Time is one thing that we all have equally. Sometimes, it can feel like a train speeding past a station or a bus stuck in a traffic line. Seemingly fast or slow, this experience differs from person to person as it depends on how individuals perceive it. 

In chasing our goals, we often forget to just be—relish the present. 

Serving as gentle reminders, excerpts from the book can reframe your perspective on life. This is your invitation to pause to reflect on what truly matters.

A Book that Needs Taking Time

The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down is not meant for hurried flipping or casual skimming. Each page offers a message of the author’s actual observations that can prompt awakening to be more compassionate and appreciative of the moments that often go unnoticed. Consuming it subtly is a wise approach to internalizing the transforming truths it has. 

The Author

Haemin Sunim is a Zen Buddhist teacher and writer born in South Korea. He flew to the United States to study film but was drawn to a life of Spirituality. His scholarly depth is rooted in his rich academic background at UC Berkeley, Harvard, and Princeton, combined with formal monastic training in Korea. At the same time, he also taught Buddhism at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Having received the title “healing mentor,” Haemin’s ability to connect with genuine empathy has made him one of his generation’s most influential Zen monks.

Writing The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down springs from people reaching out to him for advice on social media. The outpouring of gratitude he receives from posting personal insights on mindfulness led him to meaningful interactions with grieving parents, overwhelmed professionals, and young individuals facing life’s uncertainties. When the book was published in 2012, it became a bestseller, selling over three million copies in the following years.

All of the Chapters

The book is divided into eight chapters—Rest, Mindfulness, Passion, Relationships, Love, Life, Future, and Spirituality. Each chapter flows naturally from one to the next, beginning with an essay and then a series of short messages for the specific area. It also has illustrations by Youngcheol Lee, serving as a visual reprieve as you move along the pages. 

Beginning with Chapter 1: Rest, it sets the foundation for deeper reflection for slowing down. Mindfulness teaches how to bring full awareness daily, while Passion urges finding purpose while achieving dreams. Relationships explore the importance of understanding in creating meaningful connections, and Love focuses on the essential practice of self-love. The chapters on Life and the Future offer guidance on accepting life’s uncertainties gracefully, while Spirituality is about finding meaning.

Lines You Can See When You Slow Down

A pause for thoughts and a reflection for deeper truths, here are some snippets from the book that can shift your mindset on how you usually see yourself and the world around you. 

“People react differently to the same situation.”

You are on your way to work, and someone spills coffee on your shirt; how do you respond? Instead of jumping to anger or frustration, take a pause and ask yourself: how can I handle this situation better? Acknowledging that someone else may react differently—perhaps with more patience or understanding—can open your mind to the possibility of choosing a different, more calm response.

“You have the power to recreate the role you want.”

Everyone has societal expectations weighing on their shoulders. Those can be pressure from family members, peers, or even self-imposed standards that boxes the life ahead. Remember that you can always release the notions that no longer serve your purpose. You have the capability to reinvent and build your future the way you want it to be. 

“If you look for love, in pursuit of what it can give you, it will hide itself.”

Often, we view love as an answer to our needs. Love, in its truest form, isn’t something we chase after for personal gain. Instead, it thrives when we give without expectation. This means changing the focus from “What can I get from this love?“ to “How can I give and appreciate love for what it is?“ makes it appear more abundantly.

“No one is inherently good or bad.”

Human nature is too complex to be reduced to mere labels of “good“ or “bad.“ Recognizing that everyone has their own struggles, fears, and stories that shape their actions can promote greater empathy. For instance, someone may react harshly not because they are terrible but because of unresolved pain. By extending understanding instead of condemnation, we uncover an experience shared by all. 

“There are many more ordinary hours in life than extraordinary ones.”

When do you feel the most alive? We miss out on the beauty of breathing, feeling, and connecting because we base our happiness on the grand events we await. However, life is often lived in the in-between. It is preparing breakfast, walking to work, and the small talk that appears insignificant that makes us whole. By valuing these “ordinary“ times, we can appreciate the simple pleasures that make life fulfilling. 

How to be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World

The world will never stop from demanding our attention. It will push us to keep moving and tirelessly run after our ambitions. Resting calm while keeping up with this relentless pace can be challenging. But mindfulness is not about withdrawing from the world but fully engaging with it while giving way to the present moment. 

When we let ourselves experience life by taking it slow, inner peace will always remain. Just remember, living starts when we stop chasing and start being.