Other Useful Books

The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife” by James Hollis

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• “In Projection and Re-Collection in Jungian Psychology, Marie-Louise von Franz notes five stages of projection. First, the person is convinced that the inner (that is, unconscious) experience is truly outer. Second, there is a gradual recognition of the discrepancy between the reality and the projected image (one falls out of love, for example). Third, one is required to acknowledge this discrepancy. Fourth, one is driven to conclude one was somehow in error originally. And, fifth, one must search for the origin of the projected energy within oneself. This last stage, the search for the meaning of the projection, always involves a search for a greater knowledge of oneself.”

• “In asking more of ourselves, we forego disappointment in others for not delivering what they could never deliver; we acknowledge that their primary responsibility, just like ours, is their own journey. We become increasingly aware of the finitude of the body and fragility of all things human. If our courage holds, the Middle Passage brings us back to life after we have been cut off from it. Strangely, for all the anxiety, there is an awesome sense of freedom as well. We may even come to realize that it does not matter what happens outside as long as we have a vital connection with ourselves. The new-found relationship with the inner life more than balances losses in the outer. The richness of the soul’s journey proves at least as rewarding as worldly achievement.”

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos: Jordan B. Peterson .

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• Outline of the book: as “a less dense and more practical version of Maps of Meaning.”
• Stand up straight with your shoulders back
• Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
• Make friends with people who want the best for you
• Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today
• Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them
• Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world
• Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
• Tell the truth – or, at least, don’t lie
• Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t
• Be precise in your speech
• Do not bother children when they are skateboarding
• Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street

The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

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• the opening lines: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult–once we truly understand and accept it–then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”

• then the books starts with the four tools/techniques of handling suffering, the discipline - to experience the pain of problems constructively.

1. delayed gratification,
2. acceptance of responsibility,
3. dedication to truth, and
4. balancing.

The books pointed out that the life problems cannot be avoided in life. To experience happiness, they need to be identified and solved: “Problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else they remain, forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit.”

Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters

• By John C. Maxwell

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• Every major accomplishment that’s ever been achieved started with a first step. Sometimes it’s hard; other times it’s easy, but no matter what, you have to do it if you want to get anywhere in life.

• powerful ideas and actions you can take to get some momentum on your mission like; start small but believe big, search until you find your why, add value to others from your sweet spot, connect with like-minded people, and more.

• good review from amazon

  1. To Add Value to Others I Must First Value Myself
  2. To Add Value to Others I Must Value Others
  3. To Add Value to Others I Must Value What Others Have Done for Me
  4. To Add Value to Others I Must Know and Relate to What Others Value
  5. To Add Value to Others I Must Make Myself More Valuable

Rising Strong By: Brené Brown

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• This book is about surviving hurt, acknowledging shame, embracing vulnerability, learning how to tell our stories, and getting back up to do it all over again, with courage and determination.
• The author encourages readers to embrace vulnerability and transform failure and shame through a simple process of re-evaluating the stories we tell ourselves.

48 Laws of Power

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• old style