Now as you know, I'm a therapist; I am kind of obsessed with learning coping skills, but also teaching them to clients in a way that is easy, accessible, and effective. With this book, you can [digitally] flip it open to any page and find true gems. It's concise, easy to follow, and truly thoughtful.
One of my favorite parts is about meditation: you know how sometimes you go sit down to do something mindful (er, not do something) and suddenly that voice creeps in and you think of the 1,000 other things you need to be doing? M. Gayle writes, "Don't tell yourself that it's unproductive or a waste of time; that is a socially-influenced belief." OH MY GOODNESS YES. So true!! It's not a waste of time, it is this brief little nugget of time where you are able to connect with yourself and the present, to hit the refresh button, so that you can be a more efficient human being. You're gaining time by taking that pause. I know that in America we think that we must always go-go-go, that if we aren't rushing and doing 20 things at once, that we aren't being effective. Pish-posh!
The author also talks about self-love, a chapter that definitely resonated with me. She writes, "Take the time to appreciate your strengths without drifting into a 'yeah, but...' state of mind." Guilty as charged! I often find that for myself, it can be difficult to take compliments. Ever notice the difference between saying "Aw thank you, but...", or even saying "Thank you!" but without making eye contact? These are, in my opinion, similar to that "yeah, but..." state of mind. Why not just accept the compliment? It feels so good to appreciate yourself, too, rather than nitpicking your alleged flaws. How much better would you feel if you appreciated your strengths without pausing to cancel out that positive? And what's the point, anyway! Life is too short to be our own enemy. We are born with this body, this soul, and we should nurture it, own it, love it.
The book - which is immensely convenient in electronic form - has chapters ranging from "D is for Dissolving Doubt" to "U is for Undoing Judgement"...every chapter has so many powerful messages and little takeaways. Plus, the format allows for you to basically pick and choose a topic based on your need for that day; it's certainly possible to read it all cover-to-cover, though. There are even thoughtful exercises in each chapter to get your brain working more positively!
In summary, I really found so much value in this book and will likely be recommending it to my own students. It's an affordable way to become a more nurturing, compassionate, mindful human being. I hope you enjoy all of the pearls of wisdom this lovely book has to offer!
- S