How to Slow Down and Rest - Maudy Ayunda’s Booklist

Summary

In 'The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down', Haemin Sunim encourages reflection on the busyness of life, suggesting it's a state of mind. He advises letting go of past and future worries to find peace in the present. The book also challenges the search for the 'right moment', embracing uncertainty for growth. Lastly, it promotes finding joy in ordinary moments by being fully present, leading to a calmer, more confident life.

Takeaways

• 🧘‍♂️ You are not your feelings: Our life experiences are shaped by our thoughts and perceptions, not by external circumstances.
• 🌟 When your mind rests, the world rests: By achieving mental calm, we can perceive the world as a peaceful place.
• 🔄 Let go of past and future worries: We cannot change the past or predict the future, so focusing on the present is essential for reducing stress.
• 🚫 Don't suppress negative feelings: Acknowledge them without judgment to allow them to naturally dissipate.
• 🌈 There's no perfect moment: Uncertainty is inherent in life, so embracing it can lead to growth and new experiences.
• 💪 Courage to act despite uncertainty: Taking action with awareness can lead to less regret, even if outcomes aren't as expected.
• 🌱 Find joy in the ordinary: Happiness can be found in everyday activities when we are fully present and engaged.
• 🌻 Be fully present in each moment: Engage wholeheartedly in whatever you're doing to enhance a sense of ownership and fulfillment.
• 🌟 The book's core lesson is to be more present: By being present, we can achieve calmness and confidence, reducing anxiety and stress.
• 📚 Engage with the book's insights: Share your favorite insights from the book and participate in the community for a chance to receive a special gift.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down'?

The main theme of the book is to encourage readers to slow down and reflect on their lives, recognizing that much of the perceived busyness and noise comes from within our own minds rather than the external world.

What does the quote 'When your mind rests, the world rests' imply?

This quote suggests that our perception of the world is heavily influenced by our mental state. If we are at peace internally, we will experience the world as calmer and less chaotic.

How does the book suggest we deal with negative feelings like stress or anxiety?

The book advises letting go of thoughts about the past and future, allowing feelings to flow without coercion or judgment, and recognizing that we are not defined by our feelings.

What is the significance of the insight 'Don't wait for the right moment'?

This insight emphasizes that there is no perfect moment in life due to inherent uncertainty. It encourages taking action despite the fear of uncertainty, as it allows for growth and learning from the experience.

How does the book define happiness in the context of ordinary life?

Happiness is defined as finding joy in the mundane aspects of daily life, such as commuting or doing household chores, by being fully present and engaged in the moment.

What is the role of uncertainty according to the book?

Uncertainty is portrayed as a positive force that provides space for adventure and exploration, facilitating personal growth and learning.

How can we apply the concept of being present to our daily activities?

We can apply being present by fully engaging in whatever we are doing, whether it's a conversation or a task, and owning our actions without being distracted by past regrets or future worries.

What is the author's view on making big life decisions?

The author believes that even when we feel doubt, we should trust our ability to make decisions. It's better to act and learn from the outcome than to miss out on experiences due to indecision.

How does the book propose we find joy in the ordinary?

The book suggests that we can find joy in ordinary moments by being fully present and appreciating the simple pleasures in our daily routines.

What is the key takeaway from the book for the speaker?

The key takeaway for the speaker is the importance of being more present in life, which leads to a calmer and more confident state of being, free from the usual anxieties and stresses.

What is the incentive for viewers to leave comments on the video?

The incentive is that the speaker will give a copy of the book with a special message to the person who leaves the most exciting comment.

Outlines

00:00

🧘‍♂️ Mindfulness and the Perception of Time

In the first paragraph, the speaker introduces the book 'The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down' by Haemin Sunim, a Zen Buddhism teacher. The book encourages readers to reflect on whether the world is truly busy or if it's our minds that create this perception. The author suggests that our life experiences are heavily influenced by our thoughts and emotions. If we are stressed or anxious, it's often because we are focused on the past or the future, which we cannot control. The book advises letting go of these thoughts and living in the present moment. It also emphasizes that we are not defined by our feelings and should acknowledge them without judgment to allow them to pass. The speaker shares insights on not waiting for the perfect moment, as uncertainty is a part of life, and encourages embracing the present moment to reduce anxiety and stress.

