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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and It's All Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life
An alternate cover edition exists here.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and it's all small stuff is a book that shows you how to keep from letting the little things in life drive you crazy. In thoughtful and insightful language, author Richard Carlson reveals ways to calm down in the midst of your incredibly hurried, stress-filled life. You can learn to put things in perspective by making the small daily changes he suggests,including advice such as "Think of your problems as potential teachers"; "Remember that when you die, your 'In' box won't be empty"; and "Do one thing at a time." You should also try to live in the present moment, let others have the glory at times, and lower your tolerance to stress. You can write down your most stubborn positions and see if you can soften them, learn to trust your intuitions, and live each day as if it might be your last. With gentle, supportive suggestions, Dr.Carlson reveals ways to make your actions more peaceful and caring, with the added benefit of making your life more calm and stress-free.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and it's all small stuff is a book that shows you how to keep from letting the little things in life drive you crazy. In thoughtful and insightful language, author Richard Carlson reveals ways to calm down in the midst of your incredibly hurried, stress-filled life. You can learn to put things in perspective by making the small daily changes he suggests,including advice such as "Think of your problems as potential teachers"; "Remember that when you die, your 'In' box won't be empty"; and "Do one thing at a time." You should also try to live in the present moment, let others have the glory at times, and lower your tolerance to stress. You can write down your most stubborn positions and see if you can soften them, learn to trust your intuitions, and live each day as if it might be your last. With gentle, supportive suggestions, Dr.Carlson reveals ways to make your actions more peaceful and caring, with the added benefit of making your life more calm and stress-free.
248 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 1997
About the author
Richard Carlson
3,215 books917 followersRichard Carlson, Ph.D, was born and raised in the Bay Area. He grew up in Piedmont and received his bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University and his doctorate in psychology from Sierra University before opening a private psychotherapy practice.
During his life, he was considered one of the foremost experts in happiness and stress reduction in the United States and around the world and was a frequent featured guest on such shows as Oprah, The Today Show, The View, NNC, CNN, Fox, PBS, and more than 200 other shows. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff continued to be a publishing phenomenon with more than 20 titles in the brand franchise, two of which were co-authored and authored with his beloved wife, Kris.
The words "don't sweat the small stuff" have become a part of American culture thanks to Richard Carlson's book, which became a runaway bestseller and made publishing history as the #1 best-selling book in the United States for two consecutive years. The book spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times Best-Seller list and is still considered one of the fastest selling books of all time and has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.
In December 2006, Carlson died of a pulmonary embolism during a flight from San Francisco to New York, while on a promotion tour for his book Don’t Get Scrooged: How to Thrive in a World Full of Obnoxious, Incompetent, Arrogant and Downright Mean-Spirited People.
During his life, he was considered one of the foremost experts in happiness and stress reduction in the United States and around the world and was a frequent featured guest on such shows as Oprah, The Today Show, The View, NNC, CNN, Fox, PBS, and more than 200 other shows. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff continued to be a publishing phenomenon with more than 20 titles in the brand franchise, two of which were co-authored and authored with his beloved wife, Kris.
The words "don't sweat the small stuff" have become a part of American culture thanks to Richard Carlson's book, which became a runaway bestseller and made publishing history as the #1 best-selling book in the United States for two consecutive years. The book spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times Best-Seller list and is still considered one of the fastest selling books of all time and has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.
In December 2006, Carlson died of a pulmonary embolism during a flight from San Francisco to New York, while on a promotion tour for his book Don’t Get Scrooged: How to Thrive in a World Full of Obnoxious, Incompetent, Arrogant and Downright Mean-Spirited People.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,697 reviews
December 30, 2009
I am not much of a self-help reader (occasionally I will read a Christian living/theology book but that's really it), but I recommend this book to everyone. There are some real pearls of wisdom therein (if you will pardon the cliche'). I definitely believe some of these strategies are intuitive, that you probably utilize some as survival mechanisms in your daily routine, just to get through the day and dealing with others. But it never hurts to get a gentle reminder. My recommendation is to keep this book at work in your drawer, or in your tote bag. Pull it out when you need a few minutes to recharge your juices. You will find yourself putting some of these tips to use right away. As a shy, conflict-avoiding person who went into a field where I have to deal with people (often difficult and often stressed and not always pleasant) everyday, I think anyone who has to be around and communicate with others heavily can use these skills in this book.
What I really like about this book is how easy it is to read. Although Dr. Carlson is a PhD, he doesn't write in such a way to sound more scholarly and less down to earth. And this book is fairly inexpensive. I got it for $9 at Barnes and Noble. I'm sure you can find it even cheaper if you tried. I believe his goal really is to help. He uses a friendly, conversation writing style that is very down to earth and concise (He sorts of reminds me of Christian writer Max Lucado in that sense). Each chapter is no more than three pages at the most, but so much good information is included, plus personal examples of how the strategy was used by the author. Nothing like seeing that the writer struggles in the same ways as the rest of us.
Update One:This week, I had one of those Mondays you really don't want to have. I pulled this book out of my tote and started reading it. It helped me to feel better because it really does put things into perspective. We make big deals out of stuff that we really shouldn't. We make our lives into soap operas when they don't have to be. Why? It's such a waste of energy that we could be using to fuel our daily lives in better, more productive ways. With a fringe benefit of leaving us plenty of energy to be content and enjoy our lives. Dr. Carlson really gets to the heart of that in this book.
At the time of update one, I was still reading this book. I started this review before I finished the book, in order to get some of my thoughts down (before they fly out of my head).
Some lessons from this book that I applied to my life this week:
-Don't sweat the small stuff (the titular lesson--which bears repeating as a daily mantra)
-Develop your compassion
-Remind yourself that when you die, your 'in basket' won't be empty
-Choose your battles wisely
-Become a better listener
-Choose being kind over being right
-Practice humility
Final update:
What a rewarding reading experience. This is the one self-help book you really should read. It doesn't matter if you're religious, atheist, whatever. You can gain some wonderful insight from this book. At the final reading, I could see how the advice in this book would have helped me in a challenge I faced a day or so before. It still helps on the other end, giving me the insight to look at things from a more healthy viewpoint. Stress kills, and I have come to the realization that I don't want to die from stress-related health problems, which I could be on the fast track to doing if I don't change my outlook.
This book helped me today. I had to deal with a person that I did not have a good experience with the first time around. The advice this book gave me about listening to someone and what that person is truly saying, and trying not to interrupt, and trying to see the 'innocence' in them, well it was simply invaluable. I promise, I am not the type to hype self-help books! But I can't help but praise this one.
Some of the powerful things I read about today:
-Turn Your Melodrama into a Mellow-drama
-Practice Ignoring Your Negative Thoughts
-Be Happy Where You Are
-Quiet the Mind
-Think of Your Problem as Potential Teachers
-Get Comfortable Not Knowing
-Acknowledge the Totality of Your Being
-Cut Yourself Some Slack
-Stop Blaming Others
-Transform Your Relationship to Your Problems
-The Next Time You Find Yourself in an Argument, Rather than Defend Your Position, See if You Can See the Other Point of View First
-Listen to Your Feelings (They Are Trying to Tell You Something)
-Redefine a "Meaningful Accomplishment"
-If Someone Throws You the Ball, You Don't Have to Catch It
-One More Passing Show
-Realize the Power of Your Own Thoughts
and a very good lesson for me.... Trust Your Instinctive Heart!
I am so glad I bought this book. It will not be one that I shove to the back of my bookshelf, to pull out rarely, if ever. It's going to be one that I carry around with me as I walk through life. It won't replace the Bible for me. It's not that kind of book. But whatever your belief is, it never hurts to put things into perspective. And that is the simple message of this book. You can learn to realize that the small stuff isn't worth all the drama, and in the sum of things it's all small stuff, as the title says.
What I really like about this book is how easy it is to read. Although Dr. Carlson is a PhD, he doesn't write in such a way to sound more scholarly and less down to earth. And this book is fairly inexpensive. I got it for $9 at Barnes and Noble. I'm sure you can find it even cheaper if you tried. I believe his goal really is to help. He uses a friendly, conversation writing style that is very down to earth and concise (He sorts of reminds me of Christian writer Max Lucado in that sense). Each chapter is no more than three pages at the most, but so much good information is included, plus personal examples of how the strategy was used by the author. Nothing like seeing that the writer struggles in the same ways as the rest of us.
