Book 9: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

The most fascinating thing that has happened from all my reading is seeing how the books overlap. One book will say one thing and another will say something entirely different but it will somehow back up what the other book said. I wish I had an example off the top of my head but alas I don't, next time I will try to remember to write them down.

So what did I learn this week?

Worry really is worth it. I've know that my whole life but when you read a book that over and over shows why it isn't worth it, it makes you realize how foolish it is. I enjoy reading Dale Carnegie's books (He is also the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People) because they are so practical. He doesn't only show why worry isn't worth it but he shows how to combat it and what to do. I feel more capable of fighting the worry in my life and cutting it off before it grows roots. If you have every struggled with anxiety or worrying please do yourself a favor and pick this book up. It won't be a waste of your time.

This week I am taking the week off of reading but I shall pick it up on Monday of next week reading Book 10: The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz. It was recommended to me by a friend!

I can't believe I am going to be reading my tenth book!

Book 8: Authentic Happiness

I have decided that I am going to attempt to just post on Mondays. That way I read Monday to Sunday and post on Monday. I think this idea will work out for me... or it will make me continue to slack off and I will post on Tuesday (like I am today...whoops!).

What did I learn?
The number one thing I am going to take away is to focus on building on my strengths, instead of making my weaknesses less weak. There is much to glean from this book about living a more authentically happy life but for me I know I can make my life more enjoyable by taking my attention off all the things I am not very good at refocusing on what I am good at. I have gifts and talents that are often neglected because I am trying to make myself better in areas where I suck. For instance I am a terrible small talker, I have come to accept I will always be terrible and instead of trying to be an excellent small talker I am going to be an awesome authentic genuine conversationalist because really that is what I am good at.

Side not if you want to take a test on your strengths (or other random tests to learn about yourself) head on over to www.authentichappiness.org and take the strengths test.

Book 9: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
-I will be taking next week off (I have learned I am not productive during holidays)

Book 7: Beyond Revenge - The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct

First things first, Thanksgiving messed up my routine. I decided half way through the week to take it off and spend my time with family instead of reading. It was a decision I am glad I made.

So I finished the book this past week. What did I learn?

Revenge or vengeance has caused majority of the chaos in this world. In the present time we rarely use the word revenge unless it is in the context of superhero or comic book, but whether we use the word or not, it is all around us. For Americans like me, think about how we were sold war after 9/11. It was sold on the premise that we were wronged and we must punish (revenge) those who have wronged us (I realize it is much more complex than that but you get my point).

With that said, I think the realization of how revenge can often drive humanity to violence is something that we all need to take to heart. Because when we can identify that revenge is what is causing the problem we can take control and replace the revenge with forgiveness.

I enjoyed this book but it is definitely a heady book, basically a compilation of a bunch of research on revenge and forgiveness. It is not an easy read but it is fascinating.

Book 8: Authentic Happiness - Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E. P. Seligman

Book 6: The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

This is late. I am going to blame it on Thanksgiving travels. I did finish the book on Sunday but as usual I am late on posting. This blogging has been been more of a challenge than the book reading but it is keeping me accountable.

So what did I learn?

I don't necessarily think there was one thing that I learned but instead it encouraged a philosophy I have come to believe. The idea that we all don't fit into the cookie cutter the education system has developed. Sometimes people aren't sugar cookies, they are chocolate chip or they aren't even cookies at all. Bad metaphor I know, but hopefully you get my drift. I think this cartoon really exemplifies what I am trying to say.

The Element has challenged me to find my passion. Michelangelo once said, "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." I want to find my passion and take it as far as I can.

Next week is book 7. The books are all starting to meld together in my learning process but I am growing and learning so much. This week is Beyond Revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct by Michael E. McCullough. I think this one is going to be interesting.

Sir Ken Robinson

I told you I would post a TED talk by the man who wrote the book I am currently reading. Well here it is! It is worth the time out of your day. By the way if you don't know what TED talks are, GOOGLE IT! They are often fascinating talks about everything you can think of. I have learned so much from all the talks I have watched. They are mini lectures of awesome :)

Book 5: The Culture Code

5 books in 5 weeks. I must say I am kind of proud of myself. I wasn't sure if I would keep this up and I am definitely not slowing down. I am more and more motivated to keep going and getting really excited about the books I am picking for the weeks to come. I am also getting much better at setting aside time to read. Even if it is for 10 min before I fall asleep.

