We should prioritise happiness and connection with others over insisting on being right.Trying to convince others of our views often stems from ego rather than genuine concern for shared well-being.

Being right isn’t important; Being happy together is.

When you are making a decision, try to assess how many people it will benefit. If it satisfies only your ego and unnecessarily hurts many, then it is the wrong decision.

The Ego

Be the kind of person who can put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand something not just from your own perspective but from theirs as well.

A Different Perspective

If I want to convince someone, I first listen attentively and try to understand them.Even if I am right, they won't be convinced until they feel heard and respected.

Listen

When you hear something that makes your blood boil, don't shoot off a text or an e-mail right away. A wise person sleeps on it. An instant emotional reaction often leads to a regrettable outcome.

The Impact of Your Reaction

“If you get angry while debating right and wrong, your enraged voice has just conceded defeat.”

Choose happiness, not success, as your life's goal.If you become successful but aren't happy, then what is the point?

Happiness or Success?

The art of maintaining a good relationship can be compared to sitting by a fireplace.If we sit too close for too long, we become hot and possibly burned.If we sit too far away, we cannot feel the warmth.

The Fireplace

If someone says, "Let's see whose religion is right," first listen respectfully, then say, "Thank you for introducing me to aspects of your religion that I didn't know much about. I appreciate that." If I engage in an argument in order to win, the only result would be that someone would feel hurt.Even if I did win, what good would result? The other person would only feel defeated.

What Good is Winning?

When you open up about your hurt and sorrow, I feel grateful that you've turned to me for support.It's as though I am meeting you in the most sacred chamber of your heart.Speak from your heart, which is tender, simple and true. People will understand you and like you.

The Heart

Do you know why that conversation is so boring? Because we are trapped in politeness, unable to speak from the heart.Any conversation can become interesting and lively as soon as we start speaking with real honesty.

Trapped

When you are disappointed, don't wait too long to say so. When you bottle up your feelings, the river of emotion swells, making it difficult to cross over and speak calmly.No matter how hurt you are, you don't need to have the last word.

The River of Emotions

He complains about her behind her back. She, without knowing anything, approaches him and says the kindest words.The best revenge is love.

Choose Love

The person who betrayed you and left, the person who stole from you and disappeared, the person who stabbed you in the back and acted as if nothing happened-forgive them. Not for them, but for your own sake—-truly, completely, for yourself. Not because they deserve your forgiveness; not because they are only human. Forgive them. So you can be free. So you can be happy. So you can go on living your life.

The Journey of Forgiveness

In your relationships, assume you will need to give more than you receive. We remember so well what we have done for others but easily forget what others have done for us. Even if you feel you are owed a little, it's likely you have received close to what you have given.

Give More Than You Take

“Humans are like mirrors: We reflect each other.”

When a wise person wants something from others. she first does what she desires from them exemplifying rather than asking for it.If you want a friend to remember your birthday remember hers first. If you want your husband to give you a massage, give hum a massage first Don't just wait for what you want to happen. Act first

Remember my Birthday

The flaw that you immediately notice in someone you meet is probably a flaw of yours, too. If you didn't have it you wouldn't have noticed it so quickly.When you think your spouse won't change and you worry how you will live the rest of your life together, ask yourself: Am I perfect in my spouse's eyes?

Are You Perfect?

When faced with a problem in a relationship it will never be solved if you begin by asking:"Why can't he understand me?" "Why won't he just do what I say?”It is because this approach begins with a demand Instead, begin by asking:"What is it that makes him unhappy and feel misunderstood”“What past experience is making him respond in this way?"When you begin with the intention of understanding him, your heart is released from the prison of your views and opens up to feel his part.

To Understand, Really

We live among countless relations: family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, etc. Life is good when these relationships are good. Being happy by yourself doesn't last long

You Can’t Be Happy Alone (Forever)

Part 2 on Passion & Relationships. Quotes and Teachings to guide you through life and open your perspective.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

books

Books

The Things You Can See Only
When You Slow Down - Haemin Sunim

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.

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

mentalhealth

Mental Health

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

While the idea of a fresh start is exciting, it also comes with the unspoken pressure to magically transform overnight.Growth doesn’t need a January 1st start date. It can start whenever you’re ready. It’s not about a date on the calendar, it’s about intentional choices, a clear mindset, and maybe even remembering where you left that planner from last year.

As The New Year Begins

Before you plan your next big thing, take a moment to look back. The Wheel of Life helps you assess key areas of your life; health, relationships, career, personal growth, and more. It gives you a snapshot of where you are and where your energy could make the biggest difference.<ul><li>Evaluate Each Area: Score each category from 1 to 10. Pro tip: Avoid a neutral “7.” Be honest with yourself, either it’s working or it’s not.</li><li>Identify Priorities: Right now, what matters to you the most? Are you content with where you are? </li><li>Find Your Focus: Low scores + high importance = your 2025 focus.</li></ul>

Reflect

THE WHEEL OF LIFE

What was 2024 really about for me?When was I my favourite version of myself?What were my biggest achievements this year?What were my biggest challenges this year?What habits helped me thrive, and which ones held me back?What drained my energy in 2024?What’s one thing I kept doing that left me stuck?How did my life evolve in 2024?What am I most grateful for from 2024?

