Dont Sweat The Small Stuff
Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, By: Richard Carlson, PHD
Sometimes ago I was going through a stressful period in my life. My stress must have been obvious to my family. My son must have noticed my condition and gave me a gift which I value a lot. The gift was an easy reading book by Richard Carlson, PHD titled "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff". I am not much into novels and fictions. However, I have always enjoyed science and books that teach me someting. This book was worth its weight in gold.
The book starts with a quote from William James that goes "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude". How true it is....
The book teaches simple ways to keep the small things from taking over your life. It teaches methods, tactics and strategies one may employ to help himself/herself to approach life situations in a manner which produce a positive mental outcome. In very simple ways it teaches how to replace old habits of "reaction" with new habits of perspective. This in-turn should help one enjoy a more positive, less stressful and more satisfying relationships. Some of the content deal with:
How to make peace with imperfection
Develop your compassion
Don't interrupt others or finish their sentences
Let others have the glory
Become more patient
Surrender to the fact that life isn't fair
Allow yourself to be bored
Imagine yourself in your own funeral
Spend a moment everyday thinking of someone to thank
Set aside quite time, every day
Practice random acts of kindness
See the innocence
Relax
Resist the urge to criticize
Do one thing at a time
Lighten up
Listen to your feelings
Schedule time for your inner work
Live this day as if it were your last. It might be!
The book is full of gentle reminders of important things in life. Things that we tend to forget much too quickly in the rush of trying to become "successful".
As the author writes " Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff".
