Joseph Nguyen

By understanding that suffering stems not from external events but from our interpretation of them, we can begin to take control of our reactions and reduce unnecessary suffering.

Our experiences are not determined by external events but by the meaning we assign to them.

View external disturbances as 'empty boats' that cannot harm you unless you react to them.

When overwhelmed by thoughts, resist the urge to 'fix' or 'analyze' them. Instead, allow your mind to settle naturally.

Trust that your intuition knows what’s best for you, even if it defies logic or societal norms.

Our natural state of being is joy, love, and peace. The only thing that pulls us away is our thinking.

Courage and surrender are central to experiencing life's transformative possibilities.

Our natural state of being IS joy, love, ecstasy, freedom, and gratitude.

Unconditional creation is creating something without it being for another purpose, but purely to create it because we just want to create it.

Your Intuition is Your Inner GPS.

The Unknown is the Gateway to Miracles.

If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I create?

Your intuition will almost always go against your logical, rational mind, so be prepared for that.

Thinking is the Root of Suffering, Not the Content of Thoughts.

Our Natural State is Joy, Love, and Peace.

The Power of Non-Thinking in Peak Performance.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of True Fulfillment.

The Power of Non-Thinking: Unlocking Divine Inspiration.

It is not the content of our thinking that causes us stress, but that we are thinking, period.

We create because we feel whole and want to give from that place, not expecting anything from it.

If we simply do not think about our thoughts, any sort of thoughts about dreams, goals, and desires that naturally arise are all from the divine.

The path forward is only revealed when we begin walking.

The root cause of our suffering is our own thinking.

When you are doing your best work and are in a total state of flow... you are having no thoughts in the moment.

The act of thinking itself—regardless of whether the thoughts are positive or negative—is the root cause of our suffering.

Goals created from desperation often stem from a sense of lack or fear, leading to feelings of emptiness even after achieving them.

Our perception of reality is filtered through the meaning we assign to events, not the events themselves.

Adopt the Zen story of the 'empty boat' as a mental framework. When someone or something upsets you, imagine it as an empty boat drifting in the wind.

The less thinking we have, the more space we create for positive emotions to naturally surface.

Your intuition will always lead you to where you need to go and what you should do at any moment in time.

Everything comes from nothing, and Edison understood this concept of creating space for new thoughts to enter his mind instead of attempting to effort his way into solving problems with his old way of thinking.

Our feelings do not come from external events, but from our own thinking about the events.

In life, we can’t always control the first arrow. However, the second arrow is our reaction to the first. The second arrow is optional.

Negative emotions, the author explains, arise only when we engage in excessive thinking, which blocks our connection to the 'Universal Mind'—the infinite intelligence that governs all life.

To uncover goals rooted in inspiration, ask yourself: *'If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I create?'*

By consciously reframing your thoughts, you can shift your emotional response and reduce unnecessary suffering.

We can only ever create something we have never experienced in the realm of infinite possibilities, but the only way to make that happen is to go where we haven’t gone before, which is the unknown.

The meaning (or thinking) we give an event is what determines how we ultimately feel about it.

The moment we stop thinking is when our happiness begins.

Thoughts create. Thinking destroys.

Our natural state of being is joy, love, and peace. Therefore, any thinking that we do will only take us away from those natural states of being.

It’s not the empty boat, but my reaction to it that causes my anger.

It is not about the content of our thinking, but that we’re thinking, which is the root cause of our suffering.

Think of the flow of inspiration to create like a river. The river always flows until man puts something there to block it, like a dam.

When we create from this state, we already feel whole inside, and all of the love we want to feel is what we’re feeling in the moment.

An object in motion will stay in motion.

Only you can know what you want to do. No one else can tell you this.

Your intuition will almost never seem logical or rational, but that’s exactly what we want because we don’t want it to be predictable.

We live in a world of thought, not reality.

Suffering is optional, not inevitable.

Reality is a product of thought, not fact.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of Your Goals Matters.

