Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone! And that also means it’s day 5 of my blogging challenge. The goal is not to be late, like I was yesterday, so here we are.
Now, Tuesdays are fun days for me, because new books are usually released on Tuesdays. So for today, I thought I would write about a book that I’ve finished recently. You might recognize You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero because it’s a #1 New York Times Bestseller with 2 million copies sold.
I finished it recently, and I thought I would share 5 of my favorite takeaways from the book. It has 5 parts, it is day 5 of my blogging challenge. I think it’s perfect, so here we go.
How You Got This Way: “Most people are living an illusion based on someone else’s belief.”
The thing about living in a society is that you are constantly being inundated with the thoughts of others. There’s societal expectations and norms, and then the expectations of the people around you. It’s a constant stream of everyone and everything else. It might be hard to isolate your thoughts from everything else.
The thing is that this book has made me more aware that a lot of the things I thought I wanted were actually not what I wanted at all. Like the idea that I wanted a lot of money in my life, and be rich. I don’t think I would know what I would do if I were rich, and I’ve realized that I just want to make enough to be comfortable. There are a lot of thoughts that I’m processing on whether or not they were my thoughts or thoughts that society wants me to think. I want to be my own person and not fall into an echo chamber.
How to Embrace Your Inner Badass: “Do not spend your life clinging to the insulting decisions you’ve made about yourself. Instead, make the conscious choice to replace them with new and improved ones.”
I’m a people pleaser by nature. It has always made me happy to see others happy. What kind of sucks about that is that it’s really hard to please everyone, and when I disappoint someone, I feel like a total failure.
The thing is, I ended up valuing other people’s opinions more than my own. The truth is that I didn’t value myself enough, and that is insulting. I’m working on reminding myself that I’m in this world for a reason, and that my opinion matters too. One day, I’m going to make a difference in this world. It’s because that’s what I want to do one day.
How to Tap Into the Motherlode: “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” -Albert Einstein
There’s a lot that Sincero elaborates on this quote, but it goes hand-in-hand with my life motto that life is all about perspective (Check out my answers to the Proust Questionnaire here). Sincero talks all about how if you want something in life, you have the ability to attract it, you just have to have the right mindset.
I read that as the possibilities in the world are endless, but the opportunities that you want aren’t going to come to you if you don’t think they’re out there. So instead of me focusing on the fact that literary magazines accept less than one percent of their submissions, I choose to believe that I can create a place for my writing, and everything else will fall into place. That is how I am here now.
How to Get Over Your B.S. Already: “If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.”
You know, I’ve been saying that I have wanted to be a writer for years. And these past years, it hasn’t really happened yet. After reading this book, I realize it’s because I have had one foot in it and one foot out of it. I’ve been afraid. I’ve planned backup plans. I’ve done a lot of procrastinating, and found work so I wouldn’t feel so bad about it.
I’m not letting myself do it anymore. No more excuses, because this is what I seriously want. I’ve worked on my plan, now it’s all about implementation.
How to Kick Some Ass: “There is a big difference between walking around saying you want to make a million dollars a year, and having crystal clear intentions, fierce desire, and hell-bent action toward specific goals.”
I can dream until the cows come home. When I picture my future, I’m living the dream. I’m working my dream job, and I own a beautiful home without any debt. I’m in love, with lots of dogs. I can order whatever I want to eat, and I can end my day sitting by the fireplace and roast a smore if I so desire.
The thing is, that’s not gonna happen if I don’t actually work for it. I need to put myself out there, and not let the fear of rejection hold me back. I need to put my best into every possibility that could lead to an opportunity. I’m not going to get to where I need to just dreaming about it. I have to put the effort out there.
These are just a few of the lessons in this quick read. While it was quick, I took my time with it because I really wanted to absorb the lessons. If you liked these little tidbits and want to become a badass yourself, go out and grab yourself a copy. I am going to get the other two books that she has out for myself, and I am waiting for another to come out this December.
If you’ve read this book, what are some of your favorite takeaways? How are you acting as a badass in your day-to-day life? In terms of self-help, what are some of your favorite books you recommend? Tell me in the comments below.
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Love Always,
Kristi My
Kristi My Dao 