Letting go is a large topic in this chapter. Whether it be letting go of a little skirmish you had with a friend, a bad test score, or when someone cuts you off on the freeway, it's harder than it seems for most people. I used to struggle a lot with letting go of things. I felt like I had to hold on to all of these little things just to find validation for why I was so upset, yet I never stop and thought of how much stress I'd be avoiding if I were to just let go. A quote I highlighted from this section states "So many people spend so much of their life energy "sweating the small stuff" that they completely lose touch with the magic and beauty of life." I found this quote so important because of the pure honesty and reality behind it. I could have had way less grey hairs if I were to simply let go and enjoy all that life had to offer.
Chapter 2 - Make Peace with Imperfection
When I think of imperfection the first thing I think of is confidence and self esteem, something I've struggled with for as long as I can remember. "whenever we are attached to having something a certain way, better than it already is, we are, almost by definition, engaged in a losing battle." Most people have looked in the mirror and didn't feel content with their appearance because they feel as though they haven't met societal beauty standards. This is something like most other teenage girls, I had struggled with on a daily basis, until recently when I've become more at peace with things I cannot control, and I realized the true beauty in individuality. I find this is something you cannot overcome until you genuinely throw out your perception of what you think is beautiful and not only "make peace with imperfection", but learn to love it.
Chapter 3 - Let Go of the Idea that Gentle, Relaxed People Can't Be Super-achievers
"Fearful, frantic thinking takes an enormous amount of energy and drains the creativity and motivation from our lives. When you are fearful or frantic, you literally immobilize yourself from your greatest potential, not to mention enjoyment." I struggle with ADHD, panic disorder and depression which makes it very hard for me to find motivation to do things, and then when I do its really hard for me to focus, constantly leaving extremely frantic and stressed. This chapter definitely helped me to realize that being stressed doesn't help to make me work harder or better. It's obviously a lot harder said than done, but I think it's really important to just let go of your stress and enjoy the feeling of being productive and getting work done that you're proud of. Just getting ready for the day and sitting at my desk is is an accomplishment that isn't easy to achieve, but I can do it while being gentle and relaxed.
Chapter 4 - Beware of the Snowball Effect of Your Thinking
"Do you notice how your body and mind feel when your thinking is out of control?" Personally I notice that when my thinking is out of control, so am I. When I can't think straight I constantly make decisions on a whim, I get stressed, and exhausted. This chapter really goes to show you how much our overthinking prevents us from not only getting stuff done, but also living our lives.
Chapter 5 - Develop Your Compassion
"Can you recall a time that you made something "big" and dramatic, when in reality it was "small" and not that big of a deal?" To be honest I cannot think of. a time in specific when I have blown something out of proportion, but I know for a fact that I've done it before. It's human nature, we get moody and have those bad days where a little mishap really throws us over our breaking point, but just because something is natural doesn't mean we can use that as an excuse. Now that this issue has been brought to our attention, it's important to be mindful of such an obnoxious reaction.
Chapter 6 - Remind Yourself that When You Die, Your "In Basket" Wont Be Empty
"What does your "In Basket" look like? and will it be there tomorrow?" My current "In Basket" is all over the place, it's filled with taking care of my siblings, leadership and other school work, actual work, and volunteering. Will my "In basket" be empty tomorrow? No, and it never will be, but that's okay. I'm beginning to accept that there is work I may never get to, but I prioritized what I felt was most important, and left time for myself. I think the most important part of checking things off your "In Basket" is taking time for yourself to rejuvenate and take a break. We cannot work at our most full potential if we are burnt out and can barely get out of bed in the morning.