Week 373 (brendan@brendanbarca.com)

Here's your weekly dose of Fuel Your Mind Friday where I share business building ideas, lifestyle design hacks, and inspirational content to help you thrive in your work and find purpose in your life.

---

PSA: My wife, Pema Sherpa, and I have another blog called The Mindful Minute! Check it out here.

---

THE INTERNAL FIX TO EXTERNAL PROBLEMS

​

​

Throughout my life, there have been circumstances and people that have caused me great stress.

I felt this stress when I was unemployed for a year out of college.

I felt it when I had a boss who wanted more than I could give.

And I feel it still when something is going sideways with my business.

​
And each time this feeling of stress arises, I pray for the situation to change.

When I was unemployed, I prayed that I'd land a job soon.

When my boss challenged me, I wished he'd be more understanding.

And even now, I catch myself hoping any business problems will straighten themselves out.
​

But in each one of these instances, I am waiting for external circumstances to change before I feel better.

I am looking to find peace through someone else's actions.

And although I've done this over and over again, I know it's hopeless.

Once I correct one problem, another one surfaces.
​

As Shantideva's quote explains, you can't try to make your path easy by putting leather across the entire surface of the world.

Instead, you only need to put leather soles on your feet, and it's as if the entire world is covered.

In the same way, if it's inner peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people.

Once you learn to train your own mind, no circumstance or person can take your peace away.
​

If you're dealing with a stressful situation at work or in life right now...

Choose to look inward, rather than outward, to fix the problem.

While an external fix can lead to a temporary solution.

An internal fix can lead to lasting inner peace.

​

---

Until next week,

- Brendan

​

​Let's connect on LinkedIn!

​brendanbarca.com​

Don't miss our newest creation, The Mindful Minute -> ​Check it out here!