Resolution 2022 — Read a book every month, May 2022.

Technically this is cheating because it only has 48 pages. The Chinese book last month was a bit too much and I decided to go easy on myself this month.

I misplaced this booked because it is so small and it so happened that I was at the temple on Vesak Day and I grabbed another copy.

You Create Heaven and Hell Here

“If you want to live in this world peacefully and happily, allow others to live peacefully and happily too, so that you can this world worthy of life.” Unless and until you adjust yourself to live accordingly to these noble principles, you cannot expect happiness and peace in this world. You cannot expect to get happiness and peace from the heaven simply by praying.

I take it that it means no amount of divine intervention can help me achieve a peace of mind because I can create my own heaven by letting things go. 放过伤害你的人就是放过自己。There is no need to wait for death to go to hell because I create my own living hell if I can’t let go of things and move on. By things here, it meant my emotions.

Do Not Worry

“The secret of happy, successful living is to do what needs to be done now, and not worry about the past or the future. We cannot reshape the past, nor can we anticipate everything in the future. There is but one moment of time over which we have some conscious control and that is the present.”

Recently I felt my anxiety coming back. I worry about not being able to perform at work and I made basic and careless mistakes. My mind seemed to shut off when I encountered stress. I was unable to fall asleep at night and I am afraid of opening up my email in the morning. I kept myself from checking emails after working hours. I stress about not being prepared for meetings. Then I realised I don’t have a nasty boss and I can always reschedule meetings. Just do my part and ask when in doubt and the problems did not seem so pressing after all…

I like to be in control and I hate it when things go out of control. I cannot control my husband obviously. Meal and nap times during weekends especially for the little one. There is only so much I can do. Let it go and stop worrying.

This is truly a book to develop a better understanding of my own problems. A lot is in my mind and it definitely helped to tame some of my mental unrest. Simple but powerful book.

Free distribution of this book at KMSPKS.

Update: 20 June 2022, free e-book available here.