Unconditional Creation: The Joy of Creating Without Expectations.

Trust Your Intuition Over External Validation.

The Power of Non-Thinking to Access Infinite Possibilities.

Reframe Your Thoughts to Reduce Suffering.

Detach from the 'Second Arrow'.

We can’t solve problems by using the same level of consciousness we were at when we created them.

Pain is unavoidable, but how we react to the events and circumstances that happen in our lives is up to us, and that will dictate whether we suffer or not.

Unconditional Creation: The Power of Creating Without Conditions.

Suffering is Optional, Pain is Not.

We Live in a World of Thought, Not Reality.

Practice the 'Empty Boat' Mindset.

We can only ever feel what we are thinking.

Reframe your thoughts to reduce suffering.

Use your emotions as a thinking radar.

Embrace non-thinking for peak performance.

Ask the right question to tap into inspiration.

Adopt a morning activation ritual.

Goals born from inspiration feel light, energizing, and fulfilling because they arise from a place of abundance and joy.

Unconditional creation is driven by love and abundance.

Deep down, we already know what to do in most situations, but fear and self-doubt cloud our judgment.

The Power of Non-Thinking and Present-Moment Awareness.

Overthinking severs our connection to the present moment, where truth and creativity reside.

Miracles and abundance occur when we trust this state of non-thinking, as it aligns us with the infinite possibilities of the Universe.

If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I do or what would I create?

The unknown is where all possibilities exist, including everything you could possibly ever want for your life.

Trust the whisper of your gut.

Create space for miracles.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of True Creation.

Non-Thinking Unlocks Infinite Possibilities.

Suffering is Optional, Not Inevitable.

The intensity of the negative emotions we feel is directly proportional to how much thinking we are doing in the moment.

Our perception of reality is created from the inside out, through our own thinking.

When you’re fully immersed in an activity you love, you naturally enter a state of 'non-thinking,' where creativity and flow thrive.

By understanding that our perception of reality is created from the inside out, through our own thinking, we can begin to take control of our emotional experiences and free ourselves from unnecessary suffering.

Negative emotions like stress, anxiety, or frustration are signals that your 'thought-o-meter' is in overdrive.

Goals born from inspiration feel light, energizing, and fulfilling. They arise from a place of abundance and joy, where the act of creation itself is the reward.

To identify goals born from inspiration, ask yourself: 'If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I create?

When stuck on a problem or overwhelmed by life, stop trying to 'figure it out.' Instead, engage in activities that quiet your mind, like meditation, rest, or even a creative hobby.

Pain is unavoidable, but how we react… will dictate whether we suffer or not.

When we create goals out of inspiration versus desperation, it is a completely different story. In this state, we are creating because we feel deeply moved, inspired, and expansive.

We are not creating so that we can feel whole, but we are creating because we feel whole and want to give from that place, not expecting anything from it.

Everything comes from nothing.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of Your Goals Shapes Your Fulfillment.

Trust Your Gut, Not the Crowd.

Create Space for Clarity.

Reframe Your Reactions: See the 'Empty Boat'.

We function and perform our best and embody our full potential the moment we enter a state of non-thinking.

Reframe Your Reactions to Pain.

Question the Reality of Your Thoughts.

The intensity of the positive emotion we feel is inversely proportional to the amount of thinking we are doing in the moment.

Suffering is optional, pain is not.

Treat disturbances in life as 'empty boats.

Negative emotions arise only when we engage in excessive thinking, which blocks our connection to this innate state.

The less we think, the more we allow our natural state to surface.

Let them pass naturally, like quicksand—struggling only makes it worse.

Trust that your mind will naturally return to clarity and peace if you stop interfering.

Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional.

Thought is not reality; yet it is through thought that our realities are created.

Our natural state of being is joy, love, and peace.

Our minds are filled more with reasons of why we can’t than thoughts of what we want to create.

Only you can know what you want to do.

The only way to manifest what you want in life is to step into the unknown. You have to do what you haven’t done to get what you don’t have.

