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Reflections from our Bookshelf: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s all Small Stuff
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s all Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things From Taking Over Your Life
By: Richard Carlson
Reflection by: Rochelle Pettit
Why I read it?
This was recommended to me by one of my friends who told me that it seemed like something right up my alley.
What is it all about?
This book is full of tips on how to get out of your own head and to become a kinder person. It emphasizes focusing on the positives in your life and expressing gratitude, which is really important to me. I think far too often we’re wrapped in the minutiae of day-to-day tasks or the things that are stressing us out. This book offers tangible ways to get out of that headspace.
What caused me to pause?
A point that stuck out to me is the author’s encouragement to choose being kind over being right. They ask the question, “Would you rather be right or would you rather be happy?” At first glance this seems counterintuitive – why can’t I be both? The point that they go on to make is that we often feel the need to defend ourselves or correct others to prove that we’re right. Ultimately, this habit is taxing on our own emotional energy and makes no positive impact on others. This prompted me to evaluate my own tendencies in my close relationships and remember that it really is in my best interest to pick my battles wisely.
How will this book change my habits or influence me?
One of the “chapters” (each one short – typically 2-5 pages) focuses on the author’s suggestion to allow yourself to be bored. They point out that at any given moment of the day, we’re doing something. We’re eating, driving, on our phones, watching TV – we’re never just being. We’re not allowing ourselves to do truly nothing. Since reading this book, I have tried to be mindful of that. When I’m waiting on someone I try to just sit and wait instead of scrolling my phone. When I sit down to eat, I try not to turn on the TV or turn on a podcast – I just sit. It’s uncomfortable at first, but it is something that I try to be aware of now that it’s been brought to my attention. This is just one of the many takeaways in this book to help with shifting into a “stop and smell the roses” approach to your life.
Add this to your reading list if…
You’re interested in being more mindful/present or are looking for a quick, easy read!
Pickle Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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