The World's Best Book Summaries
Is your heart open to everyone around you? How can you be supportive of your partner and even strangers? Mutual support is the foundation of all healthy relationships. By showing you’ll be there for someone through life’s toughest obstacles, you’ve proven that you’re a trusted and supportive ally for anyone. Here’s how to be supportive of the people you know and strangers.
Is your family overstepping your boundaries? How can you effectively establish and appropriately communicate your boundaries to family members? It’s normal to experience difficulty setting boundaries with family. Because they have probably known you for quite a while, they’ve likely become attached to routine ways of interacting with you. Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab gives a few tips on how to set healthy boundaries with family members.
How should you respond when someone crosses your boundaries? What should you do if, despite your warnings, the person keeps violating the boundaries you’ve set? According to therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, you should address a boundary violation immediately after it occurs. That way, you’ll minimize the chances of it happening again. But if the person keeps violating your boundary, it’s a sign they don’t take it seriously, so you should limit your interactions with them. Keep reading for tips on how to deal with boundary violations.
Do you have someone you deeply appreciate? How do you show someone you care about them? Everybody has a different way of expressing their gratitude toward people they love or appreciate. In An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield gives the best advice for letting others know you care. Here’s how to show someone you care with Hadfield’s advice.
Why should you be happy for others’ success? What Buddhist concepts relate to this philosophy? Finding happiness in life isn’t just about celebrating your own successes. According to Chris Hadfield’s book An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, you’ll be happier if you celebrate other people and their milestones. Discover why being happy for others’ success boosts your overall mood.
What is the key to effective marital communication? What are some of the most common points of contention when it comes to communication in a marriage? Almost all marriage problems stem from communication errors. There are many possible points of contention when it comes to communication in a marriage, from how often to have sex and how to handle finances to how to raise children. Here’s how to handle some of the most common marital communication problems.
How does problem-solving in communication work? What skills do you need for conversational problem-solving? According to leadership expert Michael Bungay Stanier, problem-solving in communication is all about adopting a questions-first approach, which results in more productive solutions. By learning to think like a coach, you can let your curiosity lead the way when faced with a problem, says Stanier. Read on to learn Stanier’s three essential skills for problem-solving in communication.
What is a personal network? Why is having a personal network important? A personal network consists of relationships with people who have similar issues and are supportive of one another. Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo discusses how a personal network can improve your life and push out the critics. Keep reading to learn how to ignore the critics and build a supportive environment.
Why is asking questions important in communication? How can you ask better questions? According to leadership expert Michael Bungay Stanier, asking questions is important in all forms of communication because it helps you to avoid the advice-giving trap. In his book The Advice Trap, he explains the benefits of asking questions versus the drawbacks of offering suggestions. Read on to learn why asking questions is important, including Stanier’s tips for asking better questions.
Why do relationships end? How does self-justification lead to polarization? According to the book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), two people who start off sharing the same beliefs can become vastly different over time and lose empathy for each other through a pattern of self-justification. Keep reading to learn how extreme divergence in once similar people’s beliefs can cause relationships to end.