We live in a world of thought, not reality; yet it is through thought that our realities are created.

When life begins to feel unclear, stressful, or disorganized, know that it’s your thinking stirring up the dirt, making it difficult to see ahead.

We don’t create because we feel like we HAVE to. We create because we simply want to, and there’s no other reason.

Divine inspiration does not come from us but through us, from something greater than us. It knows no boundaries, limits, or constraints.

If I create reasons for why I love her, then it makes my love conditional to those specific traits or actions—and if she doesn’t do them, then I don’t love her.

The Second Arrow of Suffering

Joseph Nguyen introduces the Buddhist concept of the 'second arrow' to distinguish between unavoidable pain and optional suffering. The first arrow is the initial pain or challenge we face, but the second arrow—our reaction to it—is what truly causes suffering. This idea challenges the common belief that external events dictate our happiness, suggesting instead that our interpretations and reactions are the real culprits. For example, losing a job (first arrow) can lead to despair if we react with self-blame, or it can be a stepping stone if we view it as an opportunity for growth. 'In life, we can’t always control the first arrow. However, the second arrow is our reaction to the first. The second arrow is optional.' This paradigm shift empowers readers to take control of their emotional well-being by managing their reactions.

Your intuition will always lead you to where you need to go and what you should do at any moment in time. It’s like a real-time inner GPS.

We only suffer when we try to figure it all out, but we don’t have to... The path forward is only revealed when we begin walking.

You have to do what you haven’t done in order to get what you don’t have.

Thoughts vs. Thinking

Nguyen makes a critical distinction between 'thoughts' and 'thinking.' Thoughts are neutral and spontaneous, serving as the raw materials for creation, while thinking—the process of analyzing and judging these thoughts—leads to suffering. This insight contradicts the societal emphasis on constant mental activity, proposing instead that peace comes from observing thoughts without attachment. For instance, an initial thought about a desired salary can be exciting, but overthinking it with doubts and fears transforms it into a source of stress. 'Thoughts create. Thinking destroys.' This concept encourages a more mindful approach to mental activity, where the goal is not to eliminate thoughts but to reduce the harmful effects of overthinking.

If we know that we can only ever feel what we are thinking, then we know that we can change our feelings by changing our thinking.

When life feels unclear or stressful, it’s because your thinking is stirring up the dirt.

Only in the present moment can the truth be found.

The more you overthink, the more intense your negative emotions become.

By simply becoming aware of overthinking and giving yourself space, the mind settles into clarity.

Unconditional love is not something we find externally; it’s an outpouring of love from within, free of conditions or expectations.

Trusting the process, even without knowing how things will happen, allows the Universe to orchestrate outcomes in ways far beyond our imagination.

Natural State of Being

The book posits that joy, love, and peace are our natural states, obscured only by excessive thinking. This idea challenges the pursuit of happiness through external achievements, suggesting instead that these qualities are inherent and accessible when the mind is quiet. Babies, unburdened by societal conditioning, exemplify this state of unconditional happiness. 'Our natural state of being is joy, love, and peace.' By reducing mental clutter, we can reconnect with this innate well-being, as demonstrated in moments of pure joy where thought is absent. This perspective shifts the focus from acquiring happiness to removing the barriers that block it.

Inspiration vs. Desperation

Nguyen differentiates between goals born of inspiration and those driven by desperation. Inspiration-driven goals arise from a sense of abundance and joy, leading to fulfillment regardless of outcome, while desperation-driven goals stem from lack and fear, often leaving one unsatisfied even after achievement. 'We create because we feel whole and want to give from that place, not expecting anything from it.' This distinction encourages aligning actions with inner inspiration rather than external pressures, fostering a more satisfying creative process. For example, painting for the love of it, rather than for fame or money, embodies this principle.

