#readthat

Since I was a kid, I remember collecting bookmarks as a souvenir for every book I ever read. Every new book that I bought had its own bookmark because I felt both of them could be two peas in a pod. The new book would never feel lonely!! So..during my recent trip to the bookstore, while I was casually scanning for my next bookmark to add to my collection;  I came across this bright red book. It was screaming at me to pick it up. A casual flip through the pages made me realize that this author left no room for dullness. There are bright vivid graphics and beautiful choice of colors in this book. Bold texts, illustrations and not to mention the book has this hipster zest to it. It is one of those small handy books that you pick up while sipping on your breakfast cha. It is short, it is clever, simple and concise. No bullshit, to the point advice that will not only make you look at different situations in your life in another light but will also encourage you to acknowledge whether your thinking patterns are serving you well or not. Life is going to throw you curveballs and I think the author was trying to provide a bulletproof solution to all your problems. I did think some of the advice was just too cliché, however, I have yet to find a self-help book that contains unique original advice that we can implement in our day to day lives. Don't you feel that sometimes? That all self-help books narrow down to one concept: oversimplifying reality.  It has little pearls of wisdom on a few pages but I feel it is a onetime read. The author's ideas within the book seemed a bit scattered, however, if you are looking for a simple read with a few aha moments here and there --- this is the book for you.  I would give this book 3/ 5 just because I found myself marking a few pages which I would reference back to once in a while. Would I read this book again? Nope. 

Listed below are a few Aha! moments that I walked away with.

1. Don’t just write a “To Do” List. Write a “To be” List.

I want to be Strong. I want to be flexible. I want to be innovative. I want to be successful. I want to be patient. I want to be optimistic. I want to be open-minded.

2. Walk yourself out of that bad mood!

Endomorphines if you just move your body! These are the same “feel good” chemicals that antidepressants manipulate to make you feel better. So get outside, breathe in that amazing 02 and hug yourself for getting away from the couch!

3. Hire A Higher Power.

Whether you are religious or spiritual, the author explains that having a core belief that something bigger than yourself exists will help you feel calmer about the chaos you are going through. It is one of my ingredients to happiness - sometimes we just need to let the higher power let it do its thing.

4. Anger is a boomerang!

Pretty self-explanatory here haha. What you throw out will come back to you in three folds.

5. Sugar also creates Sugar Blues.

Blood sugar spikes when you eat sweets like chocolate, cake, and donuts. I personally HAVE A HUGE SWEET TOOTH! What spikes up also spikes down very hard. Eating sugar is not a crime, however, if you satisfy your sweet tooth with fruits that break down sugars more slowly, sugar blues will be scared of you.

6. If we didn’t complain, what would we have to about? PLENTY!

Don’t complain just work on it. If you are falling, just dive. You’ll survive. You are just exaggerating it in your head. Close your eyes and dive!

xoxo always, 

Till next time my lovelies