05:01

🌟 Finding Joy in the Mundane

The second paragraph continues the discussion on living in the present and finding joy in everyday activities. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being fully present in each moment, whether it's during a conversation or performing routine tasks. The book suggests that happiness can be found in ordinary moments when we are fully engaged. The speaker shares their personal takeaway from the book, which is the importance of being present in life. They feel calmer and more confident when they focus on the present, rather than being overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. The speaker concludes by inviting listeners to suggest books for review and promises to give away a copy of the book with a special message to the most exciting commenters. They remind viewers to subscribe, like, comment, and turn on notifications for future content.

Keywords

💡Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed refers to a feeling of being excessively burdened or unable to cope with a situation or emotion. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the sensation of being rushed or stressed, often due to the perception of a busy and noisy world. The script discusses how this feeling can be mitigated by realizing that the world only appears busy when our minds are not at rest.

💡Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment. The video emphasizes the importance of mindfulness by suggesting that when our minds are calm, our perception of the world changes. It is used to illustrate how acknowledging and accepting our feelings without judgment can lead to a more peaceful existence.

💡Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism is a school of Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and a direct personal experience of Buddha-nature. The author, Haemin Sunim, is a Zen Buddhist teacher, and his teachings form the basis of the book discussed in the video. Zen principles are used to guide viewers toward finding peace and clarity in their lives.

💡Reflection

Reflection is the act of thinking deeply about one's experiences or ideas. The video encourages viewers to reflect on whether it is the world that is busy or if it is their own minds creating that perception. This introspection is key to understanding the source of one's stress and finding ways to alleviate it.

💡Feelings

Feelings are the conscious and subjective experience of an emotion or sensation. The video script discusses the distinction between one's self and one's feelings, emphasizing that we are not defined by our emotions. It suggests that acknowledging feelings without resistance can help them dissipate naturally.

💡Stress

Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. The video addresses stress by encouraging viewers to let go of thoughts about the past and future, which are often sources of stress, and to focus on the present moment.

💡Uncertainty

Uncertainty refers to the state of being unsure or the inability to predict an outcome. The video script suggests that uncertainty is not inherently negative but rather provides opportunities for adventure and growth. It encourages viewers to embrace uncertainty and make decisions without the need for complete certainty.

💡Present Moment

The present moment is the current point in time, distinct from the past or future. The video script emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment to find joy and peace. It suggests that by focusing on the present, we can reduce anxiety and stress.

💡Ordinary

Ordinary refers to something that is usual, normal, or not exceptional. The video discusses finding joy in ordinary moments, such as daily tasks and routines. It suggests that happiness can be found in the mundane aspects of life when we are fully present and engaged in them.

💡Happiness

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. The video script connects happiness with the ability to find joy in ordinary moments and being present in our daily activities. It implies that happiness is not dependent on extraordinary events but can be cultivated through our attitude towards everyday life.

💡Decision-making

Decision-making is the process of making choices. The video script addresses the common hesitation and doubt that can accompany decision-making, suggesting that even if we feel unprepared, we should trust our ability to make decisions and not let fear of uncertainty prevent us from taking action.

Highlights

The author invites us to reflect on whether it's the world that's busy or our minds.

The famous quote: 'When your mind rests, the world rests.'

Our life experience is dependent on our thoughts and perceptions.

If our minds are calm, the world we experience will be calm.

We tend to feel stressed or panicked when thinking about the future or past.

The book suggests letting go of thoughts about the past and future.

Acknowledge the existence of negative feelings without judgment.

Remember that you are not your feelings.

There's no such thing as the right moment in life due to inherent uncertainty.

Uncertainty provides space for adventure and exploration.

Courage to surrender and act without regrets.

Believe in our ability to make decisions despite doubts.

The quote: 'If we wait for 100% certainty, then it is often too late.'

Life is made of all moments, including ordinary ones.

Happiness comes from finding joy in ordinary activities.

To find joy, be fully present in the moment.

Own your actions and be present in everything you do.

The book teaches the importance of being more present in life.

Being present leads to calmness and confidence.

The author encourages readers to find joy in everything.

