Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

Codependent No More: Review, Background, & Context

Is Melody Beattie’s book Codependent No More worth reading? How was the book received by readers and critics? In Codependent No More, Melody Beattie explores codependency and how it affects people’s lives. A self-help classic and the book that inspired codependency 12 Step Programs around the country, Codependent No More provides explanations, advice, and compassion for people struggling with codependency. Here is our Codependent No More review.

The 3 Codependency Traits to Look Out For

How can you tell if a person has codependent tendencies? What side-effects can codependency lead to? In her book Codependent No More, Melody Beattie outlines the most common codependency traits. It’s important to look out for these symptoms in yourself or in others because, the longer these traits go unaddressed, the worse the problem becomes. Here are the characteristics of codependency.

Why Do People Make Bad Decisions? The 5 Reasons

What cognitive biases stand in the way of making good decisions? Why don’t people learn from their mistakes to make better choices in the future? Barry Schwartz, the author of The Paradox of Choice, explores why people make bad decisions. Schwartz says there are five main reasons people act against their best interest: unreliable memories, the availability heuristic, anchoring and framing, prospect theory, and the endowment effect and sunk costs. Keep reading to learn why people make bad decisions.

Maximizers and Satisficers: Which One Are You?

What is the difference between a maximizer and a satisficer? Is there a benefit to being one over the other? When it comes to deliberating options, there are two types of people: maximizers and satisficers. Maximizers will deliberate until they have chosen the best possible solution, while satisficers will select an option that is good enough. There are pros and cons to both types of personalities. Continue reading to learn about the two types of deliberators, and learn which one will end up happier.

How to Practice Detachment and Self-Care

What to know how to practice detachment? What tips does Melody Beattie suggest for practicing self-care? How should you handle setbacks? If you are a codependent person, then practicing detachment and self-care are important steps in your recovery process. It’s important to detach yourself from a situation and reflect on how you feel in order to treat yourself with kindness and honesty. Continue reading to learn how to step away from codependent behavior.

What Causes Codependency? The Underlying Factors

What causes codependency traits to form? How are codependency and stress linked? Is there a way to combat codependent tendencies? In her book Codependent No More, Melody Beattie states that codependency is a reaction to prolonged stress. In most cases, you won’t even realize that your codependent tendencies are forming, because they build up over time. Below is an exploration into what causes codependency.

Too Many Choices: Beware the Consequences

Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you’re hungry but can’t decide what to eat? Or you’re bored but can’t choose something to watch? Why does having too many choices stress people out this way? This is exactly the dilemma that Barry Schwartz explores in his book The Paradox of Choice. Schwartz says that it takes time and energy to make decisions and, when we have to deliberate every decision extensively, we get worn out and sometimes become unable to process even simple decisions. Continue reading to learn about the negative consequences of living in a world with expanded choices.

Overwhelmed by Choices? Here’s How to Decide

Are you ever overwhelmed by choices and don’t know what decision to make? What tips can help you come to a decision that you’ll be satisfied with? You’ve probably experienced this before: you’re starving, but you keep scrolling through delivery apps and can’t decide what to eat. Finally, you get so frustrated that you just give up and heat up some leftovers, or you just pick something at random. We’ve all been there—it’s called decision paralysis. Here are 11 tips for how to make a decision when you’re overwhelmed by choices.

The 3 Biggest Consequences of Low Self-Esteem

What are some of the consequences of low self-esteem? How can having low self-esteem make codependency traits worse? In her classic book Codependent No More, Melody Beattie goes over the three repercussions of having low self-esteem: attachment issues, bad communication, and caretaking. Thankfully, there are ways to recognize and repair these issues, if you’re willing to put in the work. Continue below to learn why low self-esteem is so dangerous.

The Paradox of Choice: The 3 Types of Choices

What are the three different types of choices? How can having more options make decisions even more difficult? In his book The Paradox of Choice, Professor Barry Schwartz discusses the three categories of choice: consumer choices, complex choices, and personal choices. Schwartz focuses on the fact that today we have more options than ever, and although that may appear to be a good thing at first, it actually causes more problems than it solves. Continue below to learn about each type of choice.