Book Reviews and More: Power Up Your Self-Talk - Michal Stawicki - 6 Simple Habits to Stop Beating Yourself Up and Reclaim Your Life

Thursday, 29 November 2018

Power Up Your Self-Talk - Michal Stawicki - 6 Simple Habits to Stop Beating Yourself Up and Reclaim Your Life

Power Up Your Self-Talk:
6 Simple Habits to Stop Beating Yourself Up and Reclaim Your Life
Michal Stawicki
AISN B07KT58VV1
ISBN 9781790130917

Over the last three years I have read many books by Michal Stawicki, it started with a recommendation from amazon, and I have been hooked since. I have even read books on topics that do not specifically apply to me, Learn to Read with Great Speed! Only 10 minutes a day!, just because he has written them. In fact checking my reading list I have read his books a total of 23 times across the 13 books that I have read. And this is one of the best. In fact, going forward this will be the book of his I recommend first, because the advice in this one, will make applying the wisdom in any of the other easier. The book I would most closely relate this one to would be Matthew Kelly's Resisting Happiness, except this volume is written for a general audience, and not aimed specifically at Christians or Catholics.

I have read through this volume twice now. The advice was very timely. With Michal's books there is not often a lot of new advice. But it is an excellent distillation of wisdom and are presented from Michal's personal experience. One of the things I love best about his books that they are less how to, and more a blueprint of what works. In fact, he often states what worked for him might not work for you, but he gives a few options, so you can discern your own path forward. I have loved most of the books by Stawicki I have read, and yet with that being said, this is his best book yet. And to be honest one I really needed to read. I really like the themes of the chapters all being the power of … I admit the opening really took me by surprise. It was a shock but that was the intent.

The book begins with these words:

"Hey, you worthless piece of shit! Yes, I'm talking to you!
Are you mad at me?
What kind of self-help book is this, if an author starts it that way?
Maybe you are outraged. How dare I say such heinous things about you? How dare I judge you so harshly and obscenely?

"The way you talk to yourself is worse, certainly, than the way anyone else talks to you." - Seth Godin"

I was completely shocked by these words even the second time I read the book. But it was a shock I needed. For years I have been working toward finding balance between mind, body, and spiritual disciplines. And I realized I had developed a lot of negative self talk in one of these three areas.

The sections in this book are:

Chapter 1: The Powerful Problem
It Won't Be Easy
But It Will Be Simple
Chapter 2: The Power of My Story
Progress Not Perfection
Chapter 3: The Power of Joy
Leverage the Power of Habit
For the Sake of Mood
Action Plan
Chapter 4: The Power of Focus
Don't Try; Do
You Have a Problem
Action Plan
Chapter 5: The Power of Silence
The Mind-Tongue Motorway
Spiritual and Tangible Benefits
Steer the Traffic of Your Words
Action Plan
Chapter 6: The Power of Gratitude
You Aren't Realistic, You Are Negative
Google in Your Head
Gratitude Equals Results
Action Plan
Chapter 7: The Power of Journaling
The Subject Matter: You
Self-Talk on Paper
Action Plan
Chapter 8: The Power of Your Words
Track Your Words
Govern Your Tongue
Action Plan
Chapter 9: The Power of Planning
Rule Number One: Never Give Up
Rule Number Two: Create Your Plan of Action
Chapter 10: The Power Is Yours
Take Over the Steering Wheel
Change Your Interpretation

Links
Connect with Michal
More Books by Michal Stawicki

The Action plan sections at the ends of the chapters are pure gold. I wish I had read something like this years ago. But I will take advantage and apply its wisdom where I am at. The book is worth far more than the price just for those exercises. If you are going to read only one book for personal development in the next year. Start here! It will make any future endeavours easier. This is an excellent read by and author I have come to trust, respect, and greatly appreciate. You owe it to yourself to read this book.