The World's Best Book Summaries
What causes procrastination? Why do we sometimes choose short-term relief from fear over the long-term gains of persisting through daunting but important tasks? Although procrastination harms us, we still do it because it provides us with relief. Procrastination is essentially a coping mechanism: We procrastinate to cope with the fear of working on certain tasks. Here are the three most common fears behind procrastination.
What’s the connection between procrastination and self-esteem? How does unhealthy self-esteem prevent you from getting things done? Everybody procrastinates, but some people do it more than others. According to psychologists Lenora Yuen and Jane Burka, self-esteem plays a key role in an individual’s tendency to procrastinate. Keep reading to learn about the link between procrastination and self-esteem.
Want to know how to be more mindful and present? How can you practice this if you’re plagued by negative thoughts? According to psychotherapist Russ Harris, you can’t get rid of the negative thoughts and feelings that distract you in everyday life—especially the feeling of fear. Harris stresses that learning how to be more present and mindful of your thoughts and fears requires continual practice. Read on to learn how to be more mindful and present, despite negative thought patterns, based on Harris’s advice.
Why do we put off things that matter to us the most? More importantly, how can you stop procrastinating once and for all? Overcoming procrastination is not an easy feat, especially if you procrastinate for reasons that are beyond your control. However, you can put an end to procrastination if you first accept some realities as being beyond your control and then focus instead on controlling what you can: your behavior. Let’s also explore how you can work within the constraints of realities beyond your control by practicing healthy behaviors that replace procrastination.
Is fear holding you back? How do you know if you’re controlled by fear? How do experts say you can overcome fear? Fear and negative thoughts are instincts that serve an important evolutionary purpose by making you attuned to dangers around you. However, fear also holds you back from confidently doing the things you want to. Keep reading to learn psychotherapist Russ Harris’s advice for coexisting with your fears.
Do the five love languages work the same in platonic relationships? How can you identify what people’s love languages are? You’ve probably heard of the five love languages, but you might not have considered using them outside of the context of a romantic relationship. In fact, you can deepen all of your relationships by illuminating and interacting with people using their preferred forms of communication. Keep reading for a discussion of love language communication outside of romantic relationships.
What does redefining success mean? Do you have a healthy idea of success? How can you redefine your idea of success? Psychotherapist Russ Harris wrote The Confidence Gap for people who struggle to carry out their life goals and seek to change their thinking to be more empowering. According to him, you need to relate differently to the idea of success to effectively pursue goals in the long term. Keep reading to learn how to redefine an unhealthy relationship with success, according to Harris.
What’s resource theory? How can you leverage it to deepen relationships? In Captivate, Vanessa Van Edwards provides strategies to help you become a social superstar. She explains how you can apply Uriel G. Foa’s resource theory to understand people better, communicate with them effectively, bring out the best in them, and ultimately connect with them on a deeper level. Read more to learn how to identify what people value most in life and then use that information to strengthen your relationships.
How can you show support to a person who’s neurotic? How can you effectively work alongside someone who isn’t very open? Vanessa Van Edwards aims to help you connect more comfortably with others and build deeper relationships. In this context, she examines how to identify and cater to people’s personality traits so you can communicate with them as effectively as possible. Continue reading to learn how to read someone’s personality and use that knowledge to navigate your relationship.
What is gender-affirming hormone therapy? How does it work, and what are the side effects? Gender-affirming care is the various treatments and procedures that allow a transgender person to physically “transition,” or to alter their bodies to ease discomfort and align with their gender identity. And one major step in the transitioning process is gender-affirming hormone therapy. Keep reading for everything you need to know about this treatment.