04/02/2025
Amazing book ♥️
Ever had a book make you feel simultaneously seen and called out? That's what happened when I picked up Haemin Sunim's "The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down." Here I was, reading about mindfulness while simultaneously checking my phone, drinking my third coffee, and making a mental to-do list. The irony was not lost on me.
1. A Monk Walks Into Modern Life...
Sunim's writing is like having a wise Buddhist monk gently tap you on the shoulder while you're doom-scrolling Instagram at 2 AM. He doesn't judge – he just raises an eyebrow and asks if maybe, just maybe, there's another way to live. It's like getting spiritual advice from that one friend who has their life together, but isn't annoying about it.
2. The Art of Doing Nothing (Without Feeling Guilty)
Turns out, staring into space isn't being lazy – it's being mindful! Sunim explains how our obsession with productivity is like trying to squeeze an orange that's already been juiced. His insights about slowing down made me realize I've been treating life like a race where the prize is burnout. Spoiler alert: There's no medal for most emails answered at 3 AM.
3. Relationships: The Unrushed Edition
Remember when we used to have conversations without checking our phones every two minutes? Sunim does, and he makes you nostalgic for human connection that doesn't involve emoji reactions. His take on relationships is like watching a meditation app and a romance novel have a mindful baby – surprisingly practical and unexpectedly moving.
4. Emotional Intelligence for the Chronically Busy
Instead of telling you to suppress your feelings or "just be positive," Sunim suggests something radical: actually feeling your feelings. Without judgment. Without posting about them on social media. Just sitting with them like they're awkward dinner guests who showed up unannounced. Revolutionary, right?
5. The Gentle Art of Not Losing Your Mind
What's refreshing about Sunim's approach is that he doesn't expect you to move to a monastery or start growing your own organic kale. His wisdom fits into real life – yes, even yours, with the deadline tomorrow and the pile of laundry that's becoming sentient. He shows how peace isn't something you find; it's something you notice when you stop looking for it on your phone.
This book is like a deep breath in literary form. It's for anyone who's ever felt like they're playing life on 2x speed while everyone else has the manual. Sunim's words are a reminder that maybe, just maybe, we don't need to fill every moment with something. Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is nothing at all. And if that makes you anxious, well... there's a chapter for that too.
Read it slowly. Preferably not while also watching Netflix, answering emails, and planning your five-year career strategy. Trust me, the irony gets exhausting.
BOOK: https://amzn.to/3Er4lJi