[One Thousand Characters a Day] Shindok, The Power of Time Alone <3>

Editor's NoteThe time of solitude that changes life is given to everyone without exception. How are you filling this time? Whether you turn it into a painful struggle with loneliness or an opportunity to change your life depends on ourselves. When we welcome time alone joyfully, an unexpected great gift is given to us. We can achieve the intentions kept in our hearts and give freedom to our tired body and soul. Through the time of solitude, we can finally face ourselves without being disturbed by anything external, and the life that we have been running without knowing the direction will find its way. We realize our calling and gain creativity and insight that make life not boring. The time of solitude becomes a life-changing opportunity that transforms my life. Word count: 1043 characters.

Only after knowing how to stop can things be determined, only after being determined can one become calm, only after becoming calm can one be comfortable, only after becoming comfortable can one think, and only after thinking can one obtain.

The core teaching of Daehak is the Three Great Principles: "Bright virtue, renewing the people, abiding in the utmost goodness" (Myeongdeok Shinmin Jio Jiseon·明德 新民 止於至善). The examples and texts serve as practical guidelines to achieve this.

The first is knowing how to stop. In busy daily life and complicated relationships, there is no time to think, and one cannot clearly determine the path ahead. Our daily life is just living roughly without knowing where we are going. What is needed at this time is "stopping." After briefly stopping the hurried steps, if you set a goal that does not change or waver in any situation, your heart, which was busy keeping up with the pace of life, can also settle peacefully. When you quietly think in peace, you will obtain what you seek. Only then are you qualified to achieve the Three Great Principles.

We think that to get anything we want, we must work hard and make efforts. Whether it is success, scholarship, or honor, it is the same. We believe we must work harder than others and get ahead first to succeed. However, living a complicated life in a complex world, people lose their way at some point. They forget where to go and what they wanted, wandering lost without themselves. At that time, to regain the lost self, you must stop for a moment. You must let go of what you are doing now. And you must look back on yourself.

When you calm your mind like that, you can face your honest self. And you can think about the ideals you forgot and the path you should take. You can also know what work you need to start for that. This is why thinking is essential for people.

But there is something to keep in mind at this time. Although you can get anything through thinking, the thought must be correct. Through thinking, you can obtain good and kind things, but you can also get evil and bad things. What you choose depends entirely on yourself.

－Jo Yoonje, Shindok, The Power of Being Alone, Business Books, 17,800 KRW