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Nov. 9th, 2014 10:07 pmBob likes reading the kind of self-help books that are, in some ways, about motivating yourself to get out of your own way. I like to read them after he has, because then, when he references them all the time, I know what the heck he's talking about. The latest is "Choose Yourself" by James Altucher. Much like other books in this genre, the book definitely isn't for everyone; as the author himself points out, plenty of people will just say he's a douchebag. As (almost) always, though, there are some really interesting and thought-provoking things that can help show your life patterns in a different light. Anyway, I could probably find a passage I liked out of a book I absolutely hated (I've done it before!), so, that said, here are key concepts and quotes from this book:
"You can't hate the people who reject you. You can't let them get the best of you. Nor can you bless the people who love you."
How do you become free?
1. Only do things you enjoy. (This can sound impossible, but, if you reflect, only certain things are impossible, some are just difficult, and some may be easy.)
2. The Daily Practice:
A. Your physical body (eat, sleep, activity)
B. Your emotional body (add energy, and surround yourself with others who also add energy)
C. Your mental body (occupy the mind by creativity, as opposed to worry/anxiety/fear)
D. Your spiritual body (what is happening right now, mindfulness.)
"Try any one of these things each day:
A) Sleep eight hours.
B) Eat two meals instead of three.
C) No TV.
D) No junk food.
E) No complaining for one whole day.
F) No gossip.
G) Return an e-mail from five years ago.
H)Express thanks to a friend.
I) Watch a funny movie or a stan-up comic.
J) Write down a list of ideas. The ideas can be about anything.
K) Read a spiritual text. Any one that is inspirational to you. ...
L) Say to yourself when you wake up, "I'm going to save a life today." Keep an eye out fo rthat life you can save.
M) Take up a hobby. ...
N) Write down your entire schedul. The eschedul you do every day. Cros out one item and don't do that anymore.
O) Surprise someone.
P) Think of ten people you are grateful for.
Q Forgive someone. ...
R) Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
S) ... (when you think of something causing you grief), think very quietly, "No." ..."
etc etc etc, including deep breathing.
"(B)y saying "I love myself" over and over, Kamal was protecting the thought, nourishing it, and the love was nourishing the rest of his body, his emotions, his mind, and his spirit."
"I like to:"
Make my own hours.
Help people.
Deal with clients I like.
Be artistic.
Make a lot of money. (*as an aside: striving for success has a taboo, which I feel, so I feel it even by just writing down someone else's words on the topic!)
Deal only with colleagues I like.
Come up with ideas.
Not be at the whim of one decision maker.
Be around like-minded people.
Be an expert.
Have themes, not goals. "Every day, what do I need to do to practice those themes?"
Sell, don't negotiate.
"So many things have put useless, wasteful, thoughts in my head. If you think back to all of your best moments in life, were they moments when there were tons of thoughts happening in your head? Or moments when there were fewer thoughts, i.e., when you were calm and contemplative?" and then work to subtract those things (paranoia, fear, resentment etc) from your life.
"(P)eople sense and appreciate honesty, and honesty about imperfections, believe it or not, creates enormous opportunities."
"A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse to avoid trouble." -Gandhi
No matter what you do, something like 30% of people will love you, 30% will hate you, and 30% couldn't care less. Don't spend time on people who hate you or couldn't care less.
Use your strengths to bring balance to the world, in some way that you can.
tl;dr: If I were to remember only one thing from this book, it would be: The idea of the daily practice of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual, and using that base to help people. Generating dozens of ideas every day - bad ones, good ones, great ones - to become accustomed to coming up with ideas, until it is second nature.
"You can't hate the people who reject you. You can't let them get the best of you. Nor can you bless the people who love you."
How do you become free?
1. Only do things you enjoy. (This can sound impossible, but, if you reflect, only certain things are impossible, some are just difficult, and some may be easy.)
2. The Daily Practice:
A. Your physical body (eat, sleep, activity)
B. Your emotional body (add energy, and surround yourself with others who also add energy)
C. Your mental body (occupy the mind by creativity, as opposed to worry/anxiety/fear)
D. Your spiritual body (what is happening right now, mindfulness.)
"Try any one of these things each day:
A) Sleep eight hours.
B) Eat two meals instead of three.
C) No TV.
D) No junk food.
E) No complaining for one whole day.
F) No gossip.
G) Return an e-mail from five years ago.
H)Express thanks to a friend.
I) Watch a funny movie or a stan-up comic.
J) Write down a list of ideas. The ideas can be about anything.
K) Read a spiritual text. Any one that is inspirational to you. ...
L) Say to yourself when you wake up, "I'm going to save a life today." Keep an eye out fo rthat life you can save.
M) Take up a hobby. ...
N) Write down your entire schedul. The eschedul you do every day. Cros out one item and don't do that anymore.
O) Surprise someone.
P) Think of ten people you are grateful for.
Q Forgive someone. ...
R) Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
S) ... (when you think of something causing you grief), think very quietly, "No." ..."
etc etc etc, including deep breathing.
"(B)y saying "I love myself" over and over, Kamal was protecting the thought, nourishing it, and the love was nourishing the rest of his body, his emotions, his mind, and his spirit."
"I like to:"
Make my own hours.
Help people.
Deal with clients I like.
Be artistic.
Make a lot of money. (*as an aside: striving for success has a taboo, which I feel, so I feel it even by just writing down someone else's words on the topic!)
Deal only with colleagues I like.
Come up with ideas.
Not be at the whim of one decision maker.
Be around like-minded people.
Be an expert.
Have themes, not goals. "Every day, what do I need to do to practice those themes?"
Sell, don't negotiate.
"So many things have put useless, wasteful, thoughts in my head. If you think back to all of your best moments in life, were they moments when there were tons of thoughts happening in your head? Or moments when there were fewer thoughts, i.e., when you were calm and contemplative?" and then work to subtract those things (paranoia, fear, resentment etc) from your life.
"(P)eople sense and appreciate honesty, and honesty about imperfections, believe it or not, creates enormous opportunities."
"A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse to avoid trouble." -Gandhi
No matter what you do, something like 30% of people will love you, 30% will hate you, and 30% couldn't care less. Don't spend time on people who hate you or couldn't care less.
Use your strengths to bring balance to the world, in some way that you can.
tl;dr: If I were to remember only one thing from this book, it would be: The idea of the daily practice of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual, and using that base to help people. Generating dozens of ideas every day - bad ones, good ones, great ones - to become accustomed to coming up with ideas, until it is second nature.