Update One:This week, I had one of those Mondays you really don't want to have. I pulled this book out of my tote and started reading it. It helped me to feel better because it really does put things into perspective. We make big deals out of stuff that we really shouldn't. We make our lives into soap operas when they don't have to be. Why? It's such a waste of energy that we could be using to fuel our daily lives in better, more productive ways. With a fringe benefit of leaving us plenty of energy to be content and enjoy our lives. Dr. Carlson really gets to the heart of that in this book.
At the time of update one, I was still reading this book. I started this review before I finished the book, in order to get some of my thoughts down (before they fly out of my head).
Some lessons from this book that I applied to my life this week:
-Don't sweat the small stuff (the titular lesson--which bears repeating as a daily mantra)
-Develop your compassion
-Remind yourself that when you die, your 'in basket' won't be empty
-Choose your battles wisely
-Become a better listener
-Choose being kind over being right
-Practice humility
Final update:
What a rewarding reading experience. This is the one self-help book you really should read. It doesn't matter if you're religious, atheist, whatever. You can gain some wonderful insight from this book. At the final reading, I could see how the advice in this book would have helped me in a challenge I faced a day or so before. It still helps on the other end, giving me the insight to look at things from a more healthy viewpoint. Stress kills, and I have come to the realization that I don't want to die from stress-related health problems, which I could be on the fast track to doing if I don't change my outlook.
This book helped me today. I had to deal with a person that I did not have a good experience with the first time around. The advice this book gave me about listening to someone and what that person is truly saying, and trying not to interrupt, and trying to see the 'innocence' in them, well it was simply invaluable. I promise, I am not the type to hype self-help books! But I can't help but praise this one.
Some of the powerful things I read about today:
-Turn Your Melodrama into a Mellow-drama
-Practice Ignoring Your Negative Thoughts
-Be Happy Where You Are
-Quiet the Mind
-Think of Your Problem as Potential Teachers
-Get Comfortable Not Knowing
-Acknowledge the Totality of Your Being
-Cut Yourself Some Slack
-Stop Blaming Others
-Transform Your Relationship to Your Problems
-The Next Time You Find Yourself in an Argument, Rather than Defend Your Position, See if You Can See the Other Point of View First
-Listen to Your Feelings (They Are Trying to Tell You Something)
-Redefine a "Meaningful Accomplishment"
-If Someone Throws You the Ball, You Don't Have to Catch It
-One More Passing Show
-Realize the Power of Your Own Thoughts
and a very good lesson for me.... Trust Your Instinctive Heart!
I am so glad I bought this book. It will not be one that I shove to the back of my bookshelf, to pull out rarely, if ever. It's going to be one that I carry around with me as I walk through life. It won't replace the Bible for me. It's not that kind of book. But whatever your belief is, it never hurts to put things into perspective. And that is the simple message of this book. You can learn to realize that the small stuff isn't worth all the drama, and in the sum of things it's all small stuff, as the title says.
March 29, 2011
قبل سنوات طويلة ..
وقع هذا الكتاب بين يدي مصادفة .. لم أكن أعلم بان هذا الكتاب سيكون له أثر كبير في حياتي وقتها !
لا تهتم بصغائر الأمور .. لريتشارد كارلسون .. هو من أكثر الكتب مبيعاً في العالم .. لكنه بحق من أكثر الكتب تأثيراً في النفوس في العالم !
كثيرة هي الأمور حولنا .. نكبرها ونضعها في القمة ونحجمها بغير حجمها .. هذا الكتاب باختصار يضع الأمور في نصابها ويريك كيف أننا بحق نكبر شئوناً خاصة بنا هي في الأساس من الثانويات إلا لم تكن أقل درجة كذلك ..
أنصحك بقراءة الكتاب بشدة .. يستحق ست نجوم لا خمسة فقط :)
وقع هذا الكتاب بين يدي مصادفة .. لم أكن أعلم بان هذا الكتاب سيكون له أثر كبير في حياتي وقتها !
لا تهتم بصغائر الأمور .. لريتشارد كارلسون .. هو من أكثر الكتب مبيعاً في العالم .. لكنه بحق من أكثر الكتب تأثيراً في النفوس في العالم !
كثيرة هي الأمور حولنا .. نكبرها ونضعها في القمة ونحجمها بغير حجمها .. هذا الكتاب باختصار يضع الأمور في نصابها ويريك كيف أننا بحق نكبر شئوناً خاصة بنا هي في الأساس من الثانويات إلا لم تكن أقل درجة كذلك ..
أنصحك بقراءة الكتاب بشدة .. يستحق ست نجوم لا خمسة فقط :)
April 2, 2024
قال ألفريد دي سوازا " لقد ظللت اعتقد لوقت طويل ان الحياه الحقيقية لم تبدأ بعد ولكن كان لا يزال هناك بعض العوائق التي يجب تخطيها اولا كعمل لم اكمله مثلا او وقت لا يزال في حاجه لقضائه او دين يجب ان ادفعه بعد هذا كله يمكن ان تبدأ الحياه الحقيقية وفي النهاية ادركت ان كل هذه العوائق ما هي الا حياتي نفسها "
هذا الكتاب هو ختام هذا العام .. من الممكن القول أنه افضل ختام .. جرعة أمل ودفعه للأمام من الممكن ان تكون سبب في تغييرات كثيرة في العام الجديد بإذن الله
اسلوب الكاتب اكتر من الرائع بالطبع كانت النسخه مترجمه ولكن المحتوي لا يوجد عليه خلاف
كتاب يعيد ترتيب الكثير من صغائر الأمور التي تدمر حياتنا بدون ان نشعر
احببت الكتاب بكل كلمه موجودة به
يتكون من 100 استراتيجيه مختلفه للعديد من صغائر الأمور التي تحتاج منا لإعادة النظر من جديد في الكثير والكثير مما يأخد كل وقتنا دون رحمة وبرضانا ايضا
كنت اتمني ان استطيع ذكر كل نقطه في الكتاب ولكن ذلك بالطبع سيأخذ صفحات كثيرة والأفضل قراءة الكتاب نفسه بنقاطه كلها وشرحها المختصر حيث ان الكتاب لم يكمل المائة صفحة فيتحدث عن المفيد فقط بدون ملل .. كتاب يستحق الإقتناء والرجوع له من وقت لآخر
واتمني ان اقتنيه بالفعل واتخذه مادة جيدة للقراءة دائما وأخذ الكثير من الملاحظات شئ ضروري وهو ما لم أفعله للأسف ولكن لي معه موعد آخر لوضع ملاحظات اكثر
يستحق أكثر من 5 نجوم بكثير
June 23, 2024
3.5 stars
short review for busy readers:
As they say, Confucius didn’t invent Confucianism, he compiled ‘good idea’ texts into a bundle that people really took to heart. That's what we've got here, too.
in detail:
The contents of this book are not all so original and since publication in the 90s many of the things he talks about have become mainstream (see: Mindfulness), but that’s not the point. The point is to present a selection of good ideas and simple techniques that, when applied more or less consistently, probably will have a positive effect on your outlook and dealings with others.
Many of them you’ll already know or practice…but it’s good to be reminded every once in a while.
For example:
🌞 Think of someone daily to mentally thank, even if you don’t know them and you only saw them once on the street. This helps you just appreciate other people and the little stuff.
🌞 If someone criticises you, agree with them sometimes. See if you can see yourself through their eyes. You might be surprised at what you find.
🌞 Let other people be right…even if you don’t think they are. (You don’t have to argue or assert your opinion all the time.)
🌞 Life isn’t an emergency. Many of the crisis in people’s lives are making things more important than they are or have any right to be.
The tone of the book is conversational and I can very much see why it’s considered a classic of Self-Help literature, which is I genre I enjoy even though I completely agree with a lot of the criticism of it.
short review for busy readers:
As they say, Confucius didn’t invent Confucianism, he compiled ‘good idea’ texts into a bundle that people really took to heart. That's what we've got here, too.
in detail:
The contents of this book are not all so original and since publication in the 90s many of the things he talks about have become mainstream (see: Mindfulness), but that’s not the point. The point is to present a selection of good ideas and simple techniques that, when applied more or less consistently, probably will have a positive effect on your outlook and dealings with others.
