Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Self-Esteem Therapy: 5 Tips for Psychotherapists

Can psychotherapy address low self-esteem? What role does self-esteem play in mental health? According to psychotherapist and self-esteem expert Nathaniel Branden, self-esteem should be the main goal of psychotherapy. In his book The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, he asserts that low self-esteem is the underlying cause of many psychological issues and explains how psychotherapists could modify their practices so that they can improve their clients’ self-esteem. Here’s how self-esteem therapy can be an untapped solution to many mental health problems, according to Branden.

Why Do We Need to Exercise? Answers From Science

Why do we need to exercise? Does physical exercise have survival value? According to John Ratey, the author of Spark, humans are evolutionarily built to move. When our ancient ancestors hunted down prey, their bodies and brains worked synchronously. The brain and body, therefore, became well-conditioned to support each other in a virtuous circle. Keep reading to learn about the survival value of exercise, according to John Ratey.

Hormesis: What It Is and How to Activate It

What is hormesis? How can you activate the process of hormesis in your body? Hormesis is the process by which our bodies become stronger in response to stressors like hunger, extreme temperatures, and physical damage. Hormesis activates numerous survival mechanisms, such as conserving resources and repairing cellular damage. Here’s how we can take advantage of hormesis not just to extend our lives, but to improve our quality of life as well.

Vex King: What Is the Law of Vibration?

What is the Law of Vibration? How does emitting good vibes help you attract more positivity into your life? According to Vex King, the key to achieving happiness and your dream life is to have a positive mindset or, in other words, put out good vibrations (or “vibes”). A positive mindset will attract positivity to your life. He calls this the Law of Vibration. Here’s how the Law of Vibration can help you manifest your dream life.

Why Do We Self-Sabotage? Gay Hendricks Explains

Why do we self-sabotage? In other words, why do we make decisions that prevent us from living our best life? According to Gay Hendricks, the author of The Big Leap, self-sabotage ensues when we reach what he calls the “Upper Limit Problem”—the maximum amount of success and happiness we are comfortable with experiencing. Once we reach that threshold, we will self-sabotage by making unwise decisions in order to return to the comfortable baseline. Here’s why we self-sabotage and how to stop doing it once and for all.

Oliver Burkeman: The Delusion of Time Management

What does Oliver Burkeman have to say on time management? Do you believe that you can fully have control over how you spend your time? According to Oliver Burkeman, time management is an illusion in a sense. In his book Four Thousand Weeks, he contends that humans live with the mistaken belief that if you try hard enough and find the right time management solutions, you should be able to gain total control over your time. Contrary to the promises of self-help gurus and time management tools, you’ll never be able to wield total control over your time. Let’s discuss the

Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart—Book Overview

What is Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Many people can only recognize and name three emotions: happiness, sadness, and anger. This lack of vocabulary blocks us from being able to fully experience and share our feelings with others—and that prevents us from forming connections with each other. In her book Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown provides descriptions and explanations of 87 emotions, along with the situations where you’re likely to encounter them. Below is a brief overview of Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown.

How to Accept Yourself Wholly and Unconditionally

What does it mean to accept yourself? Why is it important to accept yourself wholly and unconditionally? Accepting yourself means choosing not to live in conflict with yourself. When you accept yourself, you don’t compare yourself to others to validate your self-worth—you feel worthy the way you are. Keep reading to learn what accepting yourself entails, why it’s important, and how to accept yourself wholly and unconditionally.

The Big Leap: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

What’s Gay Hendricks’s The Big Leap about? What’s the key message to take away from the book? In his book The Big Leap, psychologist and personal growth coach Gay Hendricks, aims to help the reader overcome some of the psychological barriers to success and fulfillment. Written in 2009, the book collates advice accumulated over Hendricks’s many years in the coaching business, and it’s geared toward the reader who has achieved some success in life yet still feels a lack of fulfillment. Below is a brief overview of the key ideas.

Factors Influencing Self-Esteem: Culture Is Key

Is one’s self-esteem the result of internal or external factors? What role does culture play in self-esteem? Although self-esteem starts with your own behavior, external factors still play a role. According to psychotherapist and self-esteem expert Nathaniel Branden, one of the major external factors influencing self-esteem is the culture where you grew up. Keep reading to learn how cultures affect the self-esteem of their members—and how cultural values that support or discourage self-esteem affect the overall health of societies.