Unconditional Creation

The concept of 'unconditional creation' advocates for creating without attachment to outcomes, purely for the joy of the process. This approach contrasts with conditional creation, where the value of the act is tied to its results, such as recognition or profit. 'Unconditional creation is creating something without it being for another purpose, but purely to create it because we just want to create it.' This mindset fosters innovation and fulfillment, as seen in children’s boundless creativity, unrestricted by practicality or fear. Embracing this principle can lead to a more abundant and joyful creative life.

Trusting Your Inner GPS

The book emphasizes intuition as a reliable guide, superior to external advice or overanalysis. 'Only you can know what you want to do. No one else can tell you this.' Trusting this inner wisdom aligns one with life’s flow, enabling serendipitous opportunities and solutions. Ignoring intuition, on the other hand, often leads to regret. This principle is illustrated by moments when following a gut feeling leads to unexpectedly positive outcomes, underscoring the value of internal guidance over external validation.

The Power of Non-Thinking

Non-thinking is presented as a state of flow where creativity and peace naturally emerge, free from the constraints of overanalysis. 'We don’t have to figure it all out. Our job is to come up with what we want, not how to get it.' This concept challenges the conventional reliance on constant mental effort, suggesting that true insight and abundance arise from stillness. Historical figures like Einstein and Edison exemplified this by achieving breakthroughs during moments of rest, highlighting the efficacy of non-thinking in accessing innovative ideas.

Reframe Your Reactions

When faced with a challenge, pause to ask: 'What meaning am I assigning to this event?' Recognizing that suffering stems from interpretation allows for a more empowering perspective.

Use Your Emotions as a Thinking Radar

Negative emotions signal overthinking. Use them as cues to detach and return to your natural state of peace.

Ask the Right Question to Tap Into Inspiration

Identify truly inspiring goals by asking: 'What would I create if I had no fears and needed no recognition?'

Follow Your Intuition Fearlessly

Make decisions based on gut feelings rather than seeking external validation, to live more authentically and open up to serendipity.

Create Space for Insights

Engage in activities that quiet the mind, like meditation or walking, to allow creative solutions to emerge naturally.

We live in a world of thought, not reality. Thought is not reality; yet it is through thought that our realities are created.

We don’t have to figure it all out. Our job is to come up with what we want, not how to get it.

Negative emotions are not inherent but arise from excessive thinking, which clouds our connection to this innate state.

The intensity of positive emotions is inversely proportional to the amount of thinking.

By understanding that suffering stems not from external events but from our interpretation of them, we can begin to take control of our reactions and reduce unnecessary suffering.

Our experiences are not determined by external events but by the meaning we assign to them.

View external disturbances as 'empty boats' that cannot harm you unless you react to them.

When overwhelmed by thoughts, resist the urge to 'fix' or 'analyze' them. Instead, allow your mind to settle naturally.

Trust that your intuition knows what’s best for you, even if it defies logic or societal norms.

Our natural state of being is joy, love, and peace. The only thing that pulls us away is our thinking.

Courage and surrender are central to experiencing life's transformative possibilities.

Our natural state of being IS joy, love, ecstasy, freedom, and gratitude.

Unconditional creation is creating something without it being for another purpose, but purely to create it because we just want to create it.

Your Intuition is Your Inner GPS.

The Unknown is the Gateway to Miracles.

If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I create?

Your intuition will almost always go against your logical, rational mind, so be prepared for that.

Thinking is the Root of Suffering, Not the Content of Thoughts.

Our Natural State is Joy, Love, and Peace.

The Power of Non-Thinking in Peak Performance.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of True Fulfillment.

The Power of Non-Thinking: Unlocking Divine Inspiration.

It is not the content of our thinking that causes us stress, but that we are thinking, period.

We create because we feel whole and want to give from that place, not expecting anything from it.

If we simply do not think about our thoughts, any sort of thoughts about dreams, goals, and desires that naturally arise are all from the divine.

The path forward is only revealed when we begin walking.

The root cause of our suffering is our own thinking.

When you are doing your best work and are in a total state of flow... you are having no thoughts in the moment.

The act of thinking itself—regardless of whether the thoughts are positive or negative—is the root cause of our suffering.

