Freedom

Month off between semesters

14-hour days

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Smiling at mile 18 of marathon

Straining to do five pushups

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

“We are pleased to accept you as a Corps member”

“We are unable to take many qualified candidates”

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

153 people came to the protest

Fund-raiser a bust

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Acclaimed as a rock star

Denounced as a sell-out

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Seven thousand miles from home

Stuck in traffic two miles from home

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Unconditional parental love

Extremely conditional parental love

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Triple espresso with a free extra shot

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

39 on MCAT

134 on LSAT

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

“A visionary work of astonishing perspicuity!”

“How is such adolescent drivel even allowed to be published?”

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Hit on seven times in the space of three long city blocks

Totally ignored on the bus day after day

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Dow Jones is having a great day

Portfolio takes a big hit

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

73 Likes

22 Friends

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

“BFF!”

“Don’t ever text me again!”

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Perfect tan

Thinning hair

Don’t be swayed by external circumstances

Refrain is one of 59 mind-training slogans (lojong) in Tibetan Buddhist tradition; see Pema Chödrön's commentary, Start Where You Are.