Feelings originate with the mind projecting its subjective experience onto the world. The world isn’t inherently joyful or said; it just is.

It Just Is

When we look at the world we only see the part that interests us, it is not the entire universe but a limited one that the mind cares about.

Our World

Our reality is created by what we choose to focus on.Reality exists because our minds are aware of it; without our minds, the universe would not exist.The world exists because we are aware of it. We cannot be aware of a reality we do not perceive.Our minds create the world by focusing on parts of it, thus making the mind significant in creating our experience of the world.Training our minds to focus wisely is crucial for shaping our desired reality. In other words we have the ability to choose our world.

Reality

Everyone appears as Buddhas in the eyes of the Buddha and everyone appears as pigs in the eyes of a pig.

The Buddha and The Pig

When your mind is joyful and compassionate, the world is too. When your mind is filled with negative thoughts, the world appears negative too.”

The Mind

I squeeze myself into the subway car. People are crowded all around me. I can either get annoyed or think it's fun that I don't have to grab a handrail. People react differently to the same situation. If we look at it more closely, we see it's not the situation that is troubling us, but our perspective on it

Illusion of Perception

With love in our hearts, we find even the most mundane things sacred and beautiful. With love in our hearts, we become kinder and gentler, even to complete strangers.Without love in our hearts, we find the world meaningless and random. Without love in our hearts, we become strangers even to our family and friends.”

Love

Most people are completely absorbed in their emotions and have limited self-awareness. Being able to notice negative emotions is the first step to befriending them (awareness).

Awareness

It is difficult to quickly control a strong negative emotion; the more we try to control it the more it becomes agitated and resurfaces.Even if we control it, we may end up only suppressing it, only for it to reemerge later.Don’t get stuck on labels i.e anger as emotions change whereas words stay static. Watch them and see them slowly changing shape either revealing a deeper layer of emotion or disappearing on its own.

Emotions

Pure attention without judgment is not only the highest form of human intelligence, but also the expression of love.Observing your emotions means facing them, not avoiding them. This helps us see that negative feelings aren't a fixed reality but are temporary. Instead of fighting these emotions, just watch and accept them.

Observing

“The reason you regard me as pure and compassionate is that you are pure and compassionate yourself.”

Some ask if swallowing your pride is conceding defeat. I don't think so. Humility is a sign of inner strength and wisdom.When you swallow your pride, real communication becomes possible. We can finally hear each other and eventually solve our problems

Pride

If I had to summarise the entirety of most people's lives in a few words, it would be endless resistance to what is. As we resist, we are in constant motion trying to adjust, and yet we still remain unhappy about what is.If I had to summarise the entirety of an enlightened person's life in a few words, it would be complete acceptance of what is. As we accept what is,  our minds are relaxed and composed while the world changes rapidly around us.Whether you like it or not, change is inevitable. Embrace it and welcome it.

Resistance and Acceptance

Quietly observe the feeling without trying to change it, it will change on its own. As if watching the water flow by.Do this for just 3 minutes and watch.Watch the feelings as if they are external to you.☁️ You cannot control the feelings in your body, they are just passing through like the clouds in the sky ☁️Remember that you are neither your feelings nor the story your mind tells about you to make sense of them. You are the vast silence that knows of their emergence and their disappearance.

When You Are Feeling Low

Do not try to get rid of your thoughts—it won't work. Instead, witness the emergence of a thought. Witness the disappearance of a thought. The moment you become aware of it, the mind quiets and becomes clear.

Witness

Everything in this universe is evanescent. Because it is evanescent, it is also precious. Spend this precious moment wisely and beautifully.

Evanescent

The mind cannot have two thoughts at once. See if you can think two thoughts at exactly the same time.Well? Is it possible?

Is It Possible?

Part 1 on Rest & Mindfulness. Quotes and Teachings to guide you through life and to open your perspective.                          (Part 2 available on my profile)

The multimillion-copy bestselling book of spiritual wisdom about the importance of slowing down in our fast-paced world, by the Buddhist author of Love for Imperfect Things “Wise advice on how to reflect and slow down.” —Elle Is it the world that’s busy, or is it my mind? The world moves fast, but that doesn’t mean we have to. This bestselling mindfulness guide by Haemin Sunim (which means “spontaneous wisdom”), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life. By offering guideposts to well-being and happiness in eight areas—including relationships, love, and spirituality—Haemin Sunim emphasizes the importance of forging a deeper connection with others and being compassionate and forgiving toward ourselves. The more than twenty full-color illustrations that accompany his teachings serve as calming visual interludes, encouraging us to notice that when you slow down, the world slows down with you.

