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101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think Book Review

Uncategorized / August 27, 2021 by admin / 3 Comments

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I’ve finally come around to reading the highly recommended “101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think,” and here is my book review.

Read also: 7 Mindset Changes You Need To Make This Year

Read also:   Rich As F*ck Book Review | 11 Lessons + Quotes

Book Review

101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest is basically like a collection of high-quality personal development blog posts. It was a nice and thought-provoking read full of great lessons. The main ones repeatedly appeared throughout the book, so they were really made to stick.

1. Truly living means feeling all feelings to their fullest

If you were always happy, you wouldn’t feel happy at all because you wouldn’t be having the necessary contrast to sadness or any other negative emotion. 

Being happy would just be normal. It would feel good but a bit ‘meh.’ Just like rich people get used to spending insane amounts of money without blinking an eye, you wouldn’t even see yourself as particularly happy if you didn’t experience the alternative. 

Furthermore, your life would stagnate. 

After all, besides chasing pleasure, the biggest motivator for many people is to escape the pain. 

We don’t want to worry about money anymore, so we study hard to get a good job; we don’t want to feel restricted by a 9-to-5 lifestyle anymore, so we build a business, and we are sick of feeling ugly take care of our appearance. 

Previously unimaginable amazing things have resulted from humans wanting a better life. 

None of us would ever live life with our full potential if we always were happy. 

So embrace your negative emotions as well!

2. You’re not meant to be happy all the time

“Negative emotions are good for you. In fact, maintaining a consistent experience of only “happiness”—or any emotion, really—would be a sign of mental illness.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

“The goal is not to feel “good” all the time, it’s to be able to express a healthy range of emotion without suppressing or suffering.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

“Happy people are not people who “feel good” all the time; they are the people who are able to be guided by their negative emotions rather than paralyzed by them.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

“Pain is a signal that something’s wrong, suffering is what happens when we don’t heed it.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

There is a lot of talk in the online world about being a high vibe all the time. Some gurus sell their formula to a high vibe life to hopeful customers. 

And many of those high vibe tips work … until they don’t. 

You can’t avoid negative feelings forever. 

Beyond the previously mentioned point that truly living includes feeling all emotions to the fullest, there is also another reason you shouldn’t suppress negative emotions. 

They are making you aware of a problem you need to deal with. 

The more you suppress your negative emotions instead of dealing with the root of them, the more issues will pop up in your life: anger management issues, anxiety, stress-induced health issues, etc.

Those negative feelings will persist the more you resist them. Instead, healthily deal with them, and if necessary, don’t hesitate to take advantage of professional help. 

3. Life isn’t about goals but the person you become through the pursuit of them

“The point of hard work is to recognize the person it makes you, not what it “gets” you” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

“Accomplishing goals is not success. How much you expand in the process is.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

“The point of anything is not what you get from having done it; it’s who you become from having gone through it. It’s all about growth at the end of the day. “ – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

Our society has become very goal-oriented. The internet is full of content that’s supposed to help you hustle towards your next big goal.

However, it’s actually not the actual achievement of the goal that makes the biggest difference in your life. It’s more about who you become during the journey. 

If you learn to see the benefit in work in between and actually enjoy it, you will lead a happier life and be more at peace. 

You won’t just live for the fleeting moment in which you achieve your goal and until you set sight onto your next aim. Instead, you’ll live for the process, as well.

4. Some of your dreams might break, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on a bright future

“Don’t confuse a broken dream with a broken future.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

Sometimes, we build this elaborate mental construct of our ideal life around this one dream scenario. 

The longer you have this picture of your future, and the more you want it, the more it’s going to hurt when that bubble pops.

Teh sudden realization that this dream isn’t feasible can be dishartening and depressing. 

It might take you a while to get over your loss of perspective for your future. 

However, you should always remember that a future equally as good or even better is waiting for you to claim it. 

Often enough, we end up idolizing our dream life without realizing that the actual day-to-day routine wouldn’t be ideal for us at all. 

Luckily, there is always another, if not better, dream waiting for you. 

5. Stop planning your happiness and start feeling it now

“You cannot save up your happiness; you can either feel it in the moment, or you miss it. It’s that simple.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

Anyone who is more prone to overthinking than spontaneous actions has probably postponed their happiness at least once in their life.

