The World's Best Book Summaries
What causes seasonal depression? How common is the disorder? What are some ways to prevent or treat the symptoms? When the days get darker and colder, it’s hard not to feel a little down. But sometimes the “winter blues” are something more—seasonal depression—a surprisingly common form of depression. Keep reading to learn what causes seasonal depression, who it affects, and what you can do to help it.
Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Did your creativity get squashed at some point? Julia Cameron says it’s not too late to reconnect to your inner artist and find what’s been lost—creativity, dreams, and desires. These elements are all still inside you somewhere, and she encourages you to go after them. Continue reading to learn how to reconnect to your creativity and recover what’s been lost.
How are dopamine and impulsivity related? What causes impulsive behavior? Dopamine and impulsivity are connected because dopamine makes you want things and makes you feel like achievements will make you happy. Once you understand how this works, you can see how this causes impulsive behavior when unchecked. Here are some ways that dopamine affects emotions and behaviors.
Do you lack motivation to do what needs to be done every day? Are you so overwhelmed you don’t know how or where to start? Motivation is a feeling, so it naturally ebbs and flows. Dr. Julie Smith writes that it’s important to treat it as such and, therefore, not let it get the best of you. In her book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, she shares four techniques that can help you overcome a lack of motivation. Keep reading for Smith’s practical advice on how to be more motivated and do what you need to do.
How strong is your creative intuition? Do you know how to channel your emotions into creativity? How often do you experience synchronicity? In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron shows you how to tap into your deeper creative self where your real emotions and wild ideas reside. One way to do this is to get a better handle on your creative intuition and feelings, which will also help you produce the art you’re intended to produce. Read more to learn Cameron’s advice for leveraging your creative intuition and emotions.
Why is dopamine known as the motivation chemical? How does dopamine influence our thinking? Dopamine is called the motivation chemical because it inspires us to think about and focus on future happiness and work towards something. By looking more closely at how this neurotransmitter works, you can understand why you’re motivated in the ways that you are. Consider these explanations of how dopamine works and how it influences motivation.
Why is asking questions important? What are some ways to ask questions without overwhelming your conversation partner? If people never asked questions, we’d likely never make breakthroughs. On a smaller scale, questions open opportunities for further discussion that’ll teach you more about other people. Read more about why asking questions is important, from learning new things to avoiding assumptions.
Do you bounce back from criticism? How much do you trust yourself? Do you laugh at (or at least learn from) failure? Dr. Julie Smith writes that your mental health will significantly improve when you silence your inner critic. To do so, she recommends you learn to tolerate negative feedback, build your confidence, become comfortable with failure, and strive to accept yourself unconditionally. Continue reading to get Smith’s four-part guidance on how to silence your inner critic.
Why do people perform mental accounting when it comes to their finances? What are some examples of mental accounting? One of Richard H. Thaler’s arguments against constrained optimization is that people perform mental accounting. Behavioral economics describes this as a cognitive bias that causes people to place different values on money. We’ll focus on three key examples of mental accounting. Let’s take a look at three common examples of mental accounting.
Do you struggle to maintain discipline in your daily routine? Why is discipline so important, and how can you cultivate it? In The Science of Self-Discipline, Peter Hollins explains his science-based approach to discipline. He also provides internal and external strategies that you can use to improve your daily habits and reach long-term goals. Read below for a brief overview of The Science of Self-Discipline.