Minimalist James

"We move through the world in a narrow groove, preoccupied with the petty things we see and hear,..."

jameschong — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:18:38 -0700

“We move through the world in a narrow groove, preoccupied with the petty things we see and hear, brooding over our prejudices, passing by the joys of life without even knowing that we have missed anything. Never for a moment do we taste the heady wine of freedom. We are as truly imprisoned as if we lay at the bottom of a dungeon, heaped with chains.”

- Yang Chu, fourth century B.C.E. philospher (via lefoanrose)

No day but today

jameschong — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:35:40 -0700

No day but today! Be present in every moment, knowing that your life is happening right now. Don’t wait for something to happen to be happy.

It doesn’t matter how far you’ve come or how much further you have to go, all that...

jameschong — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:44:47 -0700

It doesn’t matter how far you’ve come or how much further you have to go, all that matters is what’s here and now. #awareness #gratitude #compassion

Relinquishing my ego and my need to have everything go my way is quite liberating.

jameschong — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:18:44 -0700

Relinquishing my ego and my need to have everything go my way is quite liberating.

We all have the freedom and choice to be aware and...

jameschong — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:40:18 -0700

We all have the freedom and choice to be aware and compassionate, even in the midst of tedious routine and unpleasant experiences.

Appreciate life for the way it is

jameschong — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:43:43 -0700

Liberate yourself of your ego and your need to have everything go your way. Appreciate life for the way it is and find peace.

Source: VeryBestQuotes.com

Minimalist Eating

jameschong — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:47:03 -0700

Lately I’ve been inspired to eat a raw, organic, plant-based diet and replace processed foods with whole foods. The research is clear that animal-based foods such as meat and dairy are deleterious for your health and have been a major cause of the rise in obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other maladies. I want to be more mindful in what I’m putting into my body and fuel it with nutritious, healthy whole foods. Along with the obvious health reasons, I also do not want to support the farming of animals for our consumption.

It’s almost been a week since I last consumed animal products, and I can already feel it losing its grip on me. My body is quickly adapting to my new diet and I feel healthier, lighter, and more energetic. I don’t crave meat or dairy products and the thought of it is starting to become unappetizing.

'Happy' Documentary

jameschong — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:14:39 -0700

Watched the documentary ‘Happy’ and the keys to happiness are: personal growth, relationships, and helping others. Not material and superficial things like money, image, and status because of hedonic adaptation where we constantly want more and are unsated.

Your self-worth is innate and immutable

jameschong — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:22:10 -0700

Your self-worth is innate and immutable. It doesn’t depend on external factors like your job, how much money you have, how big your house is, or how other people perceive you. Therefore, live fearlessly and be your authentic self.

See the good in yourself

jameschong — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:30:42 -0700

According to neuropsychologist Rick Hanson, ‘Your brain builds new structures primarily based on what you pay attention to; neurons that fire together, wire together.’ So think positive, be thankful, and have compassion for yourself to set your brain up for happiness. :)

Practice compassion

jameschong — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:27:07 -0700

Practice compassion and see yourself in others. We all have the same needs for acceptance and love. Let go of fear and animosity, and embrace and help each other.

We will keep on running

jameschong — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:17:43 -0700

Today, terrorists sought to destroy an event that celebrates the human will and spirit. If running has taught me anything, it’s perseverance and resilience. The terrorists will not succeed. Good will prevail, and we’ll keep on running. #PrayforBoston

Worrying is unnecessary pain

jameschong — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:26:05 -0700

Worrying about possible bad things happening is like saying ouch before you get hit. In fact, worry, nervousness, and anxiety associated with the anticipation of something bad happening can be more painful than the actual bad thing itself. You may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude.

True Happiness is Shared

jameschong — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:07:00 -0700

Traditionally when we think of happiness, it’s from the individual’s vantage point. As a result, it’s naturally thought of as something that the individual feels and seeks to attain. “I want to be happy” “What makes me happy” “I am happiest when” are the statements that come to mind, with the focus on “I” and “me”. The error in this self-centric thinking is that we overlook the fact that happiness is something shared and collective. We focus so much on our own happiness that we forget the wants, needs, and issues of other people. Happiness exists outside our myopic point of view, and until we work for others’ happiness, we will never fully realize our own.

Compassion

jameschong — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:33:48 -0700

The best way to deal with disagreements and conflicts with people is to have compassion for them. See yourself in them and realize their vulnerability and humanity that mirror your own. Simple empathy can soften tension, eliminate fear, and dispose of petty worries.

#ForgetNostalgia

jameschong — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:06:20 -0700

Today will one day become the past that you’ll long for, so be mindful and enjoy it now while you have the chance. #forgetnostalgia

Expecting perfection is counterproductive - let it go

jameschong — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:09:04 -0700

No one is expecting perfection from you. Stop expecting it from yourself because it’s unrealistic, naive, and not the way things get done. Break things down and do one thing at a time. That’s not only okay but the most effective way to get things done. Stop stressing about how much work you have to do. You can prioritize, break it down, push back, and can get it done by just doing one small task at a time. There’s no pressure or expectation from other people for you to do everything at once and be perfect. Stop overwhelming yourself with trying to do everything all at once and thinking about all the time and work needed to get it done. Be mindful and take it one step at a time and don’t worry about the destination – enjoy the journey.

Watched this National Geographic documentary last night which...

jameschong — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:04:49 -0700

Watched this National Geographic documentary last night which probed the damaging effects of stress on our physiology. When we stress, our bodies go into fight or flight mode and turns off many important functions such as our immune system. Stress leads to high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, and affects every part of our health. Stress is not just mental, it’s physical.

Take a deep breath and realize that you’re not being chased by a tiger and stop stressing. Your health depends on it.

Definitely worth watching.

NYT Article: Living with a lot less

jameschong — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:49:47 -0700

NYT Article: Living with a lot less:

Although I’ve been trying to be a minimalist for the past couple of years, I looked around after reading this article and realized that I wasn’t trying hard enough. I had so much stuff that I didn’t need. Clothes I had just in case, extra blankets, extra towels, trinkets, boxes of memorabilia etc., So I’ve spent the past week clearing everything out and reassessing what I really need versus what’s nice to have. I’ve donated over half my clothes and possessions to Goodwill and it feels amazing! It feels liberating to shed all this extra weight and just looking around my emptied out room brings me peace.

Finally back in San Francisco after two weeks in Australia! Trip was a blast but there’s...

jameschong — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:50:46 -0800

Finally back in San Francisco after two weeks in Australia! Trip was a blast but there’s definitely no place like home. Every time I leave I realize how great I have it. I used to travel so I could escape and find happiness; now I know that happiness is within me and I can be content anywhere.

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” ― Socrates