Many of them you’ll already know or practice…but it’s good to be reminded every once in a while.
For example:
🌞 Think of someone daily to mentally thank, even if you don’t know them and you only saw them once on the street. This helps you just appreciate other people and the little stuff.
🌞 If someone criticises you, agree with them sometimes. See if you can see yourself through their eyes. You might be surprised at what you find.
🌞 Let other people be right…even if you don’t think they are. (You don’t have to argue or assert your opinion all the time.)
🌞 Life isn’t an emergency. Many of the crisis in people’s lives are making things more important than they are or have any right to be.
The tone of the book is conversational and I can very much see why it’s considered a classic of Self-Help literature, which is I genre I enjoy even though I completely agree with a lot of the criticism of it.
August 2, 2011
This book was on the nightstand in a friend's guest room where I stayed recently - its natural habitat, I suppose; where else would you expect to find a book like this?
I read it over breakfast and it offers a bunch of tips on cultivating acceptance and loving kindness:
-Imagine an irritating person as a tiny infant and then as a 100-year-old (OK, this made me tear up);
-When someone criticizes you, start by agreeing with them (valuable skill!);
-Nurture a plant - talk to the plant, tell it you love it (I thought about the lavender struggling for life on my kitchen windowsill and promised it that I would do better?)
There's a fair number of vaguely condescending and obnoxious parables from the author's own life, and I'll be disregarding his repeated suggestion to wake up at 430am to write and meditate (glad it works for you, though, buddy!)
If you've been to a yoga class or flirted with meditation, a lot of this will probably sound familiar or maybe even be second nature to you already, but it's a nice book and I felt a little more loving and kind after reading it.
I read it over breakfast and it offers a bunch of tips on cultivating acceptance and loving kindness:
-Imagine an irritating person as a tiny infant and then as a 100-year-old (OK, this made me tear up);
-When someone criticizes you, start by agreeing with them (valuable skill!);
-Nurture a plant - talk to the plant, tell it you love it (I thought about the lavender struggling for life on my kitchen windowsill and promised it that I would do better?)
There's a fair number of vaguely condescending and obnoxious parables from the author's own life, and I'll be disregarding his repeated suggestion to wake up at 430am to write and meditate (glad it works for you, though, buddy!)
If you've been to a yoga class or flirted with meditation, a lot of this will probably sound familiar or maybe even be second nature to you already, but it's a nice book and I felt a little more loving and kind after reading it.
April 12, 2009
Okay so it's not "cool" to read self-help books and, frankly, most of them give me the heebie jeebies, but I think this book was kind of spot-on. I liked how the ideas were presented in small vignettes instead of a massive tome that overwhelms more than inspires. I think Carlson has a good point in suggesting that maybe we make a big deal out of things that aren't such a big deal. I'm a pretty easy going person for the most part (oh, except for that depression thing) and a lot of what he says reflects my own philosophy. There were even a few new suggestions that I thought were helpful.
In general, this is a book for someone who's a little too uptight, a little too stressed, and a little too much of a worrier.
In general, this is a book for someone who's a little too uptight, a little too stressed, and a little too much of a worrier.
May 3, 2020
There is some great advice in this book. It's very fitting that the author ends the book by telling you to live each day as if it was your last, because he himself died unexpectedly during a flight from San Francisco to New York in 2006. He was only 45 years old. Life truly is short. None of us knows when it will end, so we need to cherish it. In this and many other pieces of advice, I couldn't agree with the author more.
There is a fair amount of repetition in this book, which at first was annoying, until I realized he was repeating what he likely considered the most important lessons. And I agree that they're important. Still somewhat annoying, but understandable. There was also one chapter I didn't appreciate where he brought religion into the picture: "learn to recognize God's fingerprints on everything", or something to that effect. In my opinion religion has no place in content that is otherwise based in science.
Some of the advice also didn't apply to me, and it may not apply to you either. In addition, many of his real-life examples are only relatable to certain people, and so I didn't relate to them. I also found that a lot of the information was basic common sense, so I knew it already and therefore it didn't add a ton of value.
Criticisms aside, this is a book worth reading. Did it change my life? No. Well, maybe. Let's see. I'm going to implement as many of the great lessons and tips here into my life as I can. In time, this book may indeed change my life.
Recommended!
There is a fair amount of repetition in this book, which at first was annoying, until I realized he was repeating what he likely considered the most important lessons. And I agree that they're important. Still somewhat annoying, but understandable. There was also one chapter I didn't appreciate where he brought religion into the picture: "learn to recognize God's fingerprints on everything", or something to that effect. In my opinion religion has no place in content that is otherwise based in science.
Some of the advice also didn't apply to me, and it may not apply to you either. In addition, many of his real-life examples are only relatable to certain people, and so I didn't relate to them. I also found that a lot of the information was basic common sense, so I knew it already and therefore it didn't add a ton of value.
Criticisms aside, this is a book worth reading. Did it change my life? No. Well, maybe. Let's see. I'm going to implement as many of the great lessons and tips here into my life as I can. In time, this book may indeed change my life.
Recommended!
July 24, 2015
Sounds dramatic but this book has been life changing for me in how I approach life. How had I never read this!!! Not only have I read it twice, I took detailed notes and bought the audio book so I have it playing in my car on repeat. I am someone who has always had bad anxiety and it's helped me tremendously, but the real value and difference comes in constantly reinforcing and reminding myself these lessons every single day otherwise I just go back into my old habits.
July 3, 2021
My mom read this a long time ago and gave it to me as a gift insisting that I read it.
Overall, the book is an easy read filled with wisdom and advice that is generally good to hear, but it is essentially a repackaging of Buddhist philosophy applied to a 1990s white American middle/upper class suburban setting lol.
There are a fair number of vaguely condescending and bizarre commentary and parables from the author himself. One example: he blames "the culture of blaming others" (kind of ironic lol) for leading to "ridiculous excuses that get criminals off the hook" (lions, bears, rising crime rates, oh my!). He dedicates a whole chapter actually titled, "Adopt a Child Through the Mail" that basically says, "you too can be happy, fulfilled, and be reminded of your privilege by 'adopting' a child from a random 'third-world' country! WOW!" "See! Life's not bad! At least you're not a poor and helpless starving child that needs your saving!" This is an actual line from that chapter, "My six-year old has an adoptee, and has enjoyed and learned from the experience a great deal ... I think that the reason we enjoy this type of giving so much is that it's interactive." (bolded is my emphasis) LMAO. Yeah ok, buddy. Tell us you're a white savior without telling us a white savior. At multiple points, he preaches the importance of not being judgmental by continuing to neurotically bring up the example of the "punk rockers" who change their hair color *gasp* Sounds like you're sweating the small stuff, buddy ... let it go! He also repeatedly advises to wake up at 3am/4am to have personal time even if it means sacrificing sleep. Weird advice for a book that preaches mindfulness and listening to your own body and its needs. Buddy, do you sleep at 7pm (how else do you get 7-8 hours)?? Or are you constantly sleep deprived?? Glad it works for you though, friend!
This book could also have been legitimately 75% shorter. There are multiple instances where the author repeats and regurgitates the same advice in different words.
Example 1 aka stop talking over people!
Ch 7 - Don't Interrupt Others or Finish Their Sentences
Ch 28 - Seek First to Understand
Ch 29 - Become a Better Listener
Ch 55 - Breathe Before You Speak
Example 2 aka don't brag about how benevolent you are!
Ch 8 - Do Something Nice for Someone Else--and Don't Tell Anyone About It
Ch 9 - Let Others Have the Glory
Ch 12 - Let Others Be "Right" Most of the Time
Ch 34 - Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Ch 73 - Make Service an Integral Part of Your Life
Ch 74 - Do a Favor and Don't Ask For, or Expect, One in Return
Example 3 aka none of this will matter because we are all gonna die!
Ch 6 - Remind Yourself that When You Die, Your 'In Basket' Won't Be Empty
Ch 16 - Ask Yourself the Question, "Will This Matter a Year from Now?"
