The World's Best Book Summaries
What is “the path”? How can it help you with accepting change in life? Mo Gawdat’s formula for happiness involves understanding that change is inevitable. If you don’t embrace change, you’ll suffer. He argues that pursuing “the path” is the best way to stop resisting change in life. Continue reading to discover Gawdat’s advice for accepting change and see how this is connected to your happiness.
When it comes to being true to yourself, what role do habits play? What price do you pay for living with integrity? Martha Beck shares five techniques for being true to yourself in her book The Way of Integrity. She discusses committing to telling the truth, focusing on making small adjustments, focusing on your yearning, enjoying the benefits of integrity, and forgiving yourself for violating your integrity. Continue reading for Beck’s five-part advice on how to live with integrity.
How do behaviors become habits? What can you do to make your brain internalize new habits faster? Habits are patterns of behavior that become more or less established in your daily life depending on how often you engage in the behavior. If you frequently reinforce a habit through your choices, it’ll get stronger. If you engage in the behavior less frequently, the habit will get weaker. Keep reading to learn about the psychology of habits.
What is the role of shaming in addiction? Why does alcoholic shame make the situation worse? While alcoholism isn’t a disease people should want to have, it doesn’t help to shame those who are affected. In Quit Like a Woman, Holly Whitaker claims that shaming alcoholics only makes things worse. Here’s why alcoholic shame does more damage than good, according to Whitaker.
What’s present-moment awareness? Is it the same as mindfulness? How can you practice it? Mo Gawdat suggests that, for happiness to endure, we must embrace five pillars, which he calls “ultimate truths.” These five pillars lead to joy—an unwavering state of happiness. The first of these pillars is present-moment awareness. Read more to learn about this practice and the difference it can make in your life.
Are you a perfectionist? How does striving for perfection hinder your progress? A perfectionist mindset eats away at your self-esteem and productivity. To combat perfectionism, focus on what you are doing well and how you’re improving over time. Keep reading to learn about the dangers of perfectionism and how you can move toward overcoming perfectionist tendencies.
What causes alcoholism? Is alcoholism psychological or genetic? Many people assume that alcoholism is a biological disease, but that’s simply not the case. As Holly Whitaker’s book Quit Like a Woman suggests, alcoholism can also stem from psychological factors such as trauma and mental health issues. Keep reading to learn what causes alcoholism and the first step to treating it.
How can exaggerations keep you from being happy? How can you bring your perceptions into better alignment with reality? An exaggeration is a distorted perception of reality. This distortion causes you to have unrealistic expectations. When those expectations aren’t met, you suffer. Keep reading to discover how exaggerating interferes with your happiness.
What does it mean to be in alignment with yourself? How can you tell if you’re misaligned? How does misalignment impact your happiness? Martha Beck argues that misalignment with your true self is the source of most—if not all—chronic psychological misery in our lives. It’s very hard to find happiness if you’re not connecting and listening to your personal nature—the part of yourself that knows what would make you happy. Keep reading to understand Beck’s theory about happiness and see whether you might find joy by following her advice.
How do memories impact the here and now? How can you minimize the distortions? Humans don’t remember everything exactly the way it happened. While the past is the past, your perception of it is now—and it’s affecting the present. Your distorted memories can cause you to see the present inaccurately. Continue reading to understand how this works and learn what you can do about it.