Book SummaryThe Gap and The Gain, by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Gap and The Gain

The Gap and The Gain describes two ways of thinking that measure your progress in life. Gap-thinking is focusing your thoughts on the “gap” between where you are now and where you want to be. Gain-thinking is focusing on how far you’ve come, or the “gains” you’ve made. According to the authors, both styles of thinking have significant consequences for your well-being: Gap-thinking is detrimental to your happiness, self-esteem, and physical health, whereas Gain-thinking improves these aspects of life.

(Shortform note: Although the authors argue that Gap-thinking damages your well-being, other experts suggest that [thinking about the gap between your current self and your ideal future self can motivate you to achieve your...

The Gap and The Gain Summary Defining Characteristics

Gap-thinking and Gain-thinking are two different ways to interpret your progress or achievements in life, assert the authors. Knowing this, what are some key attributes of these mental frameworks that help you distinguish and understand them? In this section, we’ll elaborate on what Gap-thinking and Gain-thinking are by discussing the direction of comparison and the source of motivation for each.

Direction of Comparison

Comparison is the driving force behind Gap- and Gain-thinking, write the authors. Both mindsets involve comparing your present self to something else as a measurement of your achievements. The direction of comparison is what differentiates these two ways of thinking. Gap-thinking is measuring forward, or using your ideal future self as the object of comparison. Gain-thinking is measuring backward by using your past self instead.

(Shortform note: The authors also mention the practice of comparing yourself to other people—known in psychology as social comparison—which they classify as Gap-thinking. However, social comparison doesn’t fit neatly into this category because **it can actually produce positive feelings under the right...

The Gap and The Gain Summary Cumulative Effects

Now that you know exactly what Gap- and Gain- thinking are, you may be wondering about the impact they have on your life. Hardy and Sullivan state that both Gap- and Gain-thinking have cumulative effects, meaning these effects accumulate and amplify themselves over time. In this section, we’ll explore how these effects manifest in your daily life.

A Longer, Happier Life

Because your mind is focused on your personal growth, Gain-thinking is an inherently optimistic outlook. The authors reference research that suggests that optimism can prolong and improve the quality of your life, so they conclude that Gain-thinking has therapeutic benefits for your body and mind.

Is Optimism Always Better?

While there is much research supporting the link between optimism and increased well-being, optimism can actually be counterproductive in some situations. For example, if someone lacks the skills necessary to perform a certain task, it isn’t helpful to be optimistic and say to them, “you can do it!” Doing so will only cause them to waste time on something at which they can’t succeed. In addition, [extreme optimism is...

The Gap and The Gain Summary Gain-Thinking Techniques

Now that we’ve covered what Gap- and Gain-thinking are and how they can affect your well-being, we’ll discuss what you can do to focus on Gains instead of Gaps. In this section, we’ll provide techniques that will help you frame your past and present experiences in a way that promotes Gain-thinking.

Transform Your Past

There are two steps to overcoming trauma, say the authors. The first step is to organize your thoughts and feelings regarding the traumatic event (in other words, to understand the impact the event has had on you) by actively thinking about it instead of avoiding it. The second step is to transform your memory by thinking about the positive impact the event has had on your life. Think about what you learned from the experience and what about the event you’re grateful for. (For a more detailed explanation of this thought exercise, refer to Chapter 6 of the book for Dan Sullivan’s The Experience Transformer® activity.)

(Shortform note: The Experience Transformer® is an example of a psychological practice known as cognitive reappraisal, or altering your perception of something by viewing it from a different perspective. Cognitive reappraisal is...

Shortform Exercise: Turn Misfortune Into a Gain

Consider how you can shift your Gap-thinking to Gain-thinking using a recent event in your life.

Think about a recent event in your life that put you in the Gap mentality. What were your Gap thoughts? In other words, what was going through your mind as you were stuck in the Gap? What idealized version of your future self were you comparing your present self to?