Ch 21 - Imagine Yourself at Your Own Funeral
Ch 82 - Remember, One Hundred Years from Now, All New People
Ch 90 - One More Passing Show
Ch 100 - Live This Day as if It Were Your Last. It Might Be!
Example 4 aka here are stressful to-do lists!
Ch 20 - Once a Week, Write a Heartfelt Letter
Ch 24 - Spend a Moment Every Day Thinking of Someone to Thank
Ch 25 - Smile at Strangers, Look into Their Eyes, and Say Hello
Ch 38 - Tell Three People (Today) How Much You Love Them
Ch 42 - Spend a Moment, Every Day, Thinking of Someone to Love
Ch 46 - Every Day, Tell at Least One Person Something You Like, Admire, or Appreciate about Them
Example 5 aka random platitudes that all kind of end up blending together!
Ch 5 - Develop Your Compassion
Ch 10 - Learn to Live in the Present Moment
Ch 13 - Become More Patient
Ch 18 - Allow Yourself to Be Bored
Ch 30 - Choose Your Battles Wisely
Ch 32 - Life Is a Test. It is Only a Test
Ch 39 - Practice Humility
Ch 58 - Relax (lol)
Ch 60 - Turn Your Melodrama into a Mellow-Drama
Ch 62 - Do One Thing at a Time
Ch 63 - Count to Ten
Ch 69 - Be Happy Where You Are
Ch 71 - Quiet the Mind
Ch 72 - Take Up Yoga
Ch 83 - Lighten Up
Ch 84 - Nurture a Plant
Ch 91 - Fill Your Life with Love
Ch 92 - Realize the Power of Your Own Thoughts
Ch 95 - Trust Your Intuitive Heart
Ch 96 - Be Open to "What Is"
Ch 97 - Mind your Own Business
Ch 98 - Look for the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
My advice: skip this and go to the source material from which this book takes -- Buddhist philosophy. There are also significantly better self-help books out there.
Only reason that this is 1.5 stars is for the wording of the advice, "Don't sweat the small stuff." It's a good reminder! Also, I had too much fun writing this review lmao.
Overall, the book is an easy read filled with wisdom and advice that is generally good to hear, but it is essentially a repackaging of Buddhist philosophy applied to a 1990s white American middle/upper class suburban setting lol.
There are a fair number of vaguely condescending and bizarre commentary and parables from the author himself. One example: he blames "the culture of blaming others" (kind of ironic lol) for leading to "ridiculous excuses that get criminals off the hook" (lions, bears, rising crime rates, oh my!). He dedicates a whole chapter actually titled, "Adopt a Child Through the Mail" that basically says, "you too can be happy, fulfilled, and be reminded of your privilege by 'adopting' a child from a random 'third-world' country! WOW!" "See! Life's not bad! At least you're not a poor and helpless starving child that needs your saving!" This is an actual line from that chapter, "My six-year old has an adoptee, and has enjoyed and learned from the experience a great deal ... I think that the reason we enjoy this type of giving so much is that it's interactive." (bolded is my emphasis) LMAO. Yeah ok, buddy. Tell us you're a white savior without telling us a white savior. At multiple points, he preaches the importance of not being judgmental by continuing to neurotically bring up the example of the "punk rockers" who change their hair color *gasp* Sounds like you're sweating the small stuff, buddy ... let it go! He also repeatedly advises to wake up at 3am/4am to have personal time even if it means sacrificing sleep. Weird advice for a book that preaches mindfulness and listening to your own body and its needs. Buddy, do you sleep at 7pm (how else do you get 7-8 hours)?? Or are you constantly sleep deprived?? Glad it works for you though, friend!
This book could also have been legitimately 75% shorter. There are multiple instances where the author repeats and regurgitates the same advice in different words.
Example 1 aka stop talking over people!
Ch 7 - Don't Interrupt Others or Finish Their Sentences
Ch 28 - Seek First to Understand
Ch 29 - Become a Better Listener
Ch 55 - Breathe Before You Speak
Example 2 aka don't brag about how benevolent you are!
Ch 8 - Do Something Nice for Someone Else--and Don't Tell Anyone About It
Ch 9 - Let Others Have the Glory
Ch 12 - Let Others Be "Right" Most of the Time
Ch 34 - Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Ch 73 - Make Service an Integral Part of Your Life
Ch 74 - Do a Favor and Don't Ask For, or Expect, One in Return
Example 3 aka none of this will matter because we are all gonna die!
Ch 6 - Remind Yourself that When You Die, Your 'In Basket' Won't Be Empty
Ch 16 - Ask Yourself the Question, "Will This Matter a Year from Now?"
Ch 21 - Imagine Yourself at Your Own Funeral
Ch 82 - Remember, One Hundred Years from Now, All New People
Ch 90 - One More Passing Show
Ch 100 - Live This Day as if It Were Your Last. It Might Be!
Example 4 aka here are stressful to-do lists!
Ch 20 - Once a Week, Write a Heartfelt Letter
Ch 24 - Spend a Moment Every Day Thinking of Someone to Thank
Ch 25 - Smile at Strangers, Look into Their Eyes, and Say Hello
Ch 38 - Tell Three People (Today) How Much You Love Them
Ch 42 - Spend a Moment, Every Day, Thinking of Someone to Love
Ch 46 - Every Day, Tell at Least One Person Something You Like, Admire, or Appreciate about Them
Example 5 aka random platitudes that all kind of end up blending together!
Ch 5 - Develop Your Compassion
Ch 10 - Learn to Live in the Present Moment
Ch 13 - Become More Patient
Ch 18 - Allow Yourself to Be Bored
Ch 30 - Choose Your Battles Wisely
Ch 32 - Life Is a Test. It is Only a Test
Ch 39 - Practice Humility
Ch 58 - Relax (lol)
Ch 60 - Turn Your Melodrama into a Mellow-Drama
Ch 62 - Do One Thing at a Time
Ch 63 - Count to Ten
Ch 69 - Be Happy Where You Are
Ch 71 - Quiet the Mind
Ch 72 - Take Up Yoga
Ch 83 - Lighten Up
Ch 84 - Nurture a Plant
Ch 91 - Fill Your Life with Love
Ch 92 - Realize the Power of Your Own Thoughts
Ch 95 - Trust Your Intuitive Heart
Ch 96 - Be Open to "What Is"
Ch 97 - Mind your Own Business
Ch 98 - Look for the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
My advice: skip this and go to the source material from which this book takes -- Buddhist philosophy. There are also significantly better self-help books out there.
Only reason that this is 1.5 stars is for the wording of the advice, "Don't sweat the small stuff." It's a good reminder! Also, I had too much fun writing this review lmao.
June 6, 2012
STRESSED?
Once I get over pressured, the second thing I always do is to read this book(of course the first and foremost is to pray).
When we are pressured and stressed, we waste our time minding the tinsy minsy stuff in this world instead of fixing and turning our faces into what really pushes us into the edge.
This inspiring book tells us literally NOT TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF and to stop the things that slow our progress in attaining a life free from stress.
In the struggle of attaining freedom from stress, it is hard to accept that those we're feeling are training us to become something bigger and stronger.
And because of this book, I think that is how life works.
We have to remind ourselves to go with the flow and not to break in those difficult times. Fighting the pressure is often what pushes us to the edge.
This book tells us to look optimistically at things and more importantly...stress. haha!
Lastly, the book opens up the true purpose of life beneath our trials and struggle.
And that we should value EVERY PIECE of our life :)
Once I get over pressured, the second thing I always do is to read this book(of course the first and foremost is to pray).
When we are pressured and stressed, we waste our time minding the tinsy minsy stuff in this world instead of fixing and turning our faces into what really pushes us into the edge.
This inspiring book tells us literally NOT TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF and to stop the things that slow our progress in attaining a life free from stress.
In the struggle of attaining freedom from stress, it is hard to accept that those we're feeling are training us to become something bigger and stronger.
And because of this book, I think that is how life works.
We have to remind ourselves to go with the flow and not to break in those difficult times. Fighting the pressure is often what pushes us to the edge.
This book tells us to look optimistically at things and more importantly...stress. haha!
