Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Active vs. Passive Personality: How to Communicate With Each

Are you active or passive in your approach to action? What about the people around you? When you understand how people operate, it’s easier to communicate with them effectively and work with them toward a goal. Communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet discusses active vs. passive personality and shares tips on how to speak each language. Keep reading for her practical advice as well as a broader discussion about active and passive behavior.

Focus on the Future, Not the Past: Living an Emotionally Agile Life

Do you let your emotional investment in something keep you from moving on when you should? If so, are you missing out on something of even greater value? Clinical psychologist and management consultant Susan David says that emotional agility entails getting real about life and your emotional responses to it. Instead of living by false narratives, you live by true values. Part of the emotionally agile life is having a focus on the future, not the past. Read on to learn how this principle can help you start living by your values and avoid falling back into the trap of

Fats in Your Diet: Peter Attia Weighs in on Olive Oil & Other Fats

How well does your body process saturated fat? Are fats unhealthy? Are some fats more detrimental than others? According to physician Peter Attia, olive oil in your diet is a good thing. That’s generally true for all monounsaturated fats. In his book Outlive, he explains why this type of fat is more healthy for you than polyunsaturated fats and saturated fats. Keep reading to learn the basic ins and outs of fats in your diet.

3 Questions You Should Ask Yourself to Find Fulfillment in Life

Are you going through life on autopilot? Would you like to find more direction and satisfaction? Author Warren Berger started his career as a journalist. That’s when he re-learned the importance of asking questions—an art that we usually lose after childhood. He says that asking questions about your own life can help you discover what makes you happy or what your life purpose is. Keep reading for three questions you should ask yourself if you want to understand where you are and where you’re headed.

Practice and Mastery: For a Master, “Practice” Is a Noun

Is “practice” a noun or a verb? In which sense is it more important for someone who’s pursuing mastery? If you’re a master, you practice your skill. But, you also have a practice. Ultimately, you live and embody a practice. In Mastery, writer and educator George Leonard explains that mastery is not just an ability or an accomplishment; it’s a way of life. Read more to learn about practice and mastery, according to Leonard.

How to Leverage Positive and Negative Motivation to Spur Action

Are you more motivated by promises or by threats? What about the people around you? Communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet says that you can figure out whether someone is wired for positive or negative motivation. Then, you can use that information to influence and incentivize them. Continue reading to learn how to leverage positive and negative motivation in others—and yourself.

Labeling Your Emotions: The First Step Toward Emotional Agility

How well do you understand your feelings? Do you know the context of your emotions? Emotional agility is the ability to view events and emotions objectively and respond deliberately to them. According to clinical psychologist Susan David, emotional agility begins with a process of labeling your emotions. Continue reading to understand the two key aspects of labeling your emotions and how to engage in this constructive practice.

Peter Attia: Fasting Is a Drastic Step You Might Not Need to Take

Should you practice fasting? What must you take into consideration? What are the pros and cons? According to Peter Attia, fasting can be good for you—but, it’s usually not advisable. You can miss out on important nutrition when you fast. So, unless you suffer from metabolic dysfunction and need to take drastic measures to avoid chronic disease, steer clear from fasting. Keep reading to learn more about Attia’s argument and to hear a counterargument from kidney specialist Jason Fung.

Are Self-Validating People Easier or Harder to Influence?

How do you decide what to do? How do you determine how well you do things? You either validate yourself or look to get that validation from others. That’s true for everyone. Shelle Rose Charvet applies this knowledge to the workplace and provides guidance on how to persuade both self-validating people and people who are more validated by others. Read more to learn about this difference in people and how to make the most of it.

Susan David’s Emotional Agility Quotes (With Context)

What’s the best way to make lasting change? How are internal narratives created? In Emotional Agility, Susan David explains that most people react instinctively to their perceptions of events, which are based on emotional (often untrue) narratives explaining why those events took place. David argues that you can break free of these controlling narratives by practicing emotional agility. Keep reading for a few Emotional Agility quotes that provide insight into the book’s concepts.