Haemin Sunim > Quotes

“Some say they don’t really know what they are looking for in life. This might be because, instead of getting in touch with how they feel, they have led their lives according to other people’s expectations. Live your life not to satisfy others, but to fulfill what your heart desires.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“We know the world only through the window of our mind. When our mind is noisy, the world is as well. And when our mind is peaceful, the world is, too. Knowing our minds is just as important as trying to change the world.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“When people who don't know you well admire you, they are seeing their projected illusion, not your real self.
In contrast, when people who know you well respect you, it is probably because you deserve it.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World

“Life isn’t a hundred-meter race against your friends, but a lifelong marathon against yourself.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“The more grateful we feel, the happier we become. This is because gratitude helps us realize we are all connected. Nobody feels like an island when feeling grateful. Gratitude awakens us to the truth of our interdependent nature.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“Do not fight your negative emotions. Observe and befriend them.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“Stop shouting, “What if?” and just take a leap of faith.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“Do not think of yourself as a crescent moon, waiting for someone else to fill in the missing part of you. When you stand alone like a full moon, already complete in yourself, you will meet another person who is whole and complete just like you, and between you two, a healthy relationship can grow. Do not try and fit yourselves to each other to make one whole moon. Instead, be more like two full moons. You’ll respect each other’s individuality and interests while creating a relationship in which each of you shines brightly on the other”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“What makes music beautiful is the distance between one note and another. What makes speech eloquent is the appropriate pause between words. From time to time we should take a breath and notice the silence between sounds.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“When we become kinder to ourselves, we can become kinder to the world.”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“I wish you could see my true nature. Beyond my body and labels, there is a river of tenderness and vulnerability.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“Because I have experienced pain, I am able to embrace the pain of others. Because I have made mistakes, I am able to forgive others their mistakes. May my suffering become the seed of compassion”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“Life teaches us through our mistakes.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World

“Being a critic is easy.
But if the critic tries to run the operation, he soon understands that nothing is as easy as his criticisms.
Criticism without a solution is merely an inflation of the critic's ego.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World

“Who is an unfortunate person? One who looks at other people and sees only their flaws.”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“The person leading you toward spiritual awakening is not the one who praises you or is nice to you. Your spirituality deepens because of those who insult you and give you a hard time. They are your spiritual teachers in disguise. How”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“Love is trusting someone, being there for someone, being ready to listen with a tender heart for no other reason than love. At times we are not sure whether what we feel is love. At that moment, ask yourself this: “Am I happy to give more even after having given a lot?” If the answer is yes, and there is no regret afterward, then that is probably love.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“There is a saying in Korea: “Lengthy deliberation often leads to a terrible decision.” If you think and worry too much before doing something, “your boat goes to the mountain instead of the ocean.”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: A Buddhist monk's guide to mindfulness and resisting the urge to strive for perfectionism

“she never thought about loving herself because love for her always meant giving it to someone else.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“What our mind focuses on becomes our world. Seen this way, the mind does not seem so insignificant in relation to the world out there, does it?”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: Bring calm to your life with the ultimate mindfulness guide from a Buddhist monk

“It’s okay that you have flaws. How could our lives be as clean and white as a blank sheet of paper? Life naturally takes its toll on our bodies, our minds, and our relationships. rather than choosing a life in which you do nothing for fear of making a mistake, choose a life that improves through failure and pain. And shout out loud to your struggling self, I love you so much”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“The reason we think we are better than others is that inferiority still lurks within us. A sense of superiority exists because of a sense of inferiority.”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“it is hard to find one’s calling because many mistakenly believe they need to look only within to discover their passion. Although it is true that we have innate interests and talents, we often do not know what they are until we have real-life experiences. Having a wide range of experiences can help you uncover your inner passion. Try various part-time jobs and internships, or volunteer. Don’t be afraid of rolling up your sleeves and diving in. While immersed in a job’s reality, you will discover whether it’s a good fit. Work experiences may unlock the door to a career opportunity you hadn’t considered. Third,”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“Spirituality must be practiced not just in solitude but also among people. Open up to people around you and feel connected. This is the true challenge of spiritual practice.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“There are many more ordinary hours in life than extraordinary ones. We wait in line at the supermarket. We spend hours commuting to work. We water our plants and feed our pets. Happiness means finding a moment of joy in those ordinary hours.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World

“When you care for yourself first, the world will also find you worthy of care.”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“If you want to predict how a politician will act after winning an election, look at how he currently lives and how he has behaved in the past. A person does not live the way he says he would. He lives the way he has been living.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“Thinking too much can make it difficult to act. If you just do it, then it is done. But if you give in to your thinking, your mind will get in the way, telling you “you can’t,” “you shouldn’t,” “you don’t want to.” In that case, get up early the next morning and just do the thing you’ve been putting off. If you give yourself time to start thinking about it, inaction will take hold again.”
― Haemin Sunim, Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

“The most dangerous people are those who have passion but lack wisdom. If”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“When I look deeply within myself, I realize what it is that I really want from others: attentive ears that listen to what I am saying, kind words that acknowledge my existence and worth, gentle eyes that accept my flaws and insecurities.

I resolve to be that person for those around me.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World