Lastly, the book opens up the true purpose of life beneath our trials and struggle.
And that we should value EVERY PIECE of our life :)
March 5, 2015
The concept of this book is an admirable one: how to relieve stress in your life and achieve a higher level of inner peace. However, while reading this book I found myself becoming more stressed out! This book is set up as essentially a list (YES! Another list!) of different methods and techniques that you can use to try and relieve stress from your life. As I am reading the list of different ideas, they make sense, but I feel as though this book was throwing too much at me for any of it to really sink in. It would have been much better if Dr. Carlson had taken a few ideas and gone more in depth with them, as opposed to a very brief overview. If you're truly stressed out and looking to relieve a little bit of it, I would not recommend turning to this book for guidance.
April 7, 2012
Snippets of good behavioral advice that anyone can accept....but putting them into practice? Like so many books of the "self help" variety, all good stuff however people who are strongly locked into behaving in ways that are contrary to the direction being proposed here might find this book and so many others like it, just another stick to beat themselves with for not being OK. The kinds of change that are required of people to have the behavioral changes described here take root are trans formative, that normally requires change at depth through long and arduous spiritual work. This doesn't beg the value of the advice given just the presumption that a quick read and an "uh huh" will bring about the changes necessary to alter habitual behavior.
Books offering quick fix paths to happiness are often delusional in their intent, if not in their content. In this case some good stuff, particularly if it were to encourage some self examination at depth...and support the work that might flow from it.
Books offering quick fix paths to happiness are often delusional in their intent, if not in their content. In this case some good stuff, particularly if it were to encourage some self examination at depth...and support the work that might flow from it.
July 8, 2014
Like so many books for self-help, there's a huge disconnect between the ease of stating the philosophy, and the ease of implementing it. Besides the huge disconnect between the imagined problem being solved and the real problems most people face.
July 18, 2024
There was a major occasion in my young adult life, might have been a graduation or something, when my mother stopped me in my tracks, looked me in the eye, and said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” It’s true that she knows me better than I know myself, because I have been known to freak out over:
• People who chew with their mouths open
• Lateness (mine or others’)
• Plans that don’t work out
• Some guy batting .190 not bunting with a runner on second and no outs in a tie game in extra innings in the playoffs (I swear to GOD)
And thus, this book spoke to me.
I got a little exasperated (clearly my comprehension sucks) when I saw Chapter 84: “Lighten Up.” Easy for you to say!
But on the whole the book has wonderful, bite-size lessons for taking things less seriously. The longest chapter has four pages, and most have two. It’s plain English, written like speech (and I listened a bit to the audiobook, which was great).
Some great takeaways:
• No one will remember your problems in 100 years.
• Express gratitude a lot.
• Wherever you go, there you are.
• Take your Type A tendencies down to B or B-minus.
I also liked that this was a handbook, almost a list I can return to daily. I could see reading one chapter a day for 100 days, then starting again until I memorize the whole thing.
So, lighten up and read!
• People who chew with their mouths open
• Lateness (mine or others’)
• Plans that don’t work out
• Some guy batting .190 not bunting with a runner on second and no outs in a tie game in extra innings in the playoffs (I swear to GOD)
And thus, this book spoke to me.
I got a little exasperated (clearly my comprehension sucks) when I saw Chapter 84: “Lighten Up.” Easy for you to say!
But on the whole the book has wonderful, bite-size lessons for taking things less seriously. The longest chapter has four pages, and most have two. It’s plain English, written like speech (and I listened a bit to the audiobook, which was great).
Some great takeaways:
• No one will remember your problems in 100 years.
• Express gratitude a lot.
• Wherever you go, there you are.
• Take your Type A tendencies down to B or B-minus.
I also liked that this was a handbook, almost a list I can return to daily. I could see reading one chapter a day for 100 days, then starting again until I memorize the whole thing.
So, lighten up and read!
March 19, 2011
تقديمي
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الكتاب مختصر كل الحكاية في عنوانه
ومكتوب عليه من اكثر الكتب مبيعا في العالم :)
اسلوب بسيط ومختصر وممتع غير حجم الكتاب لذيذ
فكرة الكتاب
-----------
بإختصار هو عبارة عن استعراض لسلوكيات واخلاقيات هي في الحقيقة امرنا بها دينا وتعلمناها منه قبل ان نقرا هذا الكتاب.. ولكن من يطبق
فقرات من الكتاب
----------------
بكتفي بفقرة وحده ذكر فيها المؤلف انه تعرض لموقف بعد نشرة لهذا الكتاب بعد ان اتصل به ناشر اجنبي وطلب منه ان يحصل على كلمة تزكية من الكاتب الشهير (د. واين داير) حتى تكتب على الطبعه المترجمة لاحد كتبه السابقة يقول فأجبته ان الدكتور واين سبق ان كتب لي تزكية لكتاب سابق لي ولا ادري عن احتمال قيامه بذلك مره اخرى وعلى كل حال سوف احاول وقمت بارسال طلبي الا اني لم اتلقى اجابة فاعتقدت انه اما مشغول او لا يرغب في كتابة تزكية واحترمت قراره واخبرت الناشر اننا لم نتمكن من الحصول على مبتغانا واعتبرت هذا نهاية الموضوع وبعد سته اشهر تلقيت نسخة من كتابي وفوجئت بكلمة التزكية للدكتور واين لكتابي السابق وقد كتبت على الغلاف فاصابني قلق وضيق من تداعيات ما حدث واتصلت بوكيلي وطلبت منه سحب النسخه من السوق وارسلت للدكتور واين اعتذر له واوضح له الموقف فكان رده (ريتشارد هناك قاعدتان للعيش في انسجام مع الاخرين 1_ لا تقلق بشأن صغائر الأمور 2_ كل الأمور صغائر. فلتطبق هذه المقوله بكل حب
-------
الكتاب مختصر كل الحكاية في عنوانه
ومكتوب عليه من اكثر الكتب مبيعا في العالم :)
اسلوب بسيط ومختصر وممتع غير حجم الكتاب لذيذ
فكرة الكتاب
-----------
بإختصار هو عبارة عن استعراض لسلوكيات واخلاقيات هي في الحقيقة امرنا بها دينا وتعلمناها منه قبل ان نقرا هذا الكتاب.. ولكن من يطبق
فقرات من الكتاب
----------------
بكتفي بفقرة وحده ذكر فيها المؤلف انه تعرض لموقف بعد نشرة لهذا الكتاب بعد ان اتصل به ناشر اجنبي وطلب منه ان يحصل على كلمة تزكية من الكاتب الشهير (د. واين داير) حتى تكتب على الطبعه المترجمة لاحد كتبه السابقة يقول فأجبته ان الدكتور واين سبق ان كتب لي تزكية لكتاب سابق لي ولا ادري عن احتمال قيامه بذلك مره اخرى وعلى كل حال سوف احاول وقمت بارسال طلبي الا اني لم اتلقى اجابة فاعتقدت انه اما مشغول او لا يرغب في كتابة تزكية واحترمت قراره واخبرت الناشر اننا لم نتمكن من الحصول على مبتغانا واعتبرت هذا نهاية الموضوع وبعد سته اشهر تلقيت نسخة من كتابي وفوجئت بكلمة التزكية للدكتور واين لكتابي السابق وقد كتبت على الغلاف فاصابني قلق وضيق من تداعيات ما حدث واتصلت بوكيلي وطلبت منه سحب النسخه من السوق وارسلت للدكتور واين اعتذر له واوضح له الموقف فكان رده (ريتشارد هناك قاعدتان للعيش في انسجام مع الاخرين 1_ لا تقلق بشأن صغائر الأمور 2_ كل الأمور صغائر. فلتطبق هذه المقوله بكل حب
July 24, 2020
لا تهتم بصغائر الأمور فكل الأمور صغائر
.
دكتور ريتشارد كارلسون
ترجمة مكتبة جرير
نوع الكتاب: تنمية ذاتية
عدد الصفحات : 322
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المراجعة:
.