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Religion & Spirituality

mindfulness

Mindfulness

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

mentalhealth

Mental Health

books

Books

Zen Buddhist teacher, bestselling author & founder of the School for Broken Hearts in Seoul.Born in South Korea and educated at Berkeley, Harvard, and Princeton, he received formal monastic training from Haein monastery, South Korea and taught Asian religions at Hampshire College in Massachusetts for seven years.He is one of the most influential Zen monks in the world, with over 1.5 million followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. His first book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down has been translated into more than 35 different languages and sold over four million copies.His second book, Love for Imperfect Things was the number one bestseller of the year 2016 in South Korea and became available in multiple languages in 2019.

Haemin Sunim

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

To survive & thrive you’ll need;<ul><li>a business name</li><li>a dedicated work space </li><li>savings to get you through dry spells</li><li>tools, tech & equipment needed for your chosen field </li><li>a brand identity </li><li>a website </li><li>a business bank account </li><li>a business plan </li><li>business insurance </li><li>a pension </li><li>a contract to cover you should things go wrong </li><li>transport </li></ul>

The Practicalities

Freelancing is a personal journey, and this differs from person to person. To create the path that will work for you - first, you need to define your strengths and areas for improvement.You can do this simply by completing a few personality tests, which should give you a clear view of this.<ul><li><a href="https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test">The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)</a></li><li><a href="https://discpersonalitytesting.com/free-disc-test/">DISC</a></li><li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-four-tendencies-quiz/">The Four Tendancies </a></li></ul>

Strengths & Weaknesses

Introduce routineAim to start and end your day at a set time and schedule regular breaks.Keel movingInstead of spending your entire day glued to your laptop, stretch out those muscles, take your calls standing up, go for a walk, do a 10 minute yoga class - anything. Don’t get stuck in sedentary lifestyle.Claim your spaceYou are in fact lucky that you can run your business from home, but don’t fall into the trap of mixing work with leisure, or even worst; loneliness. Have a dedicated ‘work space’ and consider working from a coffee shop or co-working space to switch things up.

The Secret to Working from Home

Avoid distractionsOur attention can become scattered easily in the freelance life. Take actions to prevent this: hide the TV remote, stay off social media, turn off notifications and develop discipline to check your email twice a day.Stay focusedMultitasking is your enemy and significantly reduces your productivity. Rather than focusing your attention on doing one job well, hopping from one to another increases likelihood of mistakes.Manage your timePlan your day using your calendar into time-blocked structured tasks. Try the Pomodoro technique; 25 mins work, 5 mins break & repeat.

The Secret to Working from Home (continued)

Nothing prepares for the loneliness and isolation of going solo. You can build your own community and find connections through:<ul><li>Co-working spaces </li><li>Online communities </li><li>Networking groups </li></ul>

Everybody Needs Somebody

You don’t need to nor have the time to be your own accountant, assistant, coach etc. Its simple:as much time as possible doing the things that make you money +as little time as possible doing the things that don’t =the secret to time efficient management & freelance success

Outsourcing

You can’t expect clients to take you seriously, if you, yourself don’t. Start by setting yourself up as a business (because you are):<ul><li>Finances - business account, invoices, contracts </li><li>Have the correct technology, software & equipment </li><li>Create a logo</li><li>Build (or outsource someone to build) a professional website or portfolio </li><li>Set up business pages/accounts on your chosen social media platforms </li></ul>

Take Your Business Seriously

This is your business personality and it should be cohesive across everywhere your business is present. It incorporates;<ul><li>Your business name </li><li>Your colour scheme </li><li>Typography & Fonts </li><li>Writing style (tone)</li><li>Business cards</li><li>Domain name</li><li>Website / Portfolio</li><li>Email address & Email signature </li><li>Marketing materials </li><li>Social media posts & Profiles</li></ul>Make sure these are clear and consistent.

Your Brand

Freelance isn’t free and it is important you don’t undervalue yourself. Don’t panic if someone can’t afford your services, this just means that particular client isn’t a fit for your services.Charge a fair price that reflects your skills & experience Every freelancer is different and benchmark rates can vary drastically. Your rate will depend on your skills & strengths, industry, location, living costs & lifestyle.If you have little experience you may begin with mock projects, or offering a free trial - but don’t get stuck in this loop.