I love all that I am learning and I love that I am loving learning. It really is quite awesome to choose what you want to learn and then doing it for yourself. I also have had a change of heart when it comes to those of you reading my blog. Originally I thought it would be cool if people read the same books I was reading but now I think it would be even cooler if people would find books that they love and tell us about them. Like a community blog. I obviously have personal interests I am fond of but there are so many more things out there than my small circle of interest. Anyone interested in being a guest post? Tell us about a book you read and what you have learned? Just an idea...

Ok so what did I learn?

Culture codes are kind of weird. The fact that Dr. Rapaille (the author) has been able to identify words that sum up our unconscious beliefs about things like love, luxury, and home, is pretty ingenious. Especially when you read how they are being used. (this is a book on marketing)

I have learned a lot from this book but mostly it reinforced my fascination of how cultures influence how we all see the world. The culture around us essentially is our glasses to the rest of the world and a lot of things don't make sense but that is because through our lenses other cultures are blurry and in order to make sense of it all, the discovery and application of the lenses of another culture are needed. That was a mouthful but I hope you get what I am pointing at. I think The Culture Code helps discover those lenses. 

Well week 6. I am excited to read this book. It has been on my list for a long time. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson. I hope to post some TED talks by him this week as well. Look him up, he is awesome.

Book 4: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcom Gladwell

So two things:

First, I was supposed to be reading a different book. I thought I had the Power of Now but I had accidentally picked up a book about the Power of Now so I went ahead and changed my book of the week to Blink. So in the coming weeks I will get the Power of Now.

Secondly, I did finish the book yesterday but ran out of energy and daytime to write this post. So here it is a tad late... again.

What did I learn?

I have learned that it is important to trust my instincts and initial reactions because they often are more reliable than I realize. Blink is the idea that our unconscious is aware of what is going on or how we feel quicker and more reliably than our conscious. And that our conscious often mucks up or distorts reality when it doesn't align with what we think is right.

I think this is fascinating. Because essentially Blink says that those feeling or intuitions that we sometimes get can be trusted. We can't explain why we feel the way we do but we know that they are right. The reason we can't explain them is because we are aware on an unconscious level. Maybe it is the nerd in me but I think these types of things are pretty dang cool.

Book 5: The Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille

Book 3: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

It is week three and I am finally on track to post and read within a week. Three books in three weeks has been tough. I think my husband may be getting a little jealous of my books. Or inspired to read more? I hope to inspire him too! But seriously this process so far has been extremely transformative.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy and it sure hasn't been but it has been one of those things that is super tough but super rewarding. Do you know what I mean? I sometimes dread reading but when I sit down and really get into the books, gleaning knowledge from the pages, I remember why I am doing this. I want to challenge myself, to grow in knowledge, and to become a better person. So far I know I am doing those three things and it feels pretty dang awesome.

So what have I learned this week...

I've learned the importance of working on myself. The 7 Habits start with the first 3 habits that are a personal victory, the next 3 are a public victory, and the last is basically described as maintenance. It order to have a public victory you must first begin with your private victory.

A private victory is comprised of being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, and making first things first. What this means for me is that I need to develop my purpose, my goals in life, and most importantly my personal mission statement. I need a compass to direct and center my life.

I've been challenged and affirmed by this book. There is so much more I need to be doing to become a highly effective person but I know that my book a week challenge is a good start.

Next week's book: Practicing the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (my motivation for choosing this book may be in part that it is the smallest out of my stack to read...).

Book 2: How to Win Friends and Influence People

You may notice that the blog is being posted on Monday again... though I did not get the post up in time I did finish the book yesterday! So I read a book in a week! It is possible and even though majority of my reading was done over the weekend and I am learning I need to intentionally plan times to read, I am still thoroughly enjoying this process.

So what did I learn this week?

Too many things to include in this post.
It seriously is an amazing book on how to interact with other people in life in general, business, and a lot of things that can apply to raising children. I would really recommend it to anyone who would like to improve their friendships, create new ones, and to improve relations with anyone they come into contact with. 