Transcripts

Curious people, have you ever felt overwhelmed or rushed?

as if we're chasing something that actually

we're not even sure what it is

or maybe you feel that time is passing so quickly

that sometimes it's so difficult to even take a breathe.

In this Booklist, I will dissect the book

The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim,

a Zen Buddhism teacher and writer who is often nicknamed "The Healing Mentor".

In this book, the author invites us to take a step back and reflect.

Is it the world that's busy or is it my mind?

Is this really a busy and noisy world?

Or is it actually just in our minds?

Let's discuss it.

First insight.

You are not your feelings.

There is one very famous quote in this book.

"When your mind rests, the world rests."

When our minds rest, our world rests too.

What does that mean?

This means that our experience, our life in this world,

is very dependent on what is in our minds.

If our thoughts and perceptions are negative or stressful,

then the world will also become busy and noisy.

But if our minds are filled with calmness,

the world we experience will be like that.

So, according to this book,

if we feel stressed or panicked,

we are usually

thinking about the future or the past.

Bad experiences in the past, or fear of the future.

Maybe there are regrets,

or we are afraid that failure will occur.

However, if you think about it,

we can't control or change the past and future.

So, why worry?

The only thing we can control is what happens in the present.

At this moment.

So, if we are anxious or stressed,

this book invites us to let go of thoughts about the past and future

and let our feelings just flow.

Later,

these negative feelings will disappear by themselves,

without coercion and without judgment.

For example, if we feel angry.

Don't hold back, don't pretend it doesn't exist.

We just need to be aware,

just acknowledge the existence of the feeling of anger.

That way, the feelings will disappear more easily

and will not define you.

Just remember you are not your feelings.

2nd Insight:

Don't wait for the right moment.

Well, this one might be a little hard to hear.

There's no such thing as the right moment in life

because uncertainty is part of life, right?

So even though we feel like we are really prepared,

we are already organized.

Of course, we will always encounter things that we cannot predict

or perhaps what could be called blind spots.

Well, but the author emphasizes that we shouldn't see this as

a negative thing.

Because it's not.

In fact, uncertainty gives us space for

adventure and exploration of our lives

which is actually a process of learning and growing.

So when we have the courage to surrender

and do something,

we won't easily regret it

because even if the results don't match our hopes,

at least we have full awareness

of the decision we made.

This happens very often when we want to make big life decisions.

When we want to pull the trigger,

we often feel

doubt.

Well, the author emphasizes that

when there is a small voice

that says "Ah, Can I? Can I?"

sometimes we have to fight it

and make a decision

because we have to remember that

even at that stage

we have already gone through the process, you know.

So believe in our ability to make a decision.

Don't let us lose experience

just because we doubt.

There's a quote in the book

"If we wait for a 100% certainty, then it is often too late"

3rd Insight:

Find joy in the ordinary

Curious People have you ever heard the quote:

"Life is made of all moments."

This book also applies the same concept.

In fact, there are more ordinary hours in our lives

than extraordinary ones.

We definitely spend more time

doing ordinary things

such as commuting to the office,

working, tidying up, brushing our teeth.

Well,

we can truly get happiness

if we can enjoy daily activities like that.

The author said,

happiness is when

we find pleasure

in ordinary things.

Finding a moment of joy in those ordinary hours.

The method is quite simple.

We just need to be fully present in the moment

and let ourselves be there completely.

When someone is talking with you,

contribute wholeheartedly.

Be there.

When we do that,

we have a sense of ownership.

Great sense of ownership,

through everything we do.

Come on, let's be the kind of people that find joy in everything.

Own your actions and be present

And now, so what?

There are lots of wisdoms in this book

but the one thing that stands out the most for me

is that I feel this book taught me to be more

present in my life.

Because if I'm in this moment,

when I'm more present,

I feel like I'm a calmer,

confident person, and not carried away by feelings of anxiety or stress that I usually feel.

Okay, Thanks for listening, Curious people.

If you want me to read a book and share with you my favorite insights.

Please give book recommendations in the comments below.

Also, for the most exciting comments,

I will give you

this book with a special message from me.

So, don't forget to subscribe, like, comment and turn on notifications.

Bye~