More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
May 30 - May 30, 2020
To achieve freedom and happiness, you need to grasp this basic truth: some things in life are under your control, and others are not.
Whenever you plan on doing something, mentally rehearse what can happen. If you are headed to a public swimming pool, remember people will splash, push, and yell. They may even steal your things. Or something else may happen to spoil your day.
Don’t wish for things to happen the way you would like them to. Rather, welcome whatever happens. This is the path to peace, freedom, and happiness.
Remember that for every challenge you face, you have the resources within you to cope with that challenge.
Think of all the things you have as things entrusted to you and you are free to enjoy them for a while. Think of it as a hotel stay. It is checkout time. Leave the hotel behind.
To make progress, you should be able to accept being seen as ignorant or naïve.
Don’t strive to be thought of as wise. Even if you succeed in impressing others as a wise person, don’t believe it yourself.
You cannot be in agreement with nature and, at the same time, care about thin...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
Don’t be fooled by outward appearances. People with more prestige, power, or some other distinction are not necessarily happier because of what they have.
When someone provokes you, if you respond with anger or some other negative emotion, your mind is tricked into believing you are being harmed. So it is essential not to respond to impressions impulsively. Take some time before reacting. You will see you are in better control.
You may say that unless you get a better job, you won’t be able to help your friends. Whoever told you this is your responsibility? Who expects you to give others what you don’t have?
No one can hurt you unless you let them. You are hurt the moment you believe you are.
In conversations, avoid talking at length about yourself. Just because you enjoy your exploits does not mean that others will. They will derive pleasure from hearing about them, not about you.