Goals created from desperation often stem from a sense of lack or fear, leading to feelings of emptiness even after achieving them.

Our perception of reality is filtered through the meaning we assign to events, not the events themselves.

Adopt the Zen story of the 'empty boat' as a mental framework. When someone or something upsets you, imagine it as an empty boat drifting in the wind.

The less thinking we have, the more space we create for positive emotions to naturally surface.

Your intuition will always lead you to where you need to go and what you should do at any moment in time.

Everything comes from nothing, and Edison understood this concept of creating space for new thoughts to enter his mind instead of attempting to effort his way into solving problems with his old way of thinking.

Our feelings do not come from external events, but from our own thinking about the events.

In life, we can’t always control the first arrow. However, the second arrow is our reaction to the first. The second arrow is optional.

Negative emotions, the author explains, arise only when we engage in excessive thinking, which blocks our connection to the 'Universal Mind'—the infinite intelligence that governs all life.

To uncover goals rooted in inspiration, ask yourself: *'If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I create?'*

By consciously reframing your thoughts, you can shift your emotional response and reduce unnecessary suffering.

We can only ever create something we have never experienced in the realm of infinite possibilities, but the only way to make that happen is to go where we haven’t gone before, which is the unknown.

The meaning (or thinking) we give an event is what determines how we ultimately feel about it.

The moment we stop thinking is when our happiness begins.

Thoughts create. Thinking destroys.

Our natural state of being is joy, love, and peace. Therefore, any thinking that we do will only take us away from those natural states of being.

It’s not the empty boat, but my reaction to it that causes my anger.

It is not about the content of our thinking, but that we’re thinking, which is the root cause of our suffering.

Think of the flow of inspiration to create like a river. The river always flows until man puts something there to block it, like a dam.

When we create from this state, we already feel whole inside, and all of the love we want to feel is what we’re feeling in the moment.

An object in motion will stay in motion.

Only you can know what you want to do. No one else can tell you this.

Your intuition will almost never seem logical or rational, but that’s exactly what we want because we don’t want it to be predictable.

We live in a world of thought, not reality.

Suffering is optional, not inevitable.

Reality is a product of thought, not fact.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of Your Goals Matters.

Unconditional Creation: The Joy of Creating Without Expectations.

Trust Your Intuition Over External Validation.

The Power of Non-Thinking to Access Infinite Possibilities.

Reframe Your Thoughts to Reduce Suffering.

Detach from the 'Second Arrow'.

We can’t solve problems by using the same level of consciousness we were at when we created them.

Pain is unavoidable, but how we react to the events and circumstances that happen in our lives is up to us, and that will dictate whether we suffer or not.

Unconditional Creation: The Power of Creating Without Conditions.

Suffering is Optional, Pain is Not.

We Live in a World of Thought, Not Reality.

Practice the 'Empty Boat' Mindset.

We can only ever feel what we are thinking.

Reframe your thoughts to reduce suffering.

Use your emotions as a thinking radar.

Embrace non-thinking for peak performance.

Ask the right question to tap into inspiration.

Adopt a morning activation ritual.

Goals born from inspiration feel light, energizing, and fulfilling because they arise from a place of abundance and joy.

Unconditional creation is driven by love and abundance.

Deep down, we already know what to do in most situations, but fear and self-doubt cloud our judgment.

The Power of Non-Thinking and Present-Moment Awareness.

Overthinking severs our connection to the present moment, where truth and creativity reside.

Miracles and abundance occur when we trust this state of non-thinking, as it aligns us with the infinite possibilities of the Universe.

If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I do or what would I create?

The unknown is where all possibilities exist, including everything you could possibly ever want for your life.

Trust the whisper of your gut.

Create space for miracles.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of True Creation.

Non-Thinking Unlocks Infinite Possibilities.

Suffering is Optional, Not Inevitable.

The intensity of the negative emotions we feel is directly proportional to how much thinking we are doing in the moment.

Our perception of reality is created from the inside out, through our own thinking.