This can look like forcing yourself to watch a series more slowly than you’d like because you want to have something to look forward to in the next few days. 

Or perhabs you have this really deliciously scented candle, and you want to save it for a ‘special occasion, but then it just ends up lying around for years instead of providing you joy now.

Trying to plan our happiness can rob us of the very thing we are trying to secure. 

For example, often enough, the excitement of the series or with the candle might fade, and you don’t enjoy it later on as much as you would have now. 

Or you even forget about it entirely. 

There will be plenty of reasons for you to feel happy in the future. 

Don’t act as if your happiness is a limited resource that carefully needs to be distributed across time. 

Be happy now, first and foremost!

6. You should be living life and not just think about it

“Make sure you’re living more than you’re thinking about living.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

It is easy to fall into the habit of overanalyzing your life, especially as an introverted overthinker interested in personal development. 

As such, we have to put a conscious effort into actually living life. 

Stop creating all those Pinterest boards full of cute aesthetic cafés and instead take your laptop or book and spontaneously spend a few hours in one.

Stop planning out the perfect business idea in little detail and just start working on something. 

And please stop obsessing over whether or not you’re ‘behind in life.’ Instead, take one step forward in a direction that’ll make you feel less behind.

You won’t remember all the things you’ve contemplated in life. What you will remember and be remembered for are the things you did. So start doing them!

7. Be careful to imagine your life as a synopsis

“You have to stop living for how other people will remember you. Stop living by telling yourself the story that you think other people will be happy reading.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

This book made me aware that I am guilty of viewing my life from the outside and as a synopsis. 

Do you envy the impressive CV of successful people?

Do you imagine what your CV will look like one of these days?

And have you ever imagined how other people will introduce you?

If you do, you are also having a synopsis-like view of your life.

You can keep imagining your life’s synopsis if it motivates you but redirects your focus on your life from your own perspective if you get increasingly disappointed.

8. Your fear is not only a warning but also a guiding sign

“Not wanting to do something would make you feel indifferent about it. Fear = interest.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

“The presence of indifference is a sign you’re on the wrong path. Fear means you’re trying to move toward something you love, but your old beliefs, or unhealed experiences, are getting in the way.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

Not every fear is a sign of danger. More often than not, fear is a sign that you are interested in something that lies outside your comfort zone. 

To step outside your comfort zone, you might have overcome limiting beliefs, self-sabotaging habits or simply push yourself through it.

If you do that, you will experience immense growth, and your momentum will make it easier for you to follow other interests that have been appearing as fears.

9. Don’t let your past self dictate how you live your life today

“You owe nothing to your younger self. You are not responsible for being the person you once thought you’d be.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

“There is no way you will be able to predict or plan what will be happening in 5 years from now. If you can predict and plan for that, dream bigger. Try harder.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

My younger self of five years ago would have never been able to predict the kind of person I am today with all my interests and passions. 

I’m sure to at very least a small extent, it’s the same for you. 

So why would we think we can make a 5-year plan for our life that is guaranteed to make us happy? 

You might dedicate your entire high school life to getting the grades necessary formed or law school because you’ve set it into your head that this is your dream career. 

Does that guarantee you will like the college courses or the actual career? No!

So don’t force yourself to finish a 5- or even 10-year plan just because you are already a few years into it if you honestly hate it.

There is a fine line between stubborn persistence and foolish stubbornness; be careful what side you’re on.  

10. Embrace your embarrassing past

“You’re supposed to be embarrassed of your younger self—really. It’s a mark of progress.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

Many people cringe when they see pictures of or hear stories about their younger selves. 

They obsess over how they could have done better and why they did this or that. 

But the thing is, back then, it was most likely the best you had to offer. 

The fact that you could do so much better nowadays should make you proud of how much you’ve grown. 

Focus on that instead of on the embarrassing thing nobody, but you obsesses over.

11. The things you love and hate about others tell you a lot about yourself

“You love in others what you love in yourself. You hate in others what you cannot see in yourself.” – Brianna Wiest (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think)

If you have a very strong reaction to people who interrupt others, perhaps that’s because you refuse to admit to yourself that you are prone to interrupting others as well. 

