Easier Than You Think ...Because Life Doesn't Have to Be So Hard: The Small Changes That Add Up to a World of Difference

After I read this book, I told everyone I know about it. It is a simple book that makes you think. Everyone should read this book. I think it is a great gift for graduates.

Loved Richard Carlson's latest book, EASIER THAN YOU THINK (see also Sections 2, 10 and 11), but that's no real surprise because he is one of favorite authors . . . if his name isn't familiar, then methinks you might want to jot it down and start reading his DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF or anything else in that series. Carlson has the unique talent to make things simple . . . in EASIER, his subtitle says it all: BECAUSE LIFE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SO HARD . . . it really doesn't, especially if you start implementing what he mentions in his second subtitle: THE SMALL CHANGES THAT ADD UP TO A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. As an example, his advice from Chapter 18, "Set Your Expectations to Zero," hit home because of some of the stress I'm presently encountering with a move into a new home . . . he mentioned that when you work out, you should set your expectations to zero so you can appreciate your body, as opposed to resenting it and wishing you were different. He then cites the story of a dear friend of his dad's who recently died: Even at the very end of Wally's life, he would say, "Life doesn't get any better than this. I have today. I have my friends. I can breathe. I'm alive. I'm very happy to be here." And the most beautiful part of Wally's attitude was that everyone who knew him know that he meant every single word. There were many other tidbits I gained from reading EASIER THAN YOU THINK; among them: You can make an articulate argument for either side-being grateful or being overextended. One will lead you toward satisfaction, and the other toward guaranteed and sustained grief. And the beautiful part is that you get to make the choice. If we can accept the fact that the grass is as green as it needs to be and that it's possible for us to be happy right now, then our lives will be easier. Focusing on what is wrong as opposed to what is right leads to a never-ending cycle of frustration. There are things we simply cannot change or control no matter how much we would like to. If we let these things take over, we are choosing to make ourselves unhappy. One of the most powerful observations I've ever made about stress is this: obsessing over what stresses us out can cause more stress than what originally made us stressed to begin with. I know that's a mouthful, but it's true. And once you see the wisdom in this statement, your life will never be the same. It goes to the heart of what really causes stress.

When we're looking into self-help book, we are an easy prey for the happiness sellers. Indeed, happiness being what all of us want most, those who claim to know the way to happiness can charge a lot to divulge their secrets. In many cases, these happiness sellers will propose you new systems of beliefs, mantras to repeat to yourself throughout the day, three-day retreats, seminars, and a whole work-on-yourself agenda designed to alter your life or your consciousness in ways that will make you happy. This, of course, costs you a lot of money and the results may never come. In fact, I think we all more or less know, intuitively, that happiness is never far away. After all, we all have experienced it in the past, perhaps when we were children or at least sporadically during our adult life, without needing any special philosophy of self-development products. It was there naturally and, believe me, it can come back just as naturally. All it takes is a small shift inside. This book is about this shift. It gives simple, easy advice that does make an enormous difference. There is nothing mystical or transcendental about it; just small adjustments we can make in the way we relate to our thinking and to the world to get back in touch with this nice feeling, happiness, that we have lost touch with.

The subtitle really fits the book (Small Changes That Add Up to a World of Difference). In less than 200 pages, and small pages at that, Carlson gives easy adjustments for people to make in their lives. They may seem a bit simplistic at first, but that's what makes them work. Don't divorce your wife, change your job or make other huge changes, then find out life is still a rat race and you are still unhappy. Some of the changes involve attitudes. Stop negative thinking. Pause before making a decision to think, "Is this what I've always done or what I really want?" Be kind to yourself. Recognize your stress triggers. Start a "rainy day" fund. Make a small difference in someone's life everyday. There are 39 of these recommended changes. It seems to me that instituting even one or two would give immediate relief to someone overworked and stressed out. Gradually adopting many of these behaviors and ways of thinking could be life altering. Yes, they may seem simplistic, but what do you have to lose? Hopefully you will lose a lot of stress that your current behavior brings you. Life doesn't have to be so hard. I also recommend another book: The Happiness Makeover.

What a great book at such a good time. Life (in general) seems to be getting more and more stressful and this book gives really shows you that life really is easier than you think. I highly recommend this book!