When you’re fully immersed in an activity you love, you naturally enter a state of 'non-thinking,' where creativity and flow thrive.

By understanding that our perception of reality is created from the inside out, through our own thinking, we can begin to take control of our emotional experiences and free ourselves from unnecessary suffering.

Negative emotions like stress, anxiety, or frustration are signals that your 'thought-o-meter' is in overdrive.

Goals born from inspiration feel light, energizing, and fulfilling. They arise from a place of abundance and joy, where the act of creation itself is the reward.

To identify goals born from inspiration, ask yourself: 'If I had infinite money, already traveled the world, had no fear, and didn’t receive any recognition for what I do, what would I create?

When stuck on a problem or overwhelmed by life, stop trying to 'figure it out.' Instead, engage in activities that quiet your mind, like meditation, rest, or even a creative hobby.

Pain is unavoidable, but how we react… will dictate whether we suffer or not.

When we create goals out of inspiration versus desperation, it is a completely different story. In this state, we are creating because we feel deeply moved, inspired, and expansive.

We are not creating so that we can feel whole, but we are creating because we feel whole and want to give from that place, not expecting anything from it.

Everything comes from nothing.

Inspiration vs. Desperation: The Source of Your Goals Shapes Your Fulfillment.

Trust Your Gut, Not the Crowd.

Create Space for Clarity.

Reframe Your Reactions: See the 'Empty Boat'.

We function and perform our best and embody our full potential the moment we enter a state of non-thinking.

Reframe Your Reactions to Pain.

Question the Reality of Your Thoughts.

The intensity of the positive emotion we feel is inversely proportional to the amount of thinking we are doing in the moment.

Suffering is optional, pain is not.

Treat disturbances in life as 'empty boats.

Negative emotions arise only when we engage in excessive thinking, which blocks our connection to this innate state.

The less we think, the more we allow our natural state to surface.

Let them pass naturally, like quicksand—struggling only makes it worse.

Trust that your mind will naturally return to clarity and peace if you stop interfering.

Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional.

Thought is not reality; yet it is through thought that our realities are created.

Our natural state of being is joy, love, and peace.

Our minds are filled more with reasons of why we can’t than thoughts of what we want to create.

Only you can know what you want to do.

The only way to manifest what you want in life is to step into the unknown. You have to do what you haven’t done to get what you don’t have.

We live in a world of thought, not reality; yet it is through thought that our realities are created.

When life begins to feel unclear, stressful, or disorganized, know that it’s your thinking stirring up the dirt, making it difficult to see ahead.

We don’t create because we feel like we HAVE to. We create because we simply want to, and there’s no other reason.

Divine inspiration does not come from us but through us, from something greater than us. It knows no boundaries, limits, or constraints.

If I create reasons for why I love her, then it makes my love conditional to those specific traits or actions—and if she doesn’t do them, then I don’t love her.

Your intuition will always lead you to where you need to go and what you should do at any moment in time. It’s like a real-time inner GPS.

We only suffer when we try to figure it all out, but we don’t have to... The path forward is only revealed when we begin walking.

You have to do what you haven’t done in order to get what you don’t have.

If we know that we can only ever feel what we are thinking, then we know that we can change our feelings by changing our thinking.

When life feels unclear or stressful, it’s because your thinking is stirring up the dirt.

Only in the present moment can the truth be found.

The more you overthink, the more intense your negative emotions become.

By simply becoming aware of overthinking and giving yourself space, the mind settles into clarity.

Unconditional love is not something we find externally; it’s an outpouring of love from within, free of conditions or expectations.

Trusting the process, even without knowing how things will happen, allows the Universe to orchestrate outcomes in ways far beyond our imagination.

We live in a world of thought, not reality. Thought is not reality; yet it is through thought that our realities are created.

We don’t have to figure it all out. Our job is to come up with what we want, not how to get it.

Negative emotions are not inherent but arise from excessive thinking, which clouds our connection to this innate state.

The intensity of positive emotions is inversely proportional to the amount of thinking.