الضغوط النفسية هي الآفة التي ما أن تبدأ معك حتى تتحول حياتك إلى معاناة دائمة ولن تستطيع التخلص من تلك الضغوط النفسية والاضطرابات الا بمحاولة تجاهلها حتى يصبح لديك متسع من الوقت لتصب إهتمامك على الأمور الإيجابية وهنا يجب أن تحول الأمور الكبيرة إلى أشياء صغيرة جداً ومن هذا المنطلق يوجهنا الدكتور ريتشارد كارلسون الى تبني 100 قاعدة نحو ذلك قد تجد أغلبها بديهي أو يندرج تحت المبالغة والمثالية إلا أن هناك أيضاً بعض التقنيات التي قد تبدو لك جديدة ومفيدة ايضاً وكلها فقط لتقوم بتبني فكرة أن لا تهتم بصغائر الأمور فكل الأمور صغائر.
.
التقييم:
.
أعتمد الدكتور ريتشارد الى بعض التقنيات التي سبق وذكرت في كُتب التنمية الذاتية واذكر منها كتاب العادات السبع للناس الاكثر فعالية للدكتور ستيفن ر. كوفي وبعض اقتباسات للام تريزا.
الكتاب خفيف وسلس رغم عدد صفحاته وهو ما يشجع بعض القراء اللذين سئموا من العبارات الرنانة لتقنيات التنمية البشرية.
.
أمضيت تجربة جيدة مع الكتاب ودونت منه بعض التقنيات التي وجدتها جديدة او مثيرة لاقوم بتجربتها. وعليه أمنح الكتاب 3/5 .
.
أنصح به للمهتمين بكتب التنمية البشرية واللذين لا يجدوا لديهم ذلك الشغف بالقراءة الدسمة لتلك المواضيع.
.
#لا_تهتم_بصغائر_الأمور_فكل_الأمور_صغائر
.
دكتور ريتشارد كارلسون
ترجمة مكتبة جرير
نوع الكتاب: تنمية ذاتية
عدد الصفحات : 322
.
المراجعة:
.
الضغوط النفسية هي الآفة التي ما أن تبدأ معك حتى تتحول حياتك إلى معاناة دائمة ولن تستطيع التخلص من تلك الضغوط النفسية والاضطرابات الا بمحاولة تجاهلها حتى يصبح لديك متسع من الوقت لتصب إهتمامك على الأمور الإيجابية وهنا يجب أن تحول الأمور الكبيرة إلى أشياء صغيرة جداً ومن هذا المنطلق يوجهنا الدكتور ريتشارد كارلسون الى تبني 100 قاعدة نحو ذلك قد تجد أغلبها بديهي أو يندرج تحت المبالغة والمثالية إلا أن هناك أيضاً بعض التقنيات التي قد تبدو لك جديدة ومفيدة ايضاً وكلها فقط لتقوم بتبني فكرة أن لا تهتم بصغائر الأمور فكل الأمور صغائر.
.
التقييم:
.
أعتمد الدكتور ريتشارد الى بعض التقنيات التي سبق وذكرت في كُتب التنمية الذاتية واذكر منها كتاب العادات السبع للناس الاكثر فعالية للدكتور ستيفن ر. كوفي وبعض اقتباسات للام تريزا.
الكتاب خفيف وسلس رغم عدد صفحاته وهو ما يشجع بعض القراء اللذين سئموا من العبارات الرنانة لتقنيات التنمية البشرية.
.
أمضيت تجربة جيدة مع الكتاب ودونت منه بعض التقنيات التي وجدتها جديدة او مثيرة لاقوم بتجربتها. وعليه أمنح الكتاب 3/5 .
.
أنصح به للمهتمين بكتب التنمية البشرية واللذين لا يجدوا لديهم ذلك الشغف بالقراءة الدسمة لتلك المواضيع.
.
#لا_تهتم_بصغائر_الأمور_فكل_الأمور_صغائر
October 7, 2015
بداية انا قرأت الكتاب بالانجلش بس هكتب الريفيو بالعربي لعله يجذب حد من المتابعين انه يقرأه و خصوصا ان فيه نسخه عربي حسب الموقع هنا
هو انا سمعت الكتاب و قرأته سريعا و ده اللي خلاني اخلصه في يوم واحد
الكتاب حلو ، فيه نصايح لطيفه .. موجه للفئه من امثالي :"محبي الكمال" اللي بيتعبوا نفسيا و عصبيا لو فيه حاجة ما حصلتش زي ما هما مخططين بالضبط
الكتاب لطيف بجد و عملي جو حلو
و ده اللي خلاني انقص منه نجمتين للأسف : كتب زي دي بتديك مسكن .. حبة كلام حلو يسكنلك شويةالمشاكل اللي عندك من غير تقنيات فعليه لتغيير وجهة نظرك و نظارتك اللي بتشوف بيها الأمور
جايز انا قرأت الكتاب بسرعه و ما اخدتش نوتس منه ، و ده اللي خلاني اقرر اني اقرأ الكتاب تاني
اما عن التقنيات فالكتاب استخدم معظم الوقت حاجة وحيده و هي الـ : الاسئله .. الاسئله اداه كويسة و قوية جدا بس محتاجين تنوع معاها
و للاسف حسيت في بعض الاوقات بان الكتاب محتواه يدعو الي انك تكون سلبي ..زي ما تيمون و بومبا بيقولوا : لما الدنيا تديك ظهرها .. ادي ظهرك للدنيااااا
بس الحقيقة انا مش مؤمنة بالمبدأ ده .. انا بستميت في القتال تجاه ما اؤمن به .. و جايز دي المشكله و محتاجه اشتغل عليها
who knows ..
الخلاصه هقرأه تاني في وقت اكون متوتره او تحت ضغط باذن الله
و هبدأ في تنفيذ بعض النصائح من دلوقتي باذن الله :)
هو انا سمعت الكتاب و قرأته سريعا و ده اللي خلاني اخلصه في يوم واحد
الكتاب حلو ، فيه نصايح لطيفه .. موجه للفئه من امثالي :"محبي الكمال" اللي بيتعبوا نفسيا و عصبيا لو فيه حاجة ما حصلتش زي ما هما مخططين بالضبط
الكتاب لطيف بجد و عملي جو حلو
و ده اللي خلاني انقص منه نجمتين للأسف : كتب زي دي بتديك مسكن .. حبة كلام حلو يسكنلك شويةالمشاكل اللي عندك من غير تقنيات فعليه لتغيير وجهة نظرك و نظارتك اللي بتشوف بيها الأمور
جايز انا قرأت الكتاب بسرعه و ما اخدتش نوتس منه ، و ده اللي خلاني اقرر اني اقرأ الكتاب تاني
اما عن التقنيات فالكتاب استخدم معظم الوقت حاجة وحيده و هي الـ : الاسئله .. الاسئله اداه كويسة و قوية جدا بس محتاجين تنوع معاها
و للاسف حسيت في بعض الاوقات بان الكتاب محتواه يدعو الي انك تكون سلبي ..زي ما تيمون و بومبا بيقولوا : لما الدنيا تديك ظهرها .. ادي ظهرك للدنيااااا
بس الحقيقة انا مش مؤمنة بالمبدأ ده .. انا بستميت في القتال تجاه ما اؤمن به .. و جايز دي المشكله و محتاجه اشتغل عليها
who knows ..
الخلاصه هقرأه تاني في وقت اكون متوتره او تحت ضغط باذن الله
و هبدأ في تنفيذ بعض النصائح من دلوقتي باذن الله :)
February 6, 2024
Offering wisdom in bite-sized portions, this timeless guide is a companion to keep by your bedside, ready to provide comfort and perspective whenever life's challenges seem overwhelming. It’s like having a wise friend offering counsel whenever you need it most.
Each short chapter addresses Carlson's insights into navigating life's complexities with grace and mindfulness, helping to find peace in the midst of chaos, fostering gratitude, or embracing the present moment.
The brevity of each chapter makes the book perfect for casual reading or for those moments when you need a quick dose of inspiration. The advice is not only practical but also seems deeply rooted in the author's genuine desire to help others live happier lives.
Each short chapter addresses Carlson's insights into navigating life's complexities with grace and mindfulness, helping to find peace in the midst of chaos, fostering gratitude, or embracing the present moment.