If you absolutely hate women caked full of makeup, perhaps that’s because you don’t want to admit to yourself that you’d like to be able to make up as expertly as them (though not necessarily as much of it as them).

After all, if you don’t care about it, you would feel indifferent towards it.

Take your strong emotions as cues to find out more about you and heal your hate by finally admitting to yourself the things you’ve been keeping suppressed.

Comment down below on your favorite lesson from the book. 

Until next time!

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Sorry, there was a problem., 101 essays that will change the way you think audible audiobook – unabridged.

Over the past few years, Brianna Wiest has gained renown for her deeply moving, philosophical writing. This new compilation of her published work features pieces on why you should pursue purpose over passion, embrace negative thinking, see the wisdom in daily routine, and become aware of the cognitive biases that are creating the way you see your life.

Some of these pieces have never been seen; others have been read by millions of people around the world. Regardless, each will leave you thinking: This idea changed my life.

• Listening Length 10 hours and 45 minutes
• Author Brianna Wiest
• Narrator Abby Craden
• Audible release date August 21, 2018
• Language English
• Publisher Tantor Audio
• ASIN B07G3GLPZ8
• Version Unabridged
• Program Type Audiobook
• See all details

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101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think - Book Summary

Philosophical Meditations That Will Change Your Life

In this episode of "20 Minute Books", we delve deep into the inspirational "101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think", penned by the celebrated writer, Brianna Wiest. This insightful collection of essays draws you in and prompts you to reevaluate your perspectives on life, anxiety, and personal growth. Wiest encourages readers not to shy away from their darkest feelings but to harness them as tools for self-improvement.

The author, Brianna Wiest, is a renowned American writer and poet with a global following. Her profound writings have graced the pages of illustrious publications like Forbes, Huffington Post, and Thought Catalog. To her credit, she has sold over a million books, and her work has been translated into more than 20 languages.

"101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think" is a beacon for those lost in the labyrinth of life's complexities. Ideal for people in their twenties grappling with questions of purpose and meaning, and for thirtysomethings introspecting on their past and its influence on the present. It provides a roadmap for those determined to reclaim their future. If you wish to find joy and fulfillment in being authentically you, this book offers a well-lit path. Discover how managing your thoughts can pave the way to rewarding daily habits, ushering in a life filled with contentment and achievement.

Embark on a journey of transformation: Discover eleven powerful ideas that will revolutionize your mindset.

Imagine if you could transfigure your life by simply shifting your thought patterns? What if, beyond merely reshaping your thoughts, you could elevate your life further by influencing your emotions?

Yes, it seems like a significant challenge considering what life has thrown at you or what you've been led to believe about the pursuit of happiness. But what if attaining happiness isn't even the main objective?

Through her influential book "101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think", author Brianna Wiest calls for a seismic shift in our beliefs, advocating for a life that's structured and governed — by you.

If the term "control" feels restrictive or monotonous, envision it as a sturdy tree trunk that supports an abundance of vibrant flowers and luscious fruits.

Doesn't that shift your perception a bit?

You're already in the process of changing your mindset, evolving from a dull root system to a tantalizing fruit tree to an entire living organism. In your specific instance - a human being.

Covering all 101 essays from the book here would be quite an undertaking. Hence, we've cherry-picked eleven impactful ideas that will surely get your cognitive wheels turning.

Embrace ownership over your thoughts and emotions.

We are born into a universe replete with deeply ingrained traditions and values.

As we mature, we absorb these values, either passively or through explicit teachings. Societal structures are designed to chastise and manipulate those who defy these norms, as you might have experienced in dinner table discussions or social media exchanges.

So, how can one navigate through this cultural monolith?

This is your starting point of self-discovery. You need to acknowledge and accept ownership over your thoughts and feelings. Your emotional anchor should be rooted within you, detached from the external chaos of everyday life. Additionally, it's crucial to realize that sometimes, our painful emotions lack a concrete source and can be dispelled by shifting our focus elsewhere.

Experience your emotions as they arise — and then graciously let them go.

Establish a daily rhythm.

