing awareness. If you’re feeling stressed, be aware of that stress. If you’re feeling angry, be aware of your anger. It doesn’t do any good to bury it. Awareness brings clarity and purity back into our lives. Negative emotions are temporary. They dissipate quickly once we shine the light of awareness on them.
An excellent way to manage your stress level is to simply make a list of everything in your life that’s causing you anxiety. Write down everything you need to get done, from minor, everyday chores like washing the dishes to bigger goals like changing your career. Writing them down removes them from your mind and contains all of your worries on a single sheet of paper. Once you’ve written them down, go to bed and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, you can begin to tackle them one by one.
Self-awareness must come from within. Reframing our perception of the world to focus on the here and now is the first step on the journey toward enlightenment.
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What is The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down about?
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down (2012) explains how our fast-paced world can easily become overwhelming. Even minor setbacks can seem catastrophic, making the bigger problems all the more devastating. By practicing mindfulness and compassion with ourselves and others, we allow ourselves the space necessary to slow down, breathe, and discover genuine, lasting happiness.
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down Review
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down (2012) is a heartfelt guide on finding peace and happiness in a fast-paced world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers profound insights on how to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life, reminding us to appreciate the present moment.
- With its wisdom-filled stories and practical advice, the book presents a holistic approach to well-being, addressing the mind, body, and spirit.
- Embracing simplicity and encouraging self-reflection, this book serves as a refreshing reminder to slow down, savor life, and cultivate inner peace.
Who should read The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down?
- Anyone feeling overwhelmed by work, family, relationships, or life in general
- Busy professionals who need to be reminded to take time off
- Everyone seeking balance in these hectic, tumultuous times
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The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down FAQs
What is the main message of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down?
The main message of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down is to find peace and happiness in the present moment by slowing down and embracing the beauty of life.
How long does it take to read The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down?
The reading time for The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down is worth reading because it provides valuable insights and practical advice on finding peace and happiness in our fast-paced lives.
Who is the author of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down?
The author of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down is Haemin Sunim.
What to read after The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- In Praise of Slowness by Carl Honoré
- The Joy of Missing Out by Tanya Dalton
- How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price
- The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
- Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia
- The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracián y Morales
- Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
- The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman
- The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
- A Monk's Guide to Happiness by Gelong Thubten