The World's Best Book Summaries
What are the three steps to achieving your goals in life? Why should you focus on achieving one goal at a time? What should you do if you feel stuck? Sometimes, your goals can feel impossibly out of reach. But if you break down the steps to reaching them into bite-sized pieces, they can feel much more attainable. Here are Rachel Hollis’s three steps to executing your dreams from Girl, Stop Apologizing.
Do you believe that you don’t have what it takes to achieve great things? Where do you think these self-limiting beliefs stem from? We all have self-limiting beliefs that prevent us from setting ambitious goals. We believe we don’t have what it takes. According to Brian Tracy, the author of Goals!, these beliefs are true—not because you don’t have what it takes to excel and achieve great things—but precisely because this attitude will prevent you from even trying. Keep reading to get Brian Tracy’s advice for overcoming limiting beliefs.
What are some verbal communication strategies you should be aware of? Which ones should you use? Which ones should you avoid? We use various verbal communication strategies when we engage in conversations at home and work. There are three strategies—silence, violence, and “clever stories”—that you should seek to avoid, but it’s important to recognize when they are in use. Two strategies—useful stories and contrasting—lead to constructive dialogue and should be part of your skill set. Continue reading to learn about these verbal communication strategies.
What do don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz teach? How do they pass down Toltec tradition? Don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz are often referred to as “the naguals.” Naguals, sometimes described as dreamers, masters, or scholars, act as a conduit between the spirit and the world. They pass on the teachings of the Toltec—whom the Ruizes say were the intellectual and cultural predecessors of the Aztec. To them, a Toltec is an artist of the spirit: a master storyteller who paints his own reality. Keep reading to learn more about don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz.
Are you putting off your ambitions and goals because you’re worried about what other people will think about them? Did you know that other people rarely think about you? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that you need to stop seeking validation from others and go after your dreams. As it turns out, people rarely think about you or what you’re doing and you could be holding yourself back for no reason at all. Here’s why you should stop worrying about what others think about you.
What is a life mission statement? What should your mission statement be based on? How do you develop one? A life mission statement is essentially a statement of your purpose, priorities, and core values. In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey says that your personal mission statement should be informed by your personal paradigm—the lens through which you see the world. Continue reading to learn how to create a personal mission statement, according to Stephen Covey’s model.
What are the two best ways to advocate for yourself? Why do people find it so difficult to ask for help? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis highlights that it is especially difficult for women to stick up for themselves. The two best ways to advocate for yourself are to ask for help and to say “no.” But many women see asking for help as a sign of weakness and struggle to say “no” when asked to do something. Here is how to advocate for yourself, according to Hollis.
What does Toltec philosophy say about reality? What is its view of enlightenment? Toltec philosophy asserts that we tend to carry false beliefs. When we challenge those beliefs and overcome them, we become more and more free. Authors don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz (the naguals) discuss three stages that we go through on the road to total personal freedom (enlightenment). Continue reading to learn the Toltec philosophy of enlightenment.
How do you stop worrying about the things you can’t control? How do you prevent external factors you can’t influence from affecting your mental and emotional state? Many people let their minds be consumed by the things they have no control over. They let external factors dictate their internal state. But worrying about the things they cannot control causes them unnecessary stress and reinforces feelings of victimization. Here is why you should only worry about the things you can control (otherwise, you’d just be spinning your wheels with pointless stress).
What should you buy the book lover in your life for Christmas? What are the best gifts for bookworms that aren’t just more books? You might think the perfect Christmas gift for a book lover is a book. But trust us when we say that they most likely have shelves of books they still haven’t read. So, why not buy them something different this Christmas? From floating bookshelves to Jane Austen doormats and a book summary subscription, we’ve pulled together the most unique gifts for bookworms this Christmas.