Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Create Habits That Stick: 6 Ways to Align Your Subconscious

Hands holding a taped sign that says Habit

Do you find it easy to start a new habit but nearly impossible to stick with it? What do you need to change about your approach to instill real change in your life? It’s one thing to adopt a new habit. It’s another to make that habit stick and become part of your life. The key is to get your subconscious mind—not just your conscious mind—to want to adopt the new habit. Keep reading to learn how to create habits that stick by aligning your subconscious with your new behaviors.

How to Spend Your Last Years of Life: Insights From Sadhguru

An old couple walking their dog in a forest

How should you spend your last years of life? What environments and activities will give you a healthy perspective? In his book Death: An Inside Story, spiritual teacher Sadhguru shares advice on how to overcome the fear of death, how to prepare for death, and how to die well. One aspect of this is the way you spend the last years leading up to your death. Read more for Sadhguru’s insights that might cause you to reevaluate your plans.

Stephen M. R. Covey’s Trust and Inspire: Book Overview

What motivates people in today’s workplace? Is your leadership style as effective as it can be? Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others by Stephen M. R. Covey says that it’s time for leaders to step up from traditional leadership to inspirational leadership to succeed in all areas of work and life. Covey explains why this is important and how to achieve it. Continue reading for our comprehensive Trust and Inspire book overview.

Malala Yousafzai’s Activism: One Girl’s Fight for All Girls

Why does Malala Yousafzai have such a strong value for education? How does she find the courage to speak out against people who want her dead? It’s a remarkable story: A child born into poverty in a society that valued boys over girls and religious tradition over secular education became a Nobel-winning activist for girls’ education. Malala Yousafzai’s activism started at an early age and continues to inspire people all over the world. Continue reading to learn how even a bullet couldn’t stop Malala’s brave fight against evil.

How to Die Well: 3 Tips From Spiritual Teacher Sadhguru

An old woman smiling with arms wide open

If you want to die well, how should you live? What should you avoid at the very end of your life? Dying well isn’t just about your last moments; it’s about the hours, days, and even years before your death. In Death: An Inside Story, spiritual teacher Sadhguru recommends that you practice mindfulness throughout your life, spend your final years in nature, and surrender your individuality as you die. Keep reading for Sadhguru’s advice on how to die well.

Command and Control vs. Trust and Inspire Leadership (Covey)

Are you a modern leader or a throwback to the Industrial Age? What if you could hit the nail on the head when it comes to what’s required in leadership today? In Trust and Inspire, Stephen M. R. Covey argues that the fundamental nature of work has changed since the industrial era, necessitating a corresponding shift in leadership. He discusses the difference between industrial and modern work and explains why leaders must evolve to keep up. Read more to understand Command and Control vs. Trust and Inspire leadership.

Why Did the Taliban Shoot Malala? How One Girl Provoked Evil

Why did the Taliban shoot Malala Yousafzai? Why did they consider her such a threat? Surrounded by the Taliban’s increasing violence and attacks on women and girls in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai did what she believed was right. She continued going to school despite the Taliban’s ban, and—encouraged by her father—she spoke out in support of girls’ education. Read more to learn why the Taliban shot Malala.

How to Prepare for Death—and Why You Should (Sadhguru)

A man looking at a gravestone in a field

Are you prepared to die? What should you do if you hope to experience a “good death” one day? Regardless of your age, death is in your future. That’s not something to dread, but it’s something you can and should prepare for. That’s the view of spiritual teacher Sadhguru, who discusses dying well in his book Death: An Inside Story. Continue reading for Sadhguru’s insights on how to prepare for death.

Trust and Inspire Leadership: The 5 Fundamental Beliefs

How do your beliefs shape your leadership style? What do you believe to be true about yourself and the people you lead? In Trust and Inspire, Stephen M. R. Covey says that as a modern leader, you must inspire employees to maximize their work quality by trusting and encouraging them to achieve their full potential. He contends that the foundation of this type of leadership is a set of beliefs. Keep reading to learn the five fundamental beliefs of Trust and Inspire leadership.

Death: An Inside Story Quotes From Sadhguru (+ Context)

How do some people unwittingly invite death? Where is the only safe place on the planet? Why should you postpone your meals by 10 minutes? Someday, you’re going to die. This is an obvious, unavoidable fact of life—yet almost everyone in modern society has implicitly agreed to ignore it. According to spiritual teacher Sadhguru, this reluctance to acknowledge death leads to enormous and unnecessary suffering. Read on for several Death: An Inside Story quotes that will give you a good sense of the book’s ideas.