For most people, the concept of routine can feel like a direct contrast to a life brimming with happiness and adventure.

However, upon closer inspection, you'll discover that the most triumphant individuals you admire usually adhere to a daily rhythm that guides them into a state of familiarity and constancy. It's this rhythmic cadence that propels them into a 'flow state', a stage where creatives seem to work ceaselessly and effortlessly.

Construct your personal rhythm by identifying the minor habits that keep your mind balanced and serene, and commit to practicing them every day. This rhythm will offer you a sense of security, help ward off anxiety, and tackle procrastination head-on.

Amplify your happiness threshold.

It may come as a surprise, but in reality, you're not truly seeking happiness.

Unbeknownst to you, you've established a benchmark of happiness that, once surpassed, makes you uncomfortable, prompting you to revert back to a socially acceptable state of joy.

Reflect on this: Can you recall instances when you subdued your joyous celebrations for fear of making your less successful friends uneasy?

That was your subconscious alerting you about the potential risks of standing out from the crowd. You inadvertently become a target, a threat. However, all you yearn for is to blend in seamlessly.

Consider increasing your happiness threshold by basking in this euphoria for longer periods. Practice gratitude, engage in meditation, and allow your joy to flourish. You have the power to feel happy irrespective of your circumstances. This choice is deeply rooted in embracing your most authentic self.

Unleash your inherent creativity.

We're all inherently creative beings.

We flourish when we achieve an exceptional state of expression, regardless of its form. Even our hunter-gatherer forebears managed to sketch images on rocks and cave walls amidst their demanding lives.

Human beings are innately compelled to observe and interpret art in every context it presents itself.

Discover your unique mode of creative expression and hone it. It doesn't need to be comprehended or approved by others. All it requires is for you to derive pleasure from it. Let it flow without any judgement. Resist the lure to mimic others.

Engage in it for its own merit, with mindfulness and regularity, until it integrates into your routine and becomes an instinct.

Automate your skills to perfection.

How can you simplify newly acquired skills to the point where they seem as natural as breathing?

Here's your three-step roadmap to mastery!

Firstly, immerse yourself in the skill you're captivated by and learn about its application. Begin to put this newfound knowledge into practice, observing any mistakes for future improvement.

Next, while utilizing the skill, aim to remember all the individual components involved in its application. Why? Because our brains are wired to remember a chain of events more effectively than a single isolated incident. You'll notice it becoming gradually easier over time.

The final phase propels you into a state of autopilot through consistent repetition. You'll find the process becoming more effortless, and you'll slip into a state of flow as you carry out tasks subconsciously.

Cultivate your self-esteem.

Remember the lesson about steering your emotions with your thoughts? You can apply the same principle to boost your self-esteem.

Consider it as your capability to navigate your personal affairs. As you consciously work on and assess your skills, you'll see your confidence blossoming over time.

Embrace a high standard of morality, accountability, and ethics that are not imposed by external forces but guided by your inner values and self-worth. Learn to assert yourself in a manner that doesn't reflect defensiveness — defensiveness often springs from fear.

You won't bask in triumphant moments every day, but you'll experience a comforting tranquility knowing that you're at the helm of your life.

Strike a balance between passion and purpose.

We're often encouraged to follow our hearts, but what if we allow our minds to take the lead?

The secret isn't about favoring one over the other, but rather understanding where one ends and the other begins. Passion may light the flame of desire, but its intensity is likely to wane as you advance.

That's when the wisdom of the mind comes into play. A well-defined purpose will keep you centered, assist in identifying and mastering the skills needed to execute daily tasks, and give you the courage to defer instantaneous gratification.

Celebrate your small victories with gratitude. The tranquility and tenacity offered by purpose outshine the frantic pursuit to fill any void you might be experiencing. Even in personal relationships, shared values can provide a deeper sense of fulfillment.

Steer clear of distractions.

In a renowned essay, Denis Diderot, a philosopher of the French Enlightenment, narrated how receiving a new scarlet dressing robe led him to unhappiness and plunged him into debt.

His older possessions seemed dull in comparison, almost overnight. He hurried to replace them to align with the novelty of his new robe. If you've ever purchased a dress and immediately considered the perfect pair of shoes to accompany it, you'll understand his predicament.