The brevity of each chapter makes the book perfect for casual reading or for those moments when you need a quick dose of inspiration. The advice is not only practical but also seems deeply rooted in the author's genuine desire to help others live happier lives.
August 31, 2012
You know why I hated it? Because IT'S ALL COMMON SENSE, and I paid money to read what I already know and tell other people.
Missed out on my opportunity to make money writing it myself I guess.
Missed out on my opportunity to make money writing it myself I guess.
March 3, 2013
I feel that this book had 10 good pieces of advice, but dragged it out into 100 repetitive things.
March 4, 2024
I honestly adore this book. This is probably one of the best self-help books I have ever read. Sure, sometimes it read like a personal attack. There were moments during the three months’ time I was reading this that I wanted to tell the author to shut the *#%! up because I thought he was being overly righteous and stuff but that would be really rude considering he has long passed away. Seriously though, if the author were alive, I would probably write him a thank you letter and if I had a chance and had he allowed, I would have given him a big hug.
This has been extremely helpful. It felt like reading it dug me out of this self-sabotaging grave I unwittingly buried myself in. Since I lost my dad, I have started to feel like a boat unmoored and this book kind of helped me find a bit more direction and understand life and myself (especially as a novice mom) a little bit better.
Let me just share some of my ultimate favorite excerpts from the book. I would quote the entire book if it were allowed.
“We live our lives as if they were one great big emergency! We often rush around looking busy, trying to solve problems, but in reality, we are often compounding them. Because everything seems like such a big deal, we end up spending our lives dealing with one drama after another.”
“The need for perfection and the desire for inner tranquility conflict with each other.”
“Gently remind yourself that life is okay the way it is, right now. In the absence of your judgment, everything would be fine.”
“The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole.”
“Pity is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone except to make everyone feel worse than they already do.”
“Praise and blame are all the same. The more content I’ve become, the less I depend on them for my sense of well-being.”
“The beauty of doing nothing is that it teaches you to clear your mind and relax.”
“Gratitude and inner peace go hand in hand.”
“The truth is life is almost never as bad as it seems when you’re in a low mood.”
“Choose being kind than being right most of the time.”
“Breathe before you speak.”
“Practice ignoring your negative thoughts.”
“Do a favor and don’t ask for or expect one in return. Giving is its own reward.”
“Think of your problems as potential teachers.”
“Redefine a meaningful accomplishment. Was I kind to myself and others? Did I overreact to a challenge, or was I calm and collected? Am I happy? Did I forgive?”
“Realize the power of your own thoughts. In order to experience a feeling, you must first have a thought that produces that feeling. Unhappiness is the feeling that accompanies negative feeling about your life. Treat negative thoughts like flies, shoo them away and get on with your day.”
“Learn to be happy with what you have by being more present-moment oriented. Develop a new appreciation for the blessings you already enjoy.”
“Mind your own business.”
“If you look for the extraordinary in the ordinary, you can train yourself to see it. “
“Live each day as if it were your last. It might be!”
This has been extremely helpful. It felt like reading it dug me out of this self-sabotaging grave I unwittingly buried myself in. Since I lost my dad, I have started to feel like a boat unmoored and this book kind of helped me find a bit more direction and understand life and myself (especially as a novice mom) a little bit better.
Let me just share some of my ultimate favorite excerpts from the book. I would quote the entire book if it were allowed.
“We live our lives as if they were one great big emergency! We often rush around looking busy, trying to solve problems, but in reality, we are often compounding them. Because everything seems like such a big deal, we end up spending our lives dealing with one drama after another.”
“The need for perfection and the desire for inner tranquility conflict with each other.”
“Gently remind yourself that life is okay the way it is, right now. In the absence of your judgment, everything would be fine.”
“The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole.”
“Pity is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone except to make everyone feel worse than they already do.”
“Praise and blame are all the same. The more content I’ve become, the less I depend on them for my sense of well-being.”
“The beauty of doing nothing is that it teaches you to clear your mind and relax.”
“Gratitude and inner peace go hand in hand.”
“The truth is life is almost never as bad as it seems when you’re in a low mood.”
“Choose being kind than being right most of the time.”
“Breathe before you speak.”
“Practice ignoring your negative thoughts.”
“Do a favor and don’t ask for or expect one in return. Giving is its own reward.”
“Think of your problems as potential teachers.”
“Redefine a meaningful accomplishment. Was I kind to myself and others? Did I overreact to a challenge, or was I calm and collected? Am I happy? Did I forgive?”
“Realize the power of your own thoughts. In order to experience a feeling, you must first have a thought that produces that feeling. Unhappiness is the feeling that accompanies negative feeling about your life. Treat negative thoughts like flies, shoo them away and get on with your day.”
“Learn to be happy with what you have by being more present-moment oriented. Develop a new appreciation for the blessings you already enjoy.”
“Mind your own business.”
“If you look for the extraordinary in the ordinary, you can train yourself to see it. “
“Live each day as if it were your last. It might be!”
January 4, 2019
This is not a book that I read one time and never looked back at. This has become a guidebook for living my entire life. This book related so deeply with me and opened my eyes to simple ways I can lean into the joy of my life on a daily basis. LOVE THIS BOOK.
June 24, 2012
This is an excellent book that could change the readers' behavior for the better.
The history of the book itself reveals how the author is ever ready to learn from the day-to-day happenings of life. He got the idea of the title 'Don't sweat the Small Stuff' from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer in the course of business correspondence; and he has developed it as a valuable book for all.
There are one hundred maxims in the book, all of which deserve serious consideration. For the benefit of my readers, I shall list ten of them that belong to the first class.
1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2. Let go the idea that gentle, relaxed people can't be super achievers.
3. Don't interrupt others or finish their sentences.
4. Learn to live in the present moment.
5. Become a better listener.
6. Choose your battles wisely.
7. Remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it.
8. Practice ignoring your negative thoughts.
9. Take up Yoga.
10.Mind your own business.
This book would certainly help anybody to gain a more realistic and relaxed attitude toward life in general.
The history of the book itself reveals how the author is ever ready to learn from the day-to-day happenings of life. He got the idea of the title 'Don't sweat the Small Stuff' from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer in the course of business correspondence; and he has developed it as a valuable book for all.
There are one hundred maxims in the book, all of which deserve serious consideration. For the benefit of my readers, I shall list ten of them that belong to the first class.
1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2. Let go the idea that gentle, relaxed people can't be super achievers.
3. Don't interrupt others or finish their sentences.
4. Learn to live in the present moment.
5. Become a better listener.
6. Choose your battles wisely.
7. Remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it.
8. Practice ignoring your negative thoughts.
9. Take up Yoga.
10.Mind your own business.
This book would certainly help anybody to gain a more realistic and relaxed attitude toward life in general.
December 20, 2010
كنت متحمسة لهذا الكتاب أولاً لسهولة حمله - مع أن عدد صفحاته كثير نوعاً ما - وقرائته خارج المنزل وثانياً لوصاية الدكتور طارق السويدان بقرائته
في المجمل أعجبني الكتاب وكثير من محتوياته هي أخلاق إسلامية بحتة وأعمال أوصانا الإسلام بها من شأنها تحسين الحياة الشخصية والاجتماعية وخلق التوازن حتى ظننت أن المؤلف مسلم
يركز الكاتب في أكثر من موضع على الهدوء والتحلي بالسلام الداخلي والطمأنينة والرضا والقناعة حتى في أحلك الظروف والنظر لكثير من الأمور بالبراءة أو كما نقول ( التطنيش ) وتقبل الوضع الحالي
مما أعيبه في الكتاب التكرار الممل لبعض المواضيع والأفكار وعدم شد القارئ بمواضيع أقل وتأثير أكبر يجعله يعيد قراءة الكتاب مرة أخرى
عموماً كتاب جميل وجيد
في المجمل أعجبني الكتاب وكثير من محتوياته هي أخلاق إسلامية بحتة وأعمال أوصانا الإسلام بها من شأنها تحسين الحياة الشخصية والاجتماعية وخلق التوازن حتى ظننت أن المؤلف مسلم
يركز الكاتب في أكثر من موضع على الهدوء والتحلي بالسلام الداخلي والطمأنينة والرضا والقناعة حتى في أحلك الظروف والنظر لكثير من الأمور بالبراءة أو كما نقول ( التطنيش ) وتقبل الوضع الحالي
مما أعيبه في الكتاب التكرار الممل لبعض المواضيع والأفكار وعدم شد القارئ بمواضيع أقل وتأثير أكبر يجعله يعيد قراءة الكتاب مرة أخرى
عموماً كتاب جميل وجيد
April 20, 2018
100 مقال عن قواعد الحياة
تعلمنا أغلبها من نبينا عليه الصلاة والسلام
فكرة الكتاب تشبه فكرة كتاب "نظرية الفستق' بشكل كبير
تعلمنا أغلبها من نبينا عليه الصلاة والسلام
فكرة الكتاب تشبه فكرة كتاب "نظرية الفستق' بشكل كبير
March 13, 2011
العديد من استراتيجيات الكاتب مقتبسة من دينا الاسلامي وهذا إن دل فإنه يدل على روعة هذا الدين وأنه مناسب لكل زمان ومكان حتى الكفار يؤلفون كتبهم نقلا من مفاهيم الاسلام فايننا منه!!??
