The World's Best Book Summaries
What does your dream life look like to you? What can you do to make your dream life a reality? According to Vex King, the author of Good Vibes, Good Life, you can attain your ideal life by visualizing your desires and taking steps to achieve them. But many people don’t even know what their dream life entails—you can’t move forward if you don’t know the destination. Here’s how to manifest your dream life.
What’s the purpose of a mantra? What are the psychological benefits of practicing mantra meditation? Reciting mantras is traditionally a Buddhist practice aimed at cultivating the mind’s qualities of mindfulness and concentration. More recently, mantra meditation has become a more mainstream practice recommended by positive psychologists and self-help gurus. According to Gay Hendricks, the author of The Big Leap, reciting mantras can help you reprogram your mind from life’s conditioning and limiting beliefs. Here’s Gay Hendricks’ mantra meditation for happiness and success.
What are “near enemies”? What are some examples of emotional near enemies? According to Brené Brown, emotions and traits have “near enemies”—states that feel similar but come from a different place. For example, the near enemy of hope is blind optimism, and the near enemy of self-sufficiency is hyper-independence. Here are some of the common near enemies you might fight within yourself.
What causes psychosomatic disease? How can a mental problem manifest physically? According to Gay Hendricks, psychosomatic ailments often ensue following very positive or pleasurable experiences. For example, if you get sick on your honeymoon, this may be a psychosomatic effect of nearing what he calls “the Upper Limit Problem.” If this is the case, it may be your mind affecting your body as a means of self-sabotage, or self-punishment. Here’s how your mind makes you sick, according to Hendricks.
Can you transmute negative emotions? How can you turn negative emotions into your greatest advantage? If the negative emotion you’re feeling is not appropriate based on the situation, it doesn’t serve you—it’s only making you miserable. The good news is that emotional states are malleable—you can transform negative emotions into positive ones. Here’s how to turn negativity into positivity, according to mind coach Vex King.
What is the difference between guilt and shame? Where do shame and guilt stem from? According to Brené Brown, shame and guilt are similar emotions. Brown says that shame is feeling inadequate and unworthy as a person, while guilt is feeling bad for something we’ve done rather than for who we are. Here’s how Brené Brown explains shame and guilt.
What makes a person evil? Is it easy to become evil? The Lucifer Effect dives into the circumstantial factors that Philip Zimbardo believes can influence anyone to do evil. These factors include identity cues, social pressures, and losing awareness of individuality. Keep reading to learn what makes someone evil.
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? Can you feel empathy and sympathy at the same time? According to Brené Brown, empathy vs. sympathy is an important distinction. Empathy is the ability to relate to how the other person feels, while sympathy is feeling bad for them, but failing to relate to them emotionally. Keep reading to learn about the difference between empathy vs. sympathy, according to Brené Brown.
Do you tend to focus on the things you have or the things you lack? How can practicing gratitude help you shift your focus from lack towards positivity and abundance? When you are grateful for your good fortunes, you emit good vibes, which attract more goodness into your life. However, it can be hard to appreciate what you already have when you focus on the things you lack. Here’s how to be grateful, no matter how little you have.
What does it mean to act with integrity? Why is it important to align your actions with your values? What does acting with integrity entail in practice? When you act with integrity, your behavior reflects your values. You may not choose the perfect option every time, but you strive to find and follow the option that best reflects your values. If your values point to opposing behaviors, you weigh your options and select what seems best. Keep reading to learn why integrity matters and how to act with integrity.