Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Rationalization: The Psychology of Denial

Why is irrationality so uncomfortable? Can knowledge that is not backed by a rational explanation ever be true? Why do we feel such a strong urge to rationalize our decisions and behaviors? Knowledge without a rational explanation is a double-edged sword. This type of knowledge can be the truest, deepest kind, but it can also harbor biases. Because most of us don’t feel comfortable if we don’t know exactly what made us arrive at a particular judgment or decision, we tend to rationalize. But instead of helping us to uncover the truth, rationalizing often takes us further away from it.

How to Improve Productivity: 6 Tips to Get More Done

What hinders productivity? How can you reduce the burden of trivial, insignificant tasks and free up the space to focus on what really matters? One of the most common hindrances to productivity is being occupied with trivia. Trivial tasks contribute to stress and overwhelm as they waste your time, deplete your energy, and slow down progress on your goals. For example, deliberating over how to start an email uses up time and energy, distracts you from productive tasks, and eats into your relaxation time. But the result offers no benefits. Here’s how to improve productivity by eliminating or streamlining tasks and

The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha—Overview

What is Neil Pasricha’s The Happiness Equation about? What are the four obstacles to happiness? In The Happiness Equation, Neil Pasricha discusses four common obstacles that prevent us from finding happiness: 1) relying on external circumstances to make you happy, 2) seeking approval from others, 3) working for the weekend, and 4) wasting mental energy. He claims that though these obstacles are pervasive, they’re surmountable: You can train yourself to feel happier. Let’s take a look at each of these four obstacles and Pasricha’s actionable solutions for overcoming them.

How to Cultivate Unconditional Self-Acceptance

What does it mean to “accept yourself”? Why is it important to accept yourself unconditionally, including the parts of yourself you’d wish to change? Self-acceptance means embracing all parts of yourself unconditionally, even the things you wish you could change. It’s important to accept all aspects of yourself, no matter how much you don’t like them—selective self-acceptance only exaggerates the focus on your flaws and makes it harder to accept yourself as you are. Here’s why it’s so important to cultivate unconditional self-acceptance and some ideas on how to go about doing that.

Stop Looking for Happiness Outside Yourself

Can true happiness be found externally? Why do they say that “happiness comes from within”? Basing happiness on circumstances prevents you from feeling happy. Life’s full of problems and challenges—circumstances are rarely exactly how you want them to be, no matter how hard you try to force them into place. Therefore, there’s always an excuse not to be happy. But unwanted experiences aren’t to blame for your misery—looking for happiness outside of yourself is. Here’s why relying on external circumstances won’t make you happy.

Neil Pasricha: The Key to Happiness Is Positivity

What is the key to happiness? Can you train yourself to be happier? The first key to feeling happier is training yourself to think more positively and feel happy regardless of your circumstances. In his book The Happiness Equation, Neil Pasricha suggests training yourself to be happier with six methods: 1) get active, 2) do good deeds, 3) switch off, 4) engage fully, 5) practice meditation, and 6) be thankful. Here’s how you can stop external circumstances from dictating your mood and train yourself to be happier.

Stop Seeking Validation in Pursuit of Happiness

Do you worry about what other people think of you, looking for ways to gain social approval? How does striving for external validation erode your happiness? Seeking validation makes you unhappy by pushing you to act in ways that don’t support what you really want. Many of “your” goals are actually an attempt to gain approval from others, and the way you judge yourself depends on how you perceive others’ reactions to you. When you put so much weight on others’ opinions, you erode your own happiness because chasing external validation breeds self-contempt and prevents you from pursuing things that

Sun Tzu’s Principles of War: 5 Keys to Victory

Who was Sun Tzu? What’s the key premise of Sun Tzu’s philosophy? In The Art of War, Sun Tzu, a Chinese warrior and philosopher, details the nature of competition and psychology of leadership and provides strategies for how to approach both. Although Sun Tzu’s principles are geared toward actual military conflict, they can be useful in all areas of conflict or competition, even at a personal level. Keep reading for Sun Tzu’s principles of war and the rationale behind them.

Sun Tzu’s Five Factors of Successful Military Action

What are Sun Tzu’s teachings about attaining victory? Can you really win a war without fighting? Much of Tzu’s teachings revolve around the concept that victory without direct fighting is the most advantageous way to win. Part of attaining this type of battle-free victory involves five factors of successful military operations: the Way, the weather, the terrain, the leadership, and discipline. Sun Tzu’s five factors can help you assess the likelihood of victory in any circumstance. Let’s consider each in turn.

The Art of Learning: Review & Critical Reception

Is Josh Waitzkin’s The Art of Learning worth reading? What is Josh Waitzkin’s philosophy on learning? In The Art of Learning, chess prodigy and tai chi World Champion Josh Waitzkin outlines his philosophy on learning, skill mastery, and competition. Waitzkin builds from basic to advanced strategies for both the psychological and technical sides of skill-building, showing that your growth as a competitor parallels your growth as an individual. Below is our The Art of Learning review, including background, context, and critical reception.