Dive Deeper with Journalling

Pick one overarching goal for the year that that lights a fire in you.Whatever your ONE Big Thing is, it should align with your values and ignite excitement. This is the goal that deserves the lion’s share of your time, energy, and focus.

Choose Your ONE Big Thing

Break your life into the categories used in The Wheel of Life and set 2–3 goals for each using the SMART framework: <ul><li>Specific: What exactly are you aiming for?</li><li>Measurable: How will you track progress?</li><li>Achievable: Be realistic about time and resources.</li><li>Relevant: Does it align with your priorities and values?</li><li>Time-bound: Set deadlines, but make them achievable.</li></ul>

SMART Goals

Choose a Theme: What do you want this year to represent? Your theme could be broad, like Growth or Balance, or specific, like Courage to Start or Enjoying the little things. It should resonate deeply with where you are now and where you want to go.Pick a Guiding Quote:Find a quote that motivates you and ties back to your theme. This can be a famous saying, a lyric, or even something you’ve written yourself. Choose something that feels authentic and empowering.

Guiding ‘Theme’ and ‘Mantra’

Aim to get just 1% better every day.Want to exercise more? Start with 10 minutes movement, even if it's just a TikTok dance challenge.Want to write more? Commit to 100 words a day. (It doesn't have to be Shakespeare; it just has to exist.)Need more water? Drink one glass first thing in the morning or replace one coffee a day with herbal tea.

Start with Small Daily Wins

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

The morning sets the tone for the day but it doesn't need to be a 'day in the life' reel.<ul><li>Dedicate time to growth: Read, journal, or plan for 30 minutes.</li><li>Move your body or your mind: Stretch, meditate, or dance around your kitchen.</li></ul>You could start your day by reviewing your task list for 10 minutes, spend 15 minutes reading a book on creativity or productivity, and then dedicate 20 minutes to a quick bodyweight workout or yoga flow.

Morning Routine

Evenings are for reflection and resetting, not doom-scrolling. Use this time to wind down and set the stage for a productive morning.<ul><li>Reflect and learn: Think about your wins (even if it's just "didn't hit snooze"), lessons, and challenges from the day.</li><li>Plan ahead: Outline your priorities for tomorrow to wake up with clarity and direction.</li><li>End with gratitude: Celebrating even small joys makes a big difference, a simple yet powerful way to end the day on a positive note..</li></ul>

Evening Routine

Centre Your Focus: Start with your One Big Thing. The goal that will define your year. Place it at the heart of your vision board, surrounded by your guiding quote. Think of this as your anchor.Personal Growth: Include content that inspires your journey, quotes, visuals of goals you're striving for (like a diploma, or "Booked & Busy" calendar), and images of resources like books, courses, or podcasts.Make It Personal: Use images that mirror your actual life. Add logos of dream clients, Focus on balancing aspiration with achievability, creating a board serves as a roadmap for your journey.

Vision Board

For a Physical Board:Pinterest is your BFF here. Search for quotes, images, and colour palettes that speak to your vibe.Use affordable services like Free Prints to get them delivered to your door.You'll need a board (A1 for drama, A4 for minimalists), adhesive glue, pins, or tape. Your local Hobbycraft or The Range is a treasure trove for this.For a Digital Board:Canva is the holy grail for sleek, modern boards.Prefer the tactile satisfaction of both? Print your Canva board so you can pin it up and keep it digital too.

Do it Your Way

Start small: Choose one drawer, one shelf, or one corner at a time. Breaking it into manageable tasks keeps it stress-free.Sort it out: Use the four-pile system: Keep, Donate, Recycle, and Bin. Be ruthless. If it hasn't served you in the last year, it's time to say, "Thank you, next."Focus on key spaces: Clear away the mountain of half-read books and rogue phone chargers from your bedside table, tidy your workspace, and kitchen counter. These areas affect your daily flow more than you realise.

Declutter Your Home

Ditch unused apps: Scroll through your phone and delete anything you haven't used in months. Sort your files: Organise the rest into folders like 'Invoices 2025' or 'Content Ideas' so you can actually find what you need.Tidy your inbox: Unsubscribe from things you never read, trash anything outdated and set up folders for important emails (because your inbox deserves boundaries too).Clean up your photos: Delete duplicates, blurry shots, and screenshots of things you don't even remember saving. Then back up the keepers to cloud storage. (or Google Drive if your iCloud is full).

Digital Declutter

Prioritise what matters: Revisit your goals and focus on what truly aligns with your vision for the year. Drop anything that feels forced out of sync with your values.Let go of perfectionism: Progress beats perfection every single time. Mistakes? They're just plot twists on your success journey. Rewrite your narrative: Politely but firmly kick your inner critic to the curb. They don't pay rent anyway. Replace them with affirmations that hype you up.Brain Dump It Out: Grab a digital planner (or a notebook, old-school style) and brain-dump everything into; urgent, important and future Ideas.

Declutter Your Mind

Success doesn't mean doing everything at once; it's about doing the right things, one intentional step at a time.So, if you're feeling overwhelmed, give yourself some grace. Take the first few weeks of the New Year to reflect, experiment, and adjust. Growth isn't linear, and that's the beauty of it.

Progress over Perfection

"Success is sequential, not simultaneous."

A step by step plan to set yourself up for success.

productivity

Productivity

habits

Habits

writing

Reading & Writing

Your (realistic) Blueprint for an Intentional 2025

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

remotework

Remote Work

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

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!

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