Advertisements, acquaintances, and celebrities constantly urge us to consume more. Trying to derive satisfaction from a materialistic existence proves to be a near-impossible task.

Instead, direct your attention towards the things that truly matter to you.

Master the art of rest.

Up until now, we've explored various concepts that will hopefully shift your thinking paradigm.

Here's a small encore: we have three more quick ideas to impart.

Firstly, get well-acquainted with rest. Enjoy a good night's sleep, engage in reflection, and carve out time for idleness. Maintaining an intense focus all the time can deplete your energy. More often than not, it's during these idle moments that your mind unravels complex events and problems to uncover solutions.

Refrain from judgment.

Steer clear from judging others, especially the younger generation still navigating their path in the world. Our innate inclination is to conceal our emotions when we face judgment. However, this often seeds stress and anxiety that may surface later in life.

Shift your viewpoint.

Lastly, harness the power of negative thinking to assess and enhance your life. While you're not in control of what life presents to you, how you respond to these circumstances is entirely up to you. Rather than repelling negative thoughts, employ them as a means to strategize your response. Transform your fear into a driving force.

Altering your viewpoint will consequently reshape the manner in which you tackle every obstacle in your life.

Wrapping it all up

A significant chunk of the notions you believe to be your own are, in reality, inherited from the prevailing culture that surrounds you. To carve your own path, you need to mute the external noise and foster independent thought. Deliberately use your thoughts to determine what truly matters. This will shift your emotions about several aspects as you acquire a broader perspective — the lens through which you perceive everything.

Following this, it's easier to establish a productive routine that forms the bedrock for your purpose, at a safe distance from the fickle ardor of passion. You'll discover genuine satisfaction when your objectives transition from the thrill of the end goal to the everyday tasks you start to relish. It's these routine tasks that metamorphose you into a creative dynamo as you begin operating on autopilot. Faith in your capability to execute tasks and govern your own life boosts your self-esteem.

This is the initiation towards treating yourself with compassion. Simultaneously, it's how you treat the world with kindness.

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101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think

By Brianna Wiest

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101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think

52 pages • 1 hour read

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Introduction-Essay 20

Essays 21-40

Essays 41-60

Essays 61-80

Essays 81-101

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Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Brianna Wiest

Brianna Wiest (born 1992) is an online essayist, motivational writer, and poet. She studied professional writing at Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania, graduating in 2013, and was the editor of the student newspaper there. Initially, her degree was intended to lead to a career in the publishing industry. The viral success of her online publications during and after her studies led instead to a writing career. Her publications center around popular psychology, mindfulness , relationships, reflection, and self-improvement. After 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think was published as a collection of online essays in 2016, she has written other self-help content as books, including The Mountain Is You (2020) and The Pivot Year . Her books have sold over one million copies worldwide.

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101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think

Description.

Over the past few years, Brianna Wiest has gained renown for her deeply moving, philosophical writing. This new compilation of her published work features pieces on why you should pursue purpose over passion, embrace negative thinking, see the wisdom in daily routine, and become aware of the cognitive biases that are creating the way you see your life. Some of these pieces have never been seen; others have been read by millions of people around the world. Regardless, each will leave you thinking: this idea changed my life. Disclaimer: This audiobook contains explicit language.

• Brianna Wiest - Author
• Abby Craden - Narrator

OverDrive Listen audiobook

• ISBN: 9781977396860
• File size: 310042 KB
• Release date: August 21, 2018
• Duration: 10:45:55

MP3 audiobook

• File size: 310065 KB
• Duration: 10:49:53
• Number of parts: 9

OverDrive Listen audiobook MP3 audiobook

Essays Philosophy Self-Improvement Nonfiction

Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc. Edition: Unabridged

OverDrive Listen audiobook ISBN: 9781977396860 File size: 310042 KB Release date: August 21, 2018 Duration: 10:45:55

MP3 audiobook ISBN: 9781977396860 File size: 310065 KB Release date: August 21, 2018 Duration: 10:49:53 Number of parts: 9

• Formats OverDrive Listen audiobook MP3 audiobook
• Languages English

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