How Much Should You Charge?

Picture this. A company is looking to hire a freelancer, they do a quick online search and receive 3 responses of £600, £400 or £200. They’ll go with the cheapest.What they don’t know is their chosen freelancer is new to the game meaning the process takes twice as long and is delivered half as good. Suddenly this cheap job becomes expensive.Though, if you are determined to charge day rates work out your ideal annual salary, add expenses and divide by the amount of days you wish to work.

The Danger of Day Rates

As a freelancer you have the luxury of not being valued per hour or per day. You don’t need to exchange time for money.A better approach would be to charge a fixed fee based upon the service being delivered. 50% deposit upfront & 50% upon completion.Always provide a clear description of precisely what is and isn’t covered by your estimate. Reinforce this with a contract. It may take a little trial & error to find a value that’s just right, but trust your value, learn from experience and review your rates regularly.Its a game changer.

Adding Value

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has just opened for us.”

Say YES to clients who:<ul><li>You enjoy working with. </li><li>They provide clear expectations and a defined scope of work.</li><li>Don’t undervalue you and pay your invoices in a timely manner.</li><li>The work compliments your niche or direction you wish to go in.</li><li>They’re mission & goals are in line with your values.</li></ul>Of course, if you have bills to pay and little work then you may not be able to say no but providing that you’re financially stable these tips can make your work way more enjoyable and stress free.

Learn to Say No

Aim to have between 3-6 months of living wages saved for adversities and dry spells.You should allow at least a month to secure your first job, a month to complete it, and another month to get paid.

Money Matters

You must register yourself as self employed with the government, so this also means you become responsible for paying your own tax.There’s a catch! Once your annual tax bill is over £1,000 you are required to make payments on account. This involves paying half of the following year’s estimated tax upfront.Payments on account are due twice a year, so that first tax bill can come as a nasty surprise - if you’re not prepared for it.

Not All The Money You Get Paid Is Yours

If you're just starting out and you expect your business to have high set-up charges, you might want to consider registering for VAT. This enables you to claim back at least some of the tax on the cost of your home office, equipment, training and marketing. An accountant can help you decide.

“Find a job you enjoy doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Like any career, your freelance journey will contain good days but also bad days.On a good day you’ll feel positive, confident, motivated, organised, driven, determined and even untouchable.Then there are the bad days when you feel like you’re a failure, and nothing you can do or say will change the way you feel.It’s okay not to be okay.<ul><li>Don’t suffer alone</li><li>Don’t compare yourself to others </li><li>Be kind to yourself </li></ul>As a golden rule, if you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself.

We All Have Bad Days

The things we repeatedly tell ourselves tend to become our reality, so become aware of the language you're using. If you're in the habit of berating yourself when you make a mistake, and you're unforgiving when something doesn't go to plan, make a choice to be kind to you.<ul><li>Don’t suffer alone</li><li>Don’t compare yourself to others </li><li>Be kind to yourself</li></ul>As a golden rule, if you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.Meditate Use apps such as Calm, Headspace, Waking Up.ExerciseGo for a run, walk your dog, dance around your kitchen, yoga, pilates.Listen to Music Create a positive, uplifting playlist you can use to elevate your mood.Get Out in NatureSpending time outdoors has a positive affect on our mood, along with an array of other therapeutic benefits.Sleep WellStructure your routine to work for you. If you’re a late owl, start your day later so long as you can get the adequate amount of sleep.

Keep Your Head Up

Tried & Tested Tips -  to help you succeed in your freelance venture.

