How We Learn to Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde: Overview

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Is bravery something we’re born with, or can we actually learn to become more courageous? What if the moments that require the most courage aren’t the dramatic ones we see in movies? How We Learn to Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde offers a fresh perspective on developing courage. The Episcopal bishop argues that bravery isn’t a rare gift reserved for heroes—it’s a skill anyone can develop through practice and intentional choices. Read more to discover how small daily decisions build the foundation for life-changing courage and why being brave might be more accessible than you think.

Together by Vivek Murthy—Book Overview & Takeaways

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Do you often find yourself feeling lonely, despite the world being more connected than ever? Why do humans crave social connection? In an age where digital connection has never been easier, an invisible epidemic of isolation threatens our well-being. In Together, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy reveals that loneliness is a public health crisis with consequences as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Continue reading for an overview of the book Together.

The Sirens’ Call by Chris Hayes—Book Overview & Takeaways

A cell phone with long red hair sitting on a rock in the ocean like a siren

Do you struggle to maintain mental focus? What actions can you take to resist the attention economy? In The Sirens’ Call, MSNBC host Chris Hayes demystifies the mechanics of an economy built to commandeer your attention. He reveals how our attention has become a commodity seized and controlled by media platforms and advertisers for their profit. Continue reading for an overview of the book, along with insights on how to regain control of your mental life.

Mel Robbins’s The Let Them Theory: Book Overview

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What’s The Let Them Theory about? Do you have a need to control everything? There’s a simple, but powerful framework for reclaiming your time and mental energy: Stop trying to control other people. In Mel Robbins’s The Let Them Theory, she explains how accepting others as they are while taking responsibility for your own actions can transform your relationships, reduce stress, and help you build the life you want. Read more in our brief overview of The Let Them Theory.

What Is the Let Them Theory? The Secret to Letting Go

A man letting go of a paper lantern on a beach, representing the Let Them Theory

Do you often feel like you’re wasting energy on things? What is the Let Them Theory? Mel Robbins’s Let Them Theory teaches us to detach from situations and behaviors that are outside our sphere of influence. It involves shifting your mindset to take control of what you do and how you spend your time and energy. If you want to put your energy in the right place, read more about Robbins’s theory below.

“Let Them” and “Let Me”: Mel Robins’s Way to Release Control

Two women standing back to back, representing the "Let Them and Let Me" theory

How do you react to a person’s comment that just isn’t worth the battle? What if there were a way you could win the battle without even fighting it? To escape the trap of trying to control what other people do and say, Mel Robbins contends you have to acknowledge that you can’t manage everyone else’s opinions, judgments, and feelings and redirect your energy and focus to what you can control. She explains that to do that, you can use two simple phrases: “Let Them” and “Let Me.” Discover how to use these phrases in everyday situations.

The Key to Accepting Reality With the Let Them Theory

A street sign in a city that reads "REALITY" telling people to accept reality

Do you have trouble accepting reality? How can you stop influencing what other people say or do? Underlying the Let Them Theory is the idea that you have to accept reality as it is, without judging it, without resisting it, and without wanting to change it into something that it’s not. Mel Robbins points out that your time and energy are precious resources that you need to invest wisely. Keep reading to learn how to invest yourself wisely by accepting the way things are.

How to Not Care About What Others Think (Mel Robbins)

A woman on the street, not caring what other people think of her

Do you often care about what other people think about you? How can you stop wasting time on other people’s opinions? Mel Robbins’s Let Them Theory works when it’s what other people think and say, rather than what they do, that stresses you out. You can’t change what people say, but you can change how you react to them. Continue reading to learn how to not care about what others think so you can finally feel free.

How to Be Emotionally Mature: Don’t React Like a Child

An older woman who knows how to be emotionally mature

Do you want to be more emotionally mature? Do you worry about other people’s emotional reactions to you? In the same way managing other people’s negative opinions isn’t your responsibility, it’s also not your responsibility to manage other people’s emotional reactions, says Mel Robbins in her book The Let Them Theory. While they might act emotionally immature, there’s a chance you might also be the one who needs to manage your emotions better. Learn how to be emotionally mature so you can let go of how other people react to you.

What Is the Boomerang Effect and How Can You Avoid It?

Two people suffering from the boomerang effect, crossing their arms and stubbornly refusing to change

What is the boomerang effect in psychology? Why do people do the opposite of what you want them to do? The boomerang effect is when you push for something to happen, only for the opposite to take place. Mel Robbins describes something similar to the boomerang effect in her book, The Let Them Theory, in discussing the need for a supportive environment to encourage changes in people. Let’s look at the boomerang effect in action.