1.الكثيرون يستنفذون قدرا ضخما من طاقاتهم في القلق بشأن صغائر الأمور حتى أنهم يبتعدون عن سحر وجمال الحياة.
2.عندما تلتزم بالعمل على تحقيق هذا الهدف فسوف تجد أن لديك طاقه أكبر بكثير كي تصبح إنسانا أكثر رقه وعطفا.
3.كلما انغمست في تفاصيل ما يضايقك كلما ازداد شعورك سوءا.
4.الشفقه تنمي شعورنا بالعرفان بالجميل- وبالمثال يتضح المقال اذا كنت مريضا فانظر لمن هو اشد منك مرضا واذا كنت فقيرا فانظر لمن هو اشد منك فقرا وهكذا.
5.قبل أن تبدأ في الحديث مع الأخرين يجب أن تتحلى بالصبر وأن تنتظر حتى يفرغ الغير من الحديث.
6.يجب على الشخص ان يعطي من أجل العطاء لا ان يحصل على شئ في مقابله وهذا ما تفعله عندما لا تفصح عن عطفك للآخرين.
7.ان هناك شيئا سحريا يقع لروح الانسان حيث يتملكك شعور بالطمأنينة عندما تكف عن الأحتياج لكل الإنتباه الذي تحاط به تاركا بدلا عن ذلك الشعور بالمجد للاخرين.
8.يجب ان تتخيل ان من حولك أفضل منك بدرجات المعرفة والإستنارة وان جميع من سيقابلونك سيعلمونك شيئا.
9.يتوقف قدر ما تملك من صبر بدرجة كبيرة على هدفك.
10.لا داعي للقلق إذا لم تحقق كل ما تصبوا إليه ولكنك عندما تتمتع بذهن صاف وهادئ وعندما يكون مستوى توترك منخفضا فإنك ستكون أكثر نشاطا وتستمتع اكثر بأداء واجبك.
11.خصص لحظات كل يوم للتفكير في شخص يستحق منك توجيه الشكر إليه- وهذا مصداقا للحديث الشريف من لايشكر الناس لايشكر الله.
12. هل فكرت في مدى التأثير الذي يمكن أن يتركه تبسمنا في وجه الغرباء والترحيب بهم.
13.إن المزاج المتعكر لايعد الوقت المناسب لتحليل حياتك وفعلك لذلك بمثابة انتحار عاطفي.
14.الإستماع الفعال ليس مجرد عدم مقاطعة الأخرين بل هو أن تستمع برضا للأخرين.
15.مارس أعمال الخير دون مقابل والأعمال الجميله دون من.
1.الكثيرون يستنفذون قدرا ضخما من طاقاتهم في القلق بشأن صغائر الأمور حتى أنهم يبتعدون عن سحر وجمال الحياة.
2.عندما تلتزم بالعمل على تحقيق هذا الهدف فسوف تجد أن لديك طاقه أكبر بكثير كي تصبح إنسانا أكثر رقه وعطفا.
3.كلما انغمست في تفاصيل ما يضايقك كلما ازداد شعورك سوءا.
4.الشفقه تنمي شعورنا بالعرفان بالجميل- وبالمثال يتضح المقال اذا كنت مريضا فانظر لمن هو اشد منك مرضا واذا كنت فقيرا فانظر لمن هو اشد منك فقرا وهكذا.
5.قبل أن تبدأ في الحديث مع الأخرين يجب أن تتحلى بالصبر وأن تنتظر حتى يفرغ الغير من الحديث.
6.يجب على الشخص ان يعطي من أجل العطاء لا ان يحصل على شئ في مقابله وهذا ما تفعله عندما لا تفصح عن عطفك للآخرين.
7.ان هناك شيئا سحريا يقع لروح الانسان حيث يتملكك شعور بالطمأنينة عندما تكف عن الأحتياج لكل الإنتباه الذي تحاط به تاركا بدلا عن ذلك الشعور بالمجد للاخرين.
8.يجب ان تتخيل ان من حولك أفضل منك بدرجات المعرفة والإستنارة وان جميع من سيقابلونك سيعلمونك شيئا.
9.يتوقف قدر ما تملك من صبر بدرجة كبيرة على هدفك.
10.لا داعي للقلق إذا لم تحقق كل ما تصبوا إليه ولكنك عندما تتمتع بذهن صاف وهادئ وعندما يكون مستوى توترك منخفضا فإنك ستكون أكثر نشاطا وتستمتع اكثر بأداء واجبك.
11.خصص لحظات كل يوم للتفكير في شخص يستحق منك توجيه الشكر إليه- وهذا مصداقا للحديث الشريف من لايشكر الناس لايشكر الله.
12. هل فكرت في مدى التأثير الذي يمكن أن يتركه تبسمنا في وجه الغرباء والترحيب بهم.
13.إن المزاج المتعكر لايعد الوقت المناسب لتحليل حياتك وفعلك لذلك بمثابة انتحار عاطفي.
14.الإستماع الفعال ليس مجرد عدم مقاطعة الأخرين بل هو أن تستمع برضا للأخرين.
15.مارس أعمال الخير دون مقابل والأعمال الجميله دون من.
May 28, 2020
I actually appreciated more than I thought I would. Most things I knew or thought I did. The gentle reminders are great to meditate on. This is all about getting yourself to a better, happier place. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I can use it. There are interest tips here that are simply a mind-shift that brings happiness or a bit less stress into our lives. I loved most of them. Some did nothing for me but that is to be expected. Others felt redundant to some already given. A worthwhile read.
July 30, 2021
This is a compilation of 100 different anxiety-related tips. There were definitely some pearls of wisdom, but as a “people pleaser”, I thought some of the tips were counter-productive to that (sometimes a girls got to stick up for herself, ya-know?).
This is a late entry, but I’m finally going back and adding these books to my GRs!
I finished this book as part of a “book boot camp” challenge! See my full video review below ❤️📚
I Read 7 Best-Selling Books on Anxiety and had this *breakthrough* with my panic disorder... https://youtu.be/Uv69N6O9Cgo
This is a late entry, but I’m finally going back and adding these books to my GRs!
I finished this book as part of a “book boot camp” challenge! See my full video review below ❤️📚
I Read 7 Best-Selling Books on Anxiety and had this *breakthrough* with my panic disorder... https://youtu.be/Uv69N6O9Cgo
January 8, 2020
Audience this book is for:
- Affluent, white, religious, age 45+
- Anyone else that's been historically talented at dismissing the personal struggles of others.
I'm being cheeky, and there are a few good pieces of advice, but most of the time I was annoyed by the author's dismissive attitude and oversimplification of the issues. /Shrug
- Affluent, white, religious, age 45+
- Anyone else that's been historically talented at dismissing the personal struggles of others.
I'm being cheeky, and there are a few good pieces of advice, but most of the time I was annoyed by the author's dismissive attitude and oversimplification of the issues. /Shrug
October 5, 2009
What a load of self serving egotistical crap. It is en vogue to say how wonderful this book is but I found it to be just the authors way of telling you how wonderful he is. Pity one star is the lowest.
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