My favorite takeaway is be genuinely interested in people and what they say. Do it with sincerity and you will create friends, open doors in business, and make someone's day.

I think putting the principles in this book into practice will make my life better and the lives of the people around me better as well.

This week's book is the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. I am looking forward to what I am going to learn!

Book 1: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

So for starters I didn't make my goal for this week. I am a day late but I have completed the first book and  I am not going to let this initial setback keep me from my goal. I want to learn from my failures and use them as inspiration to do better next time. So even though I failed week one, I am not discouraged and still believe I can do this.

I have been thinking a lot about what I am actually going to write about concerning each book and I have settled on telling you what I have learned. Because after all this is a blog to inspire learning.

What have I learned?
I have learned that I am in control of where I go in life and what I do a lot more than I let myself believe. The premise of the book is that ideas that are backed with well though out planning, desire for success, and perseverance have the ability to help you reach whatever riches or goals that you want for yourself. That is a brief summary obviously and there is a lot more to it but it has inspired me.

It has inspired me to tap into my desires. To search myself and to see what is keeping me from reaching my potential. And mostly it has inspired me to dream. But dreams will never turn into reality if they are not formulated into well thought out goals.

I want to re-read it because it is a dense book and I know I will get more out of it with a re-read. But for now I am onto my next book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Join me if you would like or pick up Think and Grow Rich. You will be inspired.

So how am I going to do this…

For starters I have challenged myself to read one book a week.

Yes one book a week. No idea if I am going to be able to do this but if a challenge is not challenging then it is no challenge at all. I have already started my first book for this challenge which I will tell you about on Sunday, when I have finished it. My plan is to get all my books from the library because it is an amazing resource we rarely capitalize on. I will gladly take suggestions from anyone but I will only be reading books that have the potential to widen my view of the world. Books that will challenge me as an individual and develop my passion to learn.

That is my goal for now. One blog a week about the book I have completed the previous week.

For a side project, I hope to post randomly throughout the weeks. These posts will be all over the place in topics and in form; e.g. videos, other blogs, websites, and people. I may comment on the material and I may just let it stand for itself but I want my avenues of learning to be as broad as this modern age allows.

To be honest I have never been good at sticking with things. I get bored and sidetracked easily. I know there will be weeks where I will want nothing to do with books and reading or learning for that matter but I want a challenge in my life that means something. This is the idea I have come up with.

Once I get going I hope to post the book I am going to read at the end of the review of the previous book so you can maybe join.

Actually I challenge you to join. Think about it. It could change your life too.

Reigniting a Passion for Learning

I never liked school growing up.

As I got older I attended less often.

Grades were never a problem for me.  I worked the system in order to do the least amount of work for an A and that is what I got. I would figure out what a teacher or a professor was looking for and would give them those answers because that is what got As. I learned a lot in the process but really only learned what I had to.  

I didn’t attend school to learn. I went to do my time. I didn’t see school as a bridge to opportunity. I saw it as a necessary evil that I must complete to become a productive member of society.

I missed the point. I missed the possibilities. I took my access to education for granted.

I know I am not alone.

I didn’t have this realization till I ended up going to university in another country. At the time I couldn’t point my finger on how the students in this developing nation were different but I knew they were.

They wanted to learn. They weren’t just toeing the line of the educational system, they had this passionate drive to understand and grasp the topics that were being taught. Their learning didn’t stop at the end of the lecture or at the end of the assignment, it spilled all over into their lives. They did not seek to learn what they had to, they sought to learn all that they could.

I found myself drawn into their passionate learning. Drawn to understand what made them want to learn so earnestly. I wanted their passion and still do.

What I found was that they saw their education as a gift not a right. It was not something that society had mandated upon them but it is was something that they had overcome all odds to attain.

I recently read somewhere that after finishing formal education, majority of Americans never read a book again. NEVER READ A BOOK AGAIN. It hit me like a ton of bricks. One of the most privileged societies in the world with access to any book we could want to read and we never read a book again after we finish school.

I know I can’t change how American’s take their access to education for granted but I can change me. I have a college degree but I have decided my learning doesn’t stop there. I have decided to reignite a passion for learning within myself. I want to use my resources to learn all I can and I want to bring what I learn to you. I want to challenge you to seek to learn. To learn something worthwhile and to widen your view of the world.