101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think

Product Information

Our society has a 'settler' mindset, our end goals are 'finalizing' (home, marriage, career, etc.) in a world that was made for evolution, in selves that do nothing but grow and expand and change. That is not to say that I didn't like or enjoy this book. I found it to be beneficial on many levels. However, if I had cliff notes then I'd be getting somewhere. I would probably actually be able to organize these words into my real world. self-sufficiency is just a precursor to happiness. It is the foundation. It is crucial, but it is not the connectedness on which human beings thrive."

Essays That Will Change The Way You Think became a big bang when it was published in 2016. This self-help book from a young author attracted the attention of many people from all across the country and outside it. I have been inspired by the clusters of themes, by the 101 gems displayed in this book, and by the narration.Nobody cries at a funeral because the world will be missing out on another pretty face. They cry because the world is missing another heart, another soul, another person. Don’t wait until it’s too late to focus on what will actually matter: creating something that lasts far beyond your body.” You think your past defines you, and worse, you think that it is an unchangeable reality when really, your perception of it changes as you do. Because experience is always multi-dimensional, there are a variety of memories, experiences, feelings, “gists” you can choose to recall…and what you choose is indicative of your present state of mind. Everything you do, see, and feel is a reflection of not who you are, but how you are. You create what you believe. You see what you want. You’ll have what you give.”

There is truth to everything written in the book (For example, I really enjoyed the point made about everyone having different opinions and perspectives in essay 5. But it feels slightly ironic as some essays in the book seem to show you the one ‘true’ way of staying motivated or even feeling.), however (in *my* opinion) it reads as overly simplistic, western, and privileged. This book may not resonate with you if you suffer some mental health issues (especially essay 32). As well as most of the “signs you’re doing better than you think you are” are simply about money and free time. It reads like someone’s very well-written and meticulously edited diary. In essence, 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think is a sort of a self-help book. Inside it, readers can find 101 short pieces, each focused on a separate topic. All in all, through these short pieces the author discusses a range of important topics, such as: What your big objective is. If you don’t know what you generally want to do with your precious, limited time here, you’re not going to do much of anything at all. The path to a greater life is not “suffering until you achieve something,” but letting bits and pieces of joy and gratitude and meaning and purpose gradually build, bit by bit.” I recommend this book to anyone who wants to take the time to look deeper within themselves, to those open to ideas, and who will take the time it takes to not only learn but understand a concept before moving on.Brianna studied at Elizabethtown College. She graduated in 2013 and gained a degree in writing. Before becoming a published author, Wiest used to run the online publication called Soul Anatomy and also worked as the editor-in-chief in her college’s newspaper Etownian.

The topics discussed are all basically "how to be happy or why your life isn't that bad", it's all meant to make you feel good (nothing wrong with that); but that's why i describe it as non-practical. There is also an extreme level of repetition in subject matter. Some of these essays could very easily be viewed as exactly the same, just paraphrased different. Some key points: You think that being uncomfortable and fearful means you shouldn't do something. Being uncomfortable and fearful means you definitely should."The things you love about others are the things you love about yourself. The things you hate about others are the things you cannot see in yourself.” A friend once told me that the secret to finding love was not to actually look for it, but to heal the things that were preventing you from seeing and receiving it. I think the biggest one of all is, “What will having this love fix?” In short, routine is important because habitualness creates mood, and mood creates the “nurture” aspect of your personality, not to mention that letting yourself be jerked around by impulsiveness is a breeding ground for everything you essentially do not want."

Whatever you feel you are not receiving is a direct reflection of what you are not giving. Whatever you are angered by is what you aren’t willing to see in yourself. You think that to change your beliefs, you have to adopt a new line of thinking, rather than seek experiences that make that thinking self-evident. First 10 chapters seem comprised of lists of characteristics of X-type people or y-type people. That’s not essay writing to me. Your brain can only perceive what it’s known, so when you choose what you want for the future, you’re actually just recreating a solution or an ideal of the past. When things don’t work out the way you want them to, you think you’ve failed only because you didn’t re-create something you perceived as desirable. In reality, you likely created something better, but foreign, and your brain misinterpreted it as “bad” because of that. (Moral of the story: Living in the moment isn’t a lofty ideal reserved for the Zen and enlightened; it’s the only way to live a life that isn’t infiltrated with illusions. It’s the only thing your brain can actually comprehend." 2. The PSYCHOLOGY of DAILY ROUTINE I recommend starting each day by sequentially reading/listening one of the 101 essays - each if which is small enough to consume and deep enough to move body AND soul.Eric Greitens says that there are three primary forms of happiness: the happiness of pleasure, the happiness of grace, and the happiness of excellence." I’ve been on Audible for years, and this may be my worst ever down load. It’s just a series of lists. Not at all suitable for Audible listening. I tried for an hour, but it’s just list after list after list. The effect is you take nothing away from it as you get so many ideas presented in bullet point form. Brianna 's writing style is very engaging and easy to read. The way it is written is very encouraging and supportive, which makes it easy to feel like you have a friend who is there to help you through tough times. Honestly the way all of the essays force you into introspection is astonishing. All of the essays are very impactful and inspiring. You think your past defines you, and worse, you think that it is an unchangeable reality, when really, your perception of it changes as you do. For instance: "Think about your friends who you can talk to...", "Think about the joy in spending a little bit of money on yourself and knowing you deserve it...", "Dream about how you'll live the way you want to live if you could (this is proven to be unhealthy by the way - unrealistic expectations are a breading ground for disillusionment)" Think about how you have this, this and this. I don't have this, this and this.