Book SummaryThink This, Not That, by Josh Axe

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Think This, Not That

Cultivating an empowering mentality.

Acknowledge the influence of convictions and confront beliefs that impose limitations.

Our reality is molded by our beliefs, which, when restrictive, can impede the full realization of our capabilities.

Axe suggests that our perceptions greatly shape the reality we encounter. These factors significantly influence our well-being and the nature of our professional interactions. Our perception of our own limited achievements often constrains our capabilities. Leveraging his background in healthcare, Axe observed the profound influence that a person's mental attitude can exert. Individuals maintaining an optimistic and forward-looking perspective frequently experience more success in conquering illness, shedding pounds, and enhancing their general well-being. People clinging to limiting beliefs often find themselves trapped in harmful patterns. Henry Ford, the esteemed pioneer in the automotive industry, is often associated with the concept that one's conviction in their own capabilities or lack thereof can manifest into reality.

Josh Axe advocates for the identification of limiting beliefs that often hinder individuals from reaching their full potential. He offers a multitude of examples related to one's career, personal relationships, spiritual convictions, and economic concerns. Often, the limiting beliefs we harbor fall into one of three categories: a sense of insufficiency, discontent with our accomplishments, and a continuous experience of lacking abundance. Axe suggests that when people hold on to limiting beliefs about these elements, they limit their own potential by obsessing over what cannot be achieved and comparing themselves to others. They frequently experience a heightened sense of vigilance, driven by apprehensions and trepidations.

To escape the confines of restrictive beliefs, Axe introduces a complex activity aimed at confronting and substituting these detrimental self-perceptions. The method starts by critically reevaluating the memory that triggers the limiting belief, dissecting the event and its connected thoughts. Then, Axe recommends substituting this detrimental conviction with a liberating reality. Adopting this viewpoint of limitless belief lays the groundwork for significant growth and advancement. He illustrates this concept using his own experience when a high school English teacher laughed at his dream of becoming a doctor. Subsequently, after being encouraged by a university English instructor, Axe realized that the limiting mindset instilled by his high school teacher had impeded his progress, while the support from the subsequent educator unleashed his potential. Axe underscores the significance of being in the company of individuals who bolster and champion your aspirations.

Context

• In medicine, the placebo effect demonstrates how belief in the efficacy of a treatment can lead to real physiological changes, highlighting the power of belief in shaping physical reality.
• The language we use can reinforce restrictive beliefs; for example, saying "I can't" instead of "I can try" limits perceived possibilities.
• Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, this mindset emphasizes the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. It contrasts with a fixed mindset, which can be seen as a restrictive belief.
• How feedback is perceived can affect professional growth. Constructive feedback perceived positively can lead to improvement and development, while negative perception of feedback can result in defensiveness and stagnation.
• The concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy explains how believing in one's limitations can lead to behaviors that reinforce those limitations, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.
• Practices like mindfulness and meditation have been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve overall health by promoting a positive mental state and reducing negative thinking patterns.
• Optimists are more likely to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset, viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable barriers.
• Societal stories and stereotypes can perpetuate limiting beliefs, influencing how individuals perceive their roles and capabilities within a community.
• Athletes and performers often use visualization to enhance performance, mentally rehearsing success to increase confidence and improve actual outcomes.
• Techniques such as meditation and journaling can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and beliefs, making it easier to identify and change limiting beliefs.
• Limiting beliefs in spirituality might prevent individuals from exploring different belief systems or practices, potentially hindering personal growth and a deeper understanding of their own spirituality.
• Constant comparison and self-limitation can lead to negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, which can further hinder personal and professional growth.
• A field of psychology that focuses on the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. It supports the idea of replacing negative beliefs with positive ones to enhance well-being and fulfillment.
• Memories that trigger limiting beliefs often have strong emotional components. Understanding these emotions can help in processing and reframing the memory.
• Using positive affirmations can help reinforce new, empowering beliefs, gradually replacing old, limiting ones.
• Being surrounded by supportive individuals can enhance emotional resilience, helping individuals recover from setbacks more quickly and maintain a positive outlook.

Redefine success as becoming, not just accomplishing

Achieving true success goes beyond amassing wealth; it encompasses cultivating a noble character and the ability to positively impact the lives of others.

Josh Axe challenges the...

Think This, Not That Summary Developing an understanding of oneself and setting a clear path for personal development.

Deepen your self-knowledge by engaging in a self-awareness strategy referred to as self-distancing.

Understanding ourselves encompasses an acknowledgment of our capabilities, limitations, distinctive characteristics, and the factors that drive us.

This chapter encourages people to delve deeply into self-reflection to identify their talents and opportunities for personal growth. Axe underscores the challenge of developing self-awareness, which requires courage, honesty, and a willingness to face the truths we have overlooked, especially our "shadow self," that contains elements potentially damaging to ourselves and others. He shares personal anecdotes that emphasize the significance of self-awareness, which include learning about the profound effects of adversity while on a humanitarian trip in Ethiopia and gaining advice from a friend on improving his deadlift technique following a back injury.

Axe posits that the rarity of self-awareness among individuals stems from the substantial effort required, which many are hesitant to commit to. He identifies numerous obstacles that hinder our journey towards self-understanding, including a prideful disposition that causes us...

Think This, Not That Summary Cultivating bonds within a community and across various relationships.

Cultivate an environment of exceptional individuals.

Surrounding ourselves with people who share our values and foster our development can significantly accelerate our progress in both our careers and personal lives.

Josh Axe believes that reaching our utmost potential is contingent upon the involvement of other people. Josh Axe advocates for the formation of a supportive circle of friends with aligned goals and principles, who are committed to mutually fostering each other's growth and advancement. The research emphasized in Josh Axe's book suggests that our habitual actions are often shaped by the social circles we are part of. To mitigate the effects of "social contagion," it's recommended to pinpoint the top five individuals who have the most significant sway over us and meticulously evaluate their characteristics, skills, flaws, and values. Our values and personal identity are significantly shaped by the traits they exhibit.

Axe uses his own experience of struggling to find a community of like-minded couples after he and his wife moved to South Florida as an example of how this type of intentional community is crucial for growth. Upon arriving back in Nashville,...

Think This, Not That Summary Cultivating one's own moral excellence and uprightness.

Acknowledge the importance of virtue in addition to values.

Foundational principles rooted in ethical integrity provide a more stable and impactful foundation for our lives than the ever-changing societal norms.

Axe characterizes virtues as the foundational elements essential for a life imbued with significance and satisfaction. Character development is significantly influenced by traits that are deemed virtuous. Josh Axe believes that a life brimming with inspiration, meaning, and the capacity to drive progress is fundamentally built on a bedrock of ethical integrity. Josh Axe underscores the importance of integrity and moral fiber, characteristics often overlooked as outdated and uninteresting, by highlighting that humanity's most notable achievements, like the singular work of art by the esteemed Italian painter, Martin Luther King Jr.'s relentless pursuit of civil rights, and his mother's triumph over a grave sickness, were all fueled by these virtues.

Axe contrasts the economic results of two groups of CEOs—those celebrated for their robust ethical principles against those recognized for lacking moral integrity—to emphasize his point. The outcomes were...