The World's Best Book Summaries
How do you cultivate love that is genuine rather than false? What does optimism have to do with love? Developing love isn’t usually all magic and fairytales—it takes work. If you want to develop genuine love, you need to do some work on yourself first. Here are three bits of advice on how to develop love that’s sincere and genuine.
Do you often find yourself lost in thought about the past or the future? Are you disconnected from the present? In his book The Happiness Trap, Russ Harris refers to being in the present moment as “connection.” Harris writes that connection is the practice of using our observing self to shift our attention away from the past and future in order to be fully engaged in the present. He offers the following three exercises for developing the skill of connection.
Have you heard the myth that the best artists are the ones who suffer the most? Would you believe that you can combine mindfulness and creativity? The starving artist is a famous trope. Many believe that the best art comes from those who are suffering—whether that be mentally, financially, or physically. However, in his book 10% Happier, Dan Harris asserts that you don’t need to suffer to be creative. In fact, he says that mindfulness can actually boost creativity. Let’s debunk the starving artist myth.
What is the difference between a maximizer and a satisficer? Is there a benefit to being one over the other? When it comes to deliberating options, there are two types of people: maximizers and satisficers. Maximizers will deliberate until they have chosen the best possible solution, while satisficers will select an option that is good enough. There are pros and cons to both types of personalities. Continue reading to learn about the two types of deliberators, and learn which one will end up happier.
What to know how to practice detachment? What tips does Melody Beattie suggest for practicing self-care? How should you handle setbacks? If you are a codependent person, then practicing detachment and self-care are important steps in your recovery process. It’s important to detach yourself from a situation and reflect on how you feel in order to treat yourself with kindness and honesty. Continue reading to learn how to step away from codependent behavior.
What are some of the consequences of low self-esteem? How can having low self-esteem make codependency traits worse? In her classic book Codependent No More, Melody Beattie goes over the three repercussions of having low self-esteem: attachment issues, bad communication, and caretaking. Thankfully, there are ways to recognize and repair these issues, if you’re willing to put in the work. Continue below to learn why low self-esteem is so dangerous.
Want to know how to be more mindful in your everyday life? How can being more mindful help you to regain control of your life? Mindfulness is important because when you are mindful and present in your daily life, you gain more control and consequently, feel happier and more fulfilled. However, remaining mindful in a world full of distractions can prove to be difficult. Thankfully, the list below provides tips on how to remain mindful from Robin Sharma’s book Who Will Cry When You Die?. Continue reading below for tips on mindfulness.
Can you think of a defining moment from your past? What made it so? More generally, what makes a defining moment? There’s a common misconception that defining moments in life are large milestone events—such as the birth of your child—or simply happen as a matter of pure serendipity—such as going to a café and bumping into the woman you’ll marry. However, according to Chip and Dan Heath, the authors of The Power of Moments, most defining moments happen in small, everyday events, and what makes them stand out is how you shape them by investing your time, effort, and strategic
What is a peak experience? Can you think of a particularly memorable experience from your past? What made it a “peak experience”? Peak experiences transcend everyday patterns and impart positive feelings like delight, motivation, and engagement. Some of these positive peaks naturally occur in everyday life but they don’t have to be spontaneous. According to Chip and Dan Heath, the authors of The Power of Moments, you can engineer these experiences through what they call “elevation.” Here, Chip and Dan Heath explain the psychology behind peak experiences.
What are the biggest personal life choices that everybody must make? In what ways does expanded choice affect these decisions? In his book The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains that there are three major personal choices that we all must make in life: relationships, religion, and identity. Schwartz says that these already difficult decisions are complicated by the fact that people today have more options than ever. Here’s an overview of Schwartz’s discussion on personal life choices.