Haemin Sunim - The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World

Many people started sending me messages not only to ask advice, but also to express appreciation and gratitude. I still remember a young mother who had lost her husband in a car accident and sent me a heartfelt thank-you note for saving her from committing suicide, saying that she never thought about loving herself because love for her always meant giving it to someone else. A busy executive in his forties told me how wonderful it was to start his day with my messages; to him, they provided a moment of calm reflection and rest from his hectic schedule. A young recent graduate, discouraged after not finding a job, read my supportive words and gave the search another try, finally landing a job. When I read his news, I was overjoyed for a couple of days, as if I had gotten my first job. It made me profoundly happy that my simple messages could inspire people and help them in their times of difficulty.

As my messages came to be shared by more and more people, and my number of Twitter and Facebook followers increased, people started calling me a healing mentor, which ended up becoming my nickname in Korea. I was then contacted by publishing companies offering to turn my writings into a book. In 2012, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down came out in South Korea; to everyones amazement, it stayed number one on the best-seller list for forty-one weeks, and sold more than three million copies in three years. Translations followedinto Chinese, Japanese, Thai, French, and now English. I am humbled by the attention the book has received and hope it can be of help to readers of English, just as it has been to readers in Asia and France. The book has eight chapters, addressing various aspects of lifefrom love and friendships to work and aspirationsand how mindfulness can help us in each.

For instance, I address how to deal mindfully with negative emotions like anger and jealousy as well as lifes disappointments, digging deep into my past to share my experience of failure as a new college professor. If you are overly self-conscious, the three liberating insights from chapter 6 can be quite helpful. If you are anxious about your future or unsure about your true calling, I offer advice on how to increase self-awareness and how to discover it.

Some people read the whole book quickly as they would a novel. However, I would recommend that you take your time and reflect on what you have just read before moving on to a new chapter. You will enjoy it more and find deeper meanings as you go through each chapter slowly. You should feel free to make notes in the margins or highlight parts that have resonated with you. I hope that spending time with this book becomes an occasion to reflect on and meditate in your busy life. I hope it inspires you to connect with the kinder and wiser side of yourself.

May you be happy, healthy, peaceful, and always protected from harm.

CHAPTER ONE

Rest