You are studying mathematics because you think that (at one level or another) it will bring you happiness. So the ultimate success is to do mathematics joyfully.
Think about the sentence above, is that true for you?
We start studying mathematics because we think it is going to make us happy, but maths is a very challenging subject, and with it, many times comes suffering. But suffering does not come from math itself but from the meaning and identity we attach to it.
"People are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things." - Epictetus (a stoic philosopher)
It is a widespread: people keep suffering from the feeling of not being "good enough", or of not belonging to where they want to be; or feeling that they have to prove themselves because their personal worth is not guaranteed.
Self-worth. Self-confidence. Personal meaning. Personal identity. All this is going to be strongly challenged when you study maths.
"Tension is who you think you should be, relaxation is who you are" - Chinese proverb
When you are doing maths, managing all this psychological hurdle is more difficult than maths itself. But managing ourselves is the art of life (and way beyond the scope of this course). So I invite you to use the psychological challenge that maths brings to grow as a person and flourish in all aspects of live. For this you can get support on the wisdom of previous generations in the form of philosophy and powerful practices like meditation (mindfulness), journal writing, and breathing techniques.
Below there is a small snapshot of some techniques and books to guide you further in the art of self-management, which is the art of life.
"Make us happy, and you will make us good" - proverb
1.1 Double inhale breathing technique (explanation in video from time 1:16)
1.2 Body relaxation: make yourself conscious of your body and relax it after each out-breath. Pay special attention to your eyes, jaw, shoulders and fists (if you have your hands as a fist, open your hands and relax them).
1.3 Short simple meditation: sit down (crossed-leg position, if you can), close your eyes, relax your body, focus on your breathing and count your breathings. Count up to 10 breaths and re-start the counter again. You can do this for 2-5 minutes (or even more, but doing it only for 1 minute, makes a difference).
Questions to choose your action in difficult situations:
What is under my control? What is not under my control? (stoic principles)
Do my actions/point of view/way of thinking benefit me or harm me?
What is fact and what is interpretation/narrative?
Does this get me to where I want to go or further away from it?
Questions to understand how situations are affecting us:
What am I unwilling to feel? (discover aversions/resistence)
What are my deepest intentions?
What does the situation say about me? (or what do I think that the situation says about me?).
Will I care about this in a week?
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
- Haruki Murakami and others.
The number one book recommendation: "The 7 habits of highly effective people", by Stephen R. Covey.
Abstract:
In THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centred approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity - principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
A gentle introduction to mindfulness and meditation (with scientific background): "Search Inside Yourself" by Chade-Meng Tan.
Abstract: With Search Inside Yourself, Chade-Meng Tan, one of Google’s earliest engineers and personal growth pioneer, offers a proven method for enhancing mindfulness and emotional intelligence in life and work.
Meng’s job is to teach Google’s best and brightest how to apply mindfulness techniques in the office and beyond; now, readers everywhere can get insider access to one of the most sought after classes in the country, a course in health, happiness and creativity that is improving the livelihood and productivity of those responsible for one of the most successful businesses in the world.
With forewords by Daniel Goleman, author of the international bestseller Emotional Intelligence, and Jon Kabat-Zinn, renowned mindfulness expert and author of Coming To Our Senses, Meng’s Search Inside Yourself is an invaluable guide to achieving your own best potential.
If you feel crippled by feeling "not good enough", or "not belonging", or feeling faulty or inadequate in some way, or that there is something wrong or missing in life: read "Radical Acceptance", by Tara Brach (warning: even though there are Buddhist references, it is not a religious book).
Abstract:
“Believing that something is wrong with us is a deep and tenacious suffering,” says Tara Brach at the start of this illuminating book. This suffering emerges in crippling self-judgments and conflicts in our relationships, in addictions and perfectionism, in loneliness and overwork—all the forces that keep our lives constricted and unfulfilled. Radical Acceptance offers a path to freedom, including the day-to-day practical guidance developed over Dr. Brach’s forty years of work with therapy clients and Buddhist students.
Writing with great warmth and clarity, Tara Brach brings her teachings alive through personal stories and case histories, fresh interpretations of Buddhist tales, and guided meditations. Step by step, she shows us how we can stop being at war with ourselves and begin to live fully every precious moment of our lives.
"Loving what is", audiobook by Katie Byron. There is also a book, but I recommend the audiobook.
From the publisher's summary:
The Work is simply four questions that, when applied to a specific problem, enable you to see what is troubling you in an entirely different light. As Katie says, "It's not the problem that causes our suffering; it's our thinking about the problem." Contrary to popular belief, trying to let go of a painful thought never works; instead, once we have done The Work, the thought lets go of us. At that point we can truly love what is, just as it is.
Loving What Is will show you step by step, through clear and vivid examples, exactly how to use this revolutionary process for yourself.
When everything else fails,.... just dance