Shortform Books

The Top 4 Skills for Women and Girls

What skills should women develop if they want to stand out in the business world? Why is self-confidence one of the most important skills to practice? Girl boss, author, and motivational speaker Rachel Hollis says that there are four skills for women that will help them succeed: self-confidence, persistence, effectiveness, and positivity. She says that women should use these skills as tools to further their lives and careers. Continue reading to learn about the four skills.

Healthy Skepticism: How to Use Doubt as a Tool

Do you practice healthy skepticism? What’s the difference between skepticism and cynicism? Healthy skepticism is a handy tool to have around if you want to get at the truth. It’s also a way to achieve freedom of control, according to The Fifth Agreement authors don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz. This is your ticket to choosing how you want to live. Read more to learn how to leverage healthy skepticism, and how skepticism is different from cynicism.

5 Tips for Overcoming Creative Blocks

Do you often get stuck in your creative process? How do artists deal with creative blocks? According to Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Big Magic, if your creative process doesn’t flow, you may be fearful of the uncertainty that is inherent in creating something innovative or novel. Or perhaps, you are creating for the wrong reason (e.g. strictly to make money). In this article, we’ll discuss Gilbert’s tips for overcoming creative blocks.

Rachel Hollis: The Daily Routine of a Working Mother

What does the daily routine of a mother look like? What advice does Rachel Hollis give for busy moms to take care of themselves? In her bestselling book Girl, Stop Apologizing, author, business owner, and mother of four Rachel Hollis talks about how to stay healthy while also running a business and raising children. Her five essentials include waking up early, staying hydrated, eating well, exercising, and practicing gratitude. She also shares her daily morning routine. Continue reading for advice on how to juggle your health, work, and parenting.

How to Live a Balanced Lifestyle for Body and Mind

Has your life fallen out of balance? Does your work-at-home job have you sitting at a desk all day, snacking in the kitchen, and working late? Do you feel like you’ve lost your spark in life? In today’s world more than ever, people’s lives are falling out of balance. The COVID-19 pandemic has blurred the line between personal and professional lives, disrupted sleep patterns, increased depression rates, and caused many to gain weight. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here is how you can start working towards a more balanced lifestyle, one step at a time.

Don’t Make Assumptions: The Third Agreement

What does the third agreement “don’t make assumptions” actually mean? What difference could it make if you made this agreement with yourself? Don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz, in their book The Fifth Agreement, discuss five “agreements” that you can make with yourself. These agreements affect your perspective of the world and how you fit into it. The third agreement is this: Don’t make assumptions. Read more to learn a healthy alternative to making assumptions.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Where Does Creativity Come From?

Where does creativity come from? And is there a way to invite it into your life? According to Elizabeth Gilbert, creativity comes from “Big Magic”—a mystical force where creative ideas reside. This force is bigger than us and cannot be explained scientifically or proven empirically. It is an eternal cosmic entity that creatives must have faith in. Keep reading to learn where creativity comes from, according to Elizabeth Gilbert.

Girls, Stop Apologizing and Stand Your Ground

Why does Rachel Hollis say that women need to stop apologizing so much? In what ways do women often allow others to convince them to quit? The people around you won’t always be supportive of your dreams—that’s a fact of life. But if you let their negativity bring you down or allow it to derail your goals, then you’re essentially apologizing to them by quitting. Rather than back down, Hollis says, you should stand your ground. Here is Hollis’s advice for unapologetically chasing your dreams.

Choose Your Words Wisely: The First Agreement

What is the first agreement of Toltec enlightenment? What does it mean to choose your words wisely? In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz discuss the five agreements in Toltec enlightenment. The first agreement is to choose your words wisely—or, as they put it, to be impeccable with your words. They emphasize that you must be careful not to use words as weapons against yourself or others. Keep reading to learn how it’s important to choose your words wisely.

Big Magic: Quotes From Elizabeth Gilbert

Are you looking for Big Magic quotes by Elizabeth Gilbert? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert offers both spiritual wisdom on how to work with the magical forces of creativity, as well as suggestions on how to create effectively and productively. Gilbert draws on her successful career as a writer, best known for her 2006 memoir Eat Pray Love, and her advice is aimed toward anyone who has a creative bent. Below is a selection of Big Magic quotes with explanations.