Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Accept Things as They Are & Find Freedom

Are you satisfied in life, or do you wish things could be different? How important is it to accept circumstances as they are? Naval Ravikant advocates the habit of acceptance. Acceptance is simply being content with a circumstance no matter what—it’s a kind of freedom. As he sees it, it’s freedom from things like frustration, expectation, desire, and so on. Practicing acceptance will help you find contentment. Read more to learn Ravikant’s advice on how to accept things as they are.

Holding Yourself Accountable & Avoiding Gap-Thinking

What’s Gap-thinking? How can you get out of it and stay out of it? What does it have to do with self-accountability? Gap-thinking is comparing who you are now to who you want to be. According to the book The Gap and the Gain, this is a recipe for unhappiness. Authors Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy argue that you should shift to Gain-thinking, which is comparing who you are now to who you used to be. They believe that holding yourself accountable is a key to getting out of—and staying out of—Gap-thinking. Keep reading to learn how powerful holding yourself

Increasing Science Literacy: Advice From Carl Sagan

What if the general public were more scientifically aware? What’s the path to get there? In The Demon-Haunted World, Carl Sagan shares his concern about science illiteracy, especially in America. He believes that a general public that’s equipped with more knowledge about scientific principles and methods would be a positive force in the world. He outlines two ways to increase science literacy: improving science education (including instilling more enthusiasm for science) and increasing funding for scientific research. Let’s take a close look at this advice from Sagan.

How to Accept Yourself as You Are: 2 Ways to Find Joy

Are you constantly fighting who you are? Do you let others’ opinions get the best of you? The Almanack of Naval Ravikant offers advice on how to build happiness. Ravikant argues that self-acceptance is a must if you want to be truly happy. He explains that the keys are to accept your own mortality and stop obsessing about what others think of you. Let’s take a closer look at Ravikant’s advice on how to accept yourself as you are.

How to Make a Daily Plan & Focus on Your Gains

What’s the best time of day to make a daily plan? What are implementation intentions and linked habits? Gap-thinking and Gain-thinking are two different ways to interpret your achievements in life. Gap-thinking is measuring forward by using your ideal future self as the object of comparison. Gain-thinking is measuring backward by using your past self instead. In The Gap and the Gain, Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy share practical recommendations on how to make a daily plan that helps you stay focused on Gains. Keep reading for tips on planning ahead, one day at a time.

Carl Sagan’s Baloney Detection Kit: Check Your Beliefs

What’s Carl Sagan’s baloney detection kit? How can you use it to get at the truth about science and everything else? Scientists are trained with what Carl Sagan calls a “baloney detection kit.” They’re given tools for critical thinking and healthy skepticism that help them cut through the fog in the pursuit of truth. Sagan argues that we all need this kit, whether we’re trying to figure out the truth about the moon landing or an ad’s claim about toothpaste. In The Demon-Haunted World, Sagan explains how commercial culture tends to discourage critical thinking, shares three questions that foster healthy

Why Passive Income Is Important (Naval Ravikant)

Why should you have passive income? What can passive income do that active income can’t? Working for wages is no way to achieve financial freedom. That’s the view of Naval Ravikant, who argues that passive income is the way to go. He explains why that is, and he identifies what he thinks is the best way to generate passive income. Keep reading to learn Ravikant’s view on why passive income is important.

Gratitude Exercises: 3 Ways to Practice Gratitude Today

What are some good ways to practice gratitude? What difference can it make in your life? The Gap and The Gain describes two ways of thinking that measure your progress in life. Gap-thinking is focusing your thoughts on the “gap” between where you are now and where you want to be. Gain-thinking is focusing on how far you’ve come, or the “gains” you’ve made. The authors believe that practicing gratitude is a great way to stay in the Gain mindset. Keep reading to learn three gratitude exercises that can help you maintain your focus on Gains.

3 Ways Science and Society Are Woven Together

How can we get rid of stereotypes and racism? How can we give more political power back to the people? How can we use science to advance civilization? The more we apply scientific thinking and values to the world at large, the better the world will be. That’s the view of Carl Sagan. In The Demon-Haunted World, he argues that scientific understanding and principles can eliminate bigotry, fight tyranny, and bolster democracy. Keep reading to learn more about this important connection between science and society.

Ravikant: 3 Types of Leverage in Financial Management

What’s leverage? How can you use this principle to build wealth over time? The Almanack of Naval Ravikant shares Ravikant’s ideas on leverage. He argues that leverage is a key component of building a passive income. He explains how you can leverage labor, money, and products that can be replicated without further inputs. Keep reading to learn about three types of leverage in financial management.