Survival Skills for Freelancers is your secret weapon to help you grow in confidence and achieve YOUR definition of success! Get more than 20 years of real-life experience - plus advice from over 100 freelancers - in 200 unputdownable pages. Whether you're new to freelance life, thinking of taking the leap or an experienced freelancer, you'll learn to: ★ Set better boundaries and create a work-life balance that works for you ★ Value your worth and know how - and what - to charge ★ Stay focused and productive when working from home ★ Tackle the isolation that comes with self-employment ★ Grow your network and find new clients ★ Trust your instinct - and say no to the wrong work ★ Deal with comparisonitis and negative self-talk ★ Grasp opportunities that'll build your confidence ★ Ditch self-doubt and imposter syndromeIf you've been wondering, "Should I start my own business?" this is the book for you. Get started, tackle the challenges of freelance life and show self-employment who's boss! The bestselling guide to freelance life has helped thousands of freelancers in more than 26 countries to get more enjoyment from self-employment. Join them, and give YOUR freelance business the edge. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING"I've been freelancing for 15+ years and I wish I'd read this book on day one. Every page is packed with practical advice and hard-won wisdom. Get it!" Tom Albrighton, Author, The Freelance Introvert "The value in this book is amazing - I'm so happy with my purchase!" Joanne Barker, Coach and Mentor "I read this book in one sitting - I simply couldn't put it down! As someone who's dabbling in freelancing this book is a godsend." Chomparani Ali, Content Strategist "Before you set up your website, think about your product and audience and offering, spend your first few pounds on this book. It'll make every subsequent pound and hour better spent." Matthew Knight, Founder, Leapers "A warm, practical and empathetic guide to the challenges of being your own boss. I could have done with this before embarking on a decade as a self-employed reporter and presenter!" Ed Draper, Sky Sports Broadcaster "It's so nice to read a book written by a proper copywriter who knows how to get words from the page to the mind with the least resistance. It's just so goddamn intuitive to read." Matt Phil Carver, Freelance Copywriter "A brilliantly relatable and comprehensive guide that holds your hand with compassion and humour through the rocky yet undeniably exciting world of self-employment." Louise Goss, Founder, Homeworker Magazine

productivity

Productivity

remotework

Remote Work

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Sarah Townsend

Survival Skills for Freelancers

Self-discipline means living your life the hard way: resisting temptations and instant gratification, in order to receive bigger and better rewards in the future.True freedom is achieved by mastering one’s desires and fears, thereby achieving inner peace.

WEEK 1, Day 1: On Living the Hard Way

Life's easy when you live it the hard way...and hard if you try to live it the easy way.

Your choices are made in a moment, but there consequences will last a lifetime.Each time you're faced with a decision between exerting self-discipline and taking it easy, remind yourself that the choice you're making today doesn't affect the present moment alone. A momentary decision can (and often will) reverberate for many years or even decades into the future.

Day 2: On Your Choices

Humans have the capacity to act against their urges in exchange for a better future. Caving in to your temptations whenever you feel them emerge is like relinquishing your humanity, in a way. As an intelligent human being, you have an ability — and I daresay an obligation to make decisions that are based on rational thinking, not on your instincts alone.Your most primal instincts may provide temporary comfort, but seldom are good for the long term, except when there is a direct threat to your survival.

Day 3: On Being a Human

Your chances of sleeping in are lower if you set three different alarms and place them away from your bed.You'll be less likely to waste time at work when you block the most distracting websites instead of relying on your willpower to stop you before loading those funny cat pictures.Prepare yourself for difficult situations by putting up roadblocks ahead of time, when your resolve isn't being tested. Your self-control system will do some of the heavy lifting for you, leaving your reserves of self-discipline to be used for the unplanned situations, when they arise.

Day 4: On Creating Systems

While external circumstances can affect you, in the end, whether or not they control your life depends on you. When you achieve self-mastery, no one (and no thing) will have the power to enslave you.The next time you blame an external factor for your lack of self-discipline, think again. Was it the person eating chocolate next to you who controlled what you put in your mouth, or was it you?

Day 5: On Enslavement to Self

People whom you consider to be extremely successful aren't that different from you. Many of them in the past had less willpower than you exhibit now, and many of them might be more disciplined than you in one aspect, but less disciplined in another.Becoming a self-disciplined person is within everybody's grasp. You don't need to have won the genetic lottery or get introduced to a country club to develop self-control— and neither you nor anybody else will ever achieve permanent, flawless self-mastery over every aspect of life. Accept that and accept yourself, as well.

Day 6: On Superhumans

Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.

No matter what they say about money not bringing happiness, at least several months' worth of income kept as savings in the bank means the difference between a relatively stress-free life and the soul-crushing fear when you can't cover an urgent, important expense.In addition to improving your financial health, it will dramatically reduce stress and strengthen your ability to delay gratification and make more optimal choices favouring your future.

Day 6: On Poverty and Self-Discipline

In many cases, we work hard to obtain something because we are convinced that we would be miserable without it. The problem is that we can live perfectly well without some of these things, but we won't know which they are if we don't try living without them.

