Hello everyone, for over 20 years I've been immensely enjoying reading, and gladly applying, self-improvement material.

I will share my latest notes/summaries here with everyone, to benefit and discuss.

No links or ads, just the content, so enjoy!

The Psychology of Revenge- Bedtime Procrastination (Article by Ness Labs)- 2021

1- However tired we might be at the end of the day, we give up sleeping, and delay bedtime (mindlessly) to regain some form of control of our lives!

2- We do this to regain some "me-time", some "free-time", to ease our stress just a little bit (it works actually)!

3- That's only a short-term solution for stress, as it has its downsides, one should logically strive to lessen stress, and abide to a healthier bed-time routine.

4- Solution (if you want it): create a bedtime routine, drink more water, and turn off screens.

My 2 cents: That's nice to now lol, I feel it made me feel more enjoyable when I delay my sleep on some days and just remain awake into my next day!

The Miracle Morning (Book by Hal Elrod) - 2012

Special thanks for the summary published here by Curious-Neo!

1- The book revolves around the idea that if you put one hour approx, each morning, towards your development, you will see incremental positive change (I believe in the one hour a day concept- anytime- mine are late after 12 AM lol).

2- The routine preached for by the book is simple, tested, and its a "re-packaging of the basics" book: silence first, then affirmations second, then visualization, followed by exercise, and lastly reading or listening to good material.

The book falls in the category of mixing the old with a new touch! Good as a reminder.

The Strangest Secret (Recording by Earl Nightingale) - 1956

Special thanks for the summary published on ApplySelf (app and website) by Curious-Neo! Its a new program to apply what we learn and I'm following it gladly!

1- Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. That is the coined, most-known, phrase. In nutshell; have goal and work everyday towards achieving it. You are what you think!

2- The secret lies in thinking daily about our goal. This is the same secret that Napoleon Hill presented in his book "Think & Grow Rich". Earl Nightingale was simple a master presenter, in voice, of that gem.

3- You've got a goal, and you are ready to think about it; make your thoughts revolve around the "how?", and become focused on the actions needed to make it come true.

4- Thinking positively (instead of negatively or about fears), and being of service to others, are conditions for successful application of this philosophy. You get what you give!

5- Stop giving way to excuses, be courageous, invest/save 10% of your earnings; keep taking action.

6- Change any limiting self-image, think and write about the person you want to become; act it out (till you make it).

7- Write your goal on a card, and view it first thing in the morning, last thing before you go to sleep, and as much as possible throughout the day, and apply the steps outlined all day long.

This is a classic that has helped millions, including me, of getting better and better everyday; I just love it! Its time to re-practice this gem!

Things You Must Let Go Of To Be Happy! (Video by ChrisWGault) - 2021

1. Action is the only way to achieve a change towards a better life.
2. Let go of (insecurity); stop caring for what others think and be yourself.
3. Let go of (excessive pride); stop comparing yourself to others its an endless pit.
4. Let go of (toxic people); stop being around those dragging you negatively.
5. Let go of (any job that you hate); stop working your life away and seek an exit strategy.
6. Let go of (the idea that it can't get better); stop selling yourself short and do something.
7. Let go of (being in your comfort zone); stop the fear, and embrace learning and growing.
8. Let go of (imperfection hunting); stop being a perfectionist, with you or others; enjoy life.
9. Let go of (hanging your happiness on others); stop being a victim, and regain control.
10. Let go of (sweating the small stuff); stop laser focusing on all the little inconveniences.

Turning Right- (Book by Kay Bretz)- 2021

1- Dr. Bretz is change consultant, an elite ultra-marathon runner (350 KM, 70 hours!), and a former principal at McKinsey & Company, who preaches an old idea in a new ways; its around having paradigm shifts and thinking differently.

2- When one is faced with standard problems; one should after exhausting the known solutions; turn to his intuition. This would make him "turn right"; taking the "unbeaten path".

3- Instead of being motivated not to fail (a bad thing), its better to be motivated to win (a very good thing with better outcomes).

4- When one relinquishes control (calculating and planning everything) and surrenders to intuition (an optimistic belief that there is a "way" out), he is better equipped to act.

5- Focus on the work at hand, instead of worrying about everything that could go wrong, or the results. This methodology is adopted by mental toughness trainers and Olympic medalists.

6- Its better to start with this mentality and work actively; go with the flow, and you'll be surprised from the positive results. Just take it easy!

7- This requires continuous self-examination, self-talk, and a lot of willpower. Naturally it means getting out of your comfort zone almost all the time.

Its all about living large by letting go of the mental chains, trying out new things and going with the "new- uncalculated" flow!

The Creativity Leap (Book by Natalie Nixon)- 2020

1- Complexity, that deep never-ending complexity of today, can be dealt with using creativity.

2- Set yourself free from the paralysis by analysis, and from seeking concrete answers and control.

3- First, inquire: have the desire to know more all the time.

4- Second, improvise: work freely without a playbook or past experience (not a must).

5- Third, intuition: trust your gut feelings as a provider of true data.

I believe this book presents the simplified answers we need in this complex world, we need to remember we are human, limited and can only do too much.

The Simplicity Principle (Book by Julia Hobsbawm)- 2020

1- Keep it as simple as possible, and choose the easier options to make life manageable.

2- Clear the way for more clarity, get rid of distractions (you need 23 minutes to get back on track), and lessen the options available, establish boundaries, drop many tasks, and get rid of clutter anywhere.

3- Be yourself, get away from complexity of life, and set your rules for peace of mind.

4- Reset, take a break , and take a deep breath (metaphorically and physically).

5- Limit the information you consume, consume on the good (and even then, only the necessary).

6- Recharge with the face-to-face meetings with people, and get into relational exchanges (not transactional).

7- Learn the skills of time management, don't over promise, and take it easy on yourself.

This book is simply a re-packaging of basic advise, which almost everyone knows, but no one executes. A reminder that we need to remember we're human after all, and to not give in to the digitization "not-enough" culture.

Stillness is the Key (Book by Ryan Holiday)- 2019

1- To reach stillness, we have to stop reacting instantly, and start with deep thinking.

2- Being in the here and now, and getting over the wandering mind, helps a lot.

3- Examine your first impression and gut feelings; give it time, and good thought.

4- Gather information and keep learning, questioning, and revising your conclusions.

5- The soul is important; seek being virtuous, face your emotions, and seek a spiritual experience.

6- Listen to your inner voice, it might be so low in the beginning, but it's their if you listen.

7- Adopt healthy habits, learn to wait, walk, sleep well, and try to enjoy life more in general.

This book actually is a simple, straight-forward, collection of basic wisdom to live well, enshrined in quotes of the stoic philosophers. A simple reminder to live the slower, deeper, more meaningful life.

Until my next summary, be safe and have fun!