This year, I’ve read 8 books that gave me crucial knowledge, major skills, and helpful tricks. Books help me observe my foibles and become more effective, open-minded, and wise. I realized that the majority of successful people read books and are eager to learn every day. Here are the main things I want to emphasize from the books I read.
When you do an activity unconsciously — when your body remembers it better than your brain — that’s called a habit. To create a good habit and break a bad one, discipline alone is not enough. We need some principles and tricks such as decreasing the number of steps between you and your good habits, removing the cues of your bad habits from your environment, and joining a culture where your desired behavior is normal.
You get what you repeat.
2. Growth mindset
Although fixed and growth mindsets are explained deeply in the book “Mindset”, many other books convey this idea too. Growth-minded people seek hard challenges and new experiences, see failures as potential to grow, and truly believe that effort is a key to success. All humans are not born with natural abilities that help them to grow, but diligence makes it so.
The less knowledge we have about a topic, the more we seem to overestimate our actual intelligence and make decisions based on what we “know”. A person realizes that he or she knows nothing by learning more. We should be humble about our knowledge, learn constantly, and doubt what we are sure about.
Never lose a holy curiosity.
3. Fixed mindset
People who have a fixed mindset feed their ego by proving themselves right and judging others. To feel that they are the best, fixed-minded people always try to surround themselves with the people who are worse than they are. Furthermore, they are afraid of failures and new challenges.
Why waste your time proving how great you are, when you could be getting better?
4. Listen to listen
We all experienced a situation when we read something but didn’t understand it at all. Sometimes we listen to others in this way. It’s an essential skill for communicating, leadership, and empathy. When others don’t remember what you said, you feel bad. Conversely, if another person remembers what you said and understands it, you feel good, right?
5. Question thinking
What questions and how often we ask from others as well as from ourselves have a huge importance in both personal and work life. The judger questions like “What’s wrong with them?” and “Why am I such a failure?” make us blame others and see things through negative eyes. To get out of this judger pit, we should switch to a growth mindset. When you’re in a bad situation, try to ask learner questions such as “What assumptions am I making?” and “What can I learn?”.
The most effective communication is more about asking and less about telling.
6. Observing and accepting
As I mentioned above, I acknowledge my downsides while reading. Taking a look at yourself and observing who you really are is crucial if you want to change. It may be hard to accept it, but by doing so, you will be able to take action.
If you stay the same person, you can’t expect a new outcome.
7. Happiness
Almost all authors write a little about the meaning of life. They all say that happiness is not a top of a mountain. It is a journey. Too many people are too blind to feel their happiness while climbing to get to the top. People who contribute to others’ happiness and the improvement of mankind are happier than those who only work hard for themselves.
In the end
Books really open my eyes. I would have been a lazy, stupid, and fixed-minded person if I didn’t read books. There is so much to know and experience in this world. Books, podcasts, and films make me excited to live, fail, succeed, suffer, and make others happy. It wouldn’t be false if I say books give me the meaning of life.
22.05.15