WEEK 2 Day 8: On Unessential Necessities

The person you'll become in ten years will most likely not be the same person you are today, but it will still be you — and it's in your hands whether, ten years from now you'll look back and feel glad you extended self-empathy well into the future, or find that you decided to be selfish and steal from your future for some fleeting pleasure today.

Day 9: On Your Future Self

Whenever you get discouraged, or feel tired by how far you still have to go to accomplish your goals, remind yourself that everybody who has built self-discipline had to go through the same process - starting with little changes which then turned into habits, which then led to big lifestyle changes and identity shifts, and eventually, into successes.

Day 10: On Building Your Story

Self-discipline without talent can often achieve astounding results, whereas talent without self-discipline inevitably dooms itself to failure.Next time, before you complain that you don't have a talent for something or weren't "born this way," remind yourself that self-discipline, in many situations, can more than make up for a lack of inborn traits.

Day 11: On Self-Discipline and Talent

The key to developing everyday calmness is focusing your attention on the present moment or on a single activity that you're performing. Engaging in a high-focus sport like yoga, rock climbing, or boxing can be a good way to tap into this state — and so can be something as mundane as gardening, dancing, or knitting.Cultivating calmness will lead to even more self-control, and that will lead to an ever-heightening ability to control your state of mind and prevent emotions from clouding your judgment.

Day 12: On Calmness of Mind

Each time you make a choice that favors instant gratification, your behavior signals that you have weak motivators. If your "reasons why" were strong enough, you'd be less likely to go with what you want now.To achieve your long-term goals, make sure that the satisfaction you get from what you want most is always much stronger than the satisfaction you can get from what you want now.

Day 13: On What You Want Now and What You Want Most

Analyse your goals and how you approach them.Replace short-term-oriented behaviors with those that show that you're in it for the long haul. Self-discipline isn't limited to rejecting a cake or sticking to an exercise habit; you also need self-discipline to maintain a long-term focus in all of your endeavours.

Day 14: On Long Term Focus

Week 1 & 2: a simple guide to reframe your view on self-discipline

How to Build Self-Discipline and Become More Successful (365 Powerful Thoughts From the World's Brightest Minds)Its lack makes you unable to achieve your goals. Without it, you'll struggle to lose weight, become fit, wake up early, work productively and save money. Not embracing it in your everyday life means that you'll never realize your full potential. Ignoring it inevitably leads to regret and feeling sad about how more successful and incredible your life could have been if you had only decided to develop it.What is this powerful thing? Self-discipline.And if there's one thing that self-discipline is not, it's instant. It takes months (if not years) to develop powerful self-control that will protect you from impulsive decisions, laziness, procrastination, and inaction.You need to exhibit self-discipline day in, day out, 365 days in a year. What if you had a companion who would remind you daily to stay disciplined and persevere, even when the going gets tough?365 Days With Self-Discipline is a practical, accessible guidebook for embracing more self-discipline in your everyday life. You'll learn how to do this through 365 brief, daily insights from the world's brightest minds, expanded and commented upon by bestselling personal development author Martin Meadows.This isn't just an inspirational book; most of the entries deliver practical suggestions that you can immediately apply in your life to become more disciplined. Here are just some of the things you'll learn: - why living your life the hard way makes it easy (and other suggestions from a successful entrepreneur and longevity scientist);- how to overcome your initial resistance and procrastination based on the remark made by one of the most renowned Renaissance men;- why, according to an influential neurosurgeon, it's key to see problems as hurdles instead of obstacles (and how to do that);- how to embrace an experimental mindset to overcome a fear of failure (a technique recommended by a successful entrepreneur and musician);- how to quit in a smart way, according to a world-famous marketing expert;- how to improve your productivity at work by implementing the advice from one of the most successful detective fiction writers;- how a trick used by screenwriters can help you figure out the first step needed to get closer to your goals;- how to maintain self-discipline in the long-term by paying attention to what a bestselling non-fiction author calls necessary to survive and thrive;- how your most common thoughts can sabotage your efforts (and other valuable insights from one of the most respected Roman Stoics); and- how to overcome temporary discouragement and look at your problems from the proper perspective, as suggested by a well-known public speaker and author.If you're ready to finally change your life and embrace self-discipline -- not only for the next 365 days, but for the rest of your life -- buy this book now and together, let's work on your success!

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

Survival Skills for Freelancers

365 Days With Self-Discipline

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