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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Building a Life Worth Living summary
Marsha M. Linehan
Brief summary
Building a Life Worth Living by Marsha M. Linehan is a powerful guide that offers practical strategies and skills for coping with emotional pain and creating a life filled with meaning and purpose.
Table of Contents
Building a Life Worth Living
Summary of key ideas
Overcoming Adversity
In Building a Life Worth Living, Marsha M. Linehan shares her journey from a suicidal teenager to a leading psychologist. She begins by recounting her traumatic experiences in a Catholic high school, where she was subjected to harsh discipline and emotional abuse. These experiences led to her being hospitalized for the first time after experiencing a mental breakdown.
Linehan's time in the hospital was difficult, marked by ineffective treatments and harsh conditions. She describes how she survived this period by adopting a mindset of radical acceptance, which would later become a key component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). After being discharged, she resolved to cultivate a life worth living, a goal that would drive her throughout her life.
Academic Journey and Personal Struggles
Despite her difficult start, Linehan pursued her academic dreams, earning a place at Loyola University Chicago. However, her mental health struggles continued, leading her to attempt suicide. This event marked the beginning of her commitment to finding a solution for individuals like herself, who faced severe emotional dysregulation.
After her recovery, Linehan pursued a career in psychology, earning a Ph.D. from Loyola University and joining the faculty at the University of Washington. Here, she continued to grapple with her emotional issues, at one point entering a Buddhist monastery to seek relief from her suffering. During this time, she developed the concept of dialectics, which would form the foundation of DBT.
Development of Dialectical Behavior Therapy
In Building a Life Worth Living, Linehan narrates the development of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a revolutionary approach to treating individuals with severe emotional dysregulation. She explains how DBT combines acceptance and change, using strategies such as mindfulness and distress tolerance to help patients manage their emotions effectively.
Linehan's journey to developing DBT was not easy. She faced skepticism and criticism from her colleagues, who dismissed her work as too radical. However, she persisted, conducting extensive research and refining her approach. Eventually, DBT gained widespread recognition and acceptance, becoming a gold standard in the treatment of conditions like borderline personality disorder.
Living a Life Worth Living
As Linehan's career flourished, she continued to struggle with her own mental health. In Building a Life Worth Living, she candidly discusses her experiences with therapy and medication, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and radical acceptance in her own recovery.
Despite her personal challenges, Linehan's impact on the field of psychology is undeniable. She founded a research institute dedicated to developing and disseminating evidence-based treatments, and her work has touched the lives of countless individuals struggling with severe emotional dysregulation. Throughout her journey, Linehan remained committed to her initial goal of building a life worth living, a goal she achieved through her groundbreaking contributions to psychology.
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What is Building a Life Worth Living about?
Building a Life Worth Living by Marsha M. Linehan delves into the author's personal struggles with mental illness and her development of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Linehan shares her own journey and offers practical strategies for individuals to build a fulfilling life, despite facing challenges such as suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and emotional instability.
Building a Life Worth Living Review
Building a Life Worth Living (2021) guides readers on the journey of embracing dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills to overcome emotional struggles and build a fulfilling life. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- Offers a comprehensive toolkit of DBT strategies and exercises to help individuals navigate challenging emotions and relationships effectively.
- Shares personal stories and insights from Marsha M. Linehan's own struggle with mental health, making the content relatable and inspiring.
- Ensures the journey towards a meaningful life is engaging and relevant with its practical guidance and emphasis on self-compassion and growth.
Who should read Building a Life Worth Living?
Individuals seeking to overcome emotional pain and build a fulfilling life
Therapists and mental health professionals looking to understand and implement DBT
People interested in personal development and mindfulness practices
Categories with Building a Life Worth Living
Book summaries like Building a Life Worth Living
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Building a Life Worth Living FAQs
What is the main message of Building a Life Worth Living?
The main message of Building a Life Worth Living is cultivating a meaningful life through self-acceptance and effective coping strategies.
How long does it take to read Building a Life Worth Living?
Reading Building a Life Worth Living takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in about 15 minutes.
Is Building a Life Worth Living a good book? Is it worth reading?
Building a Life Worth Living is a gem for those seeking a fulfilling life. It offers practical tools and encouragement for personal growth.
Who is the author of Building a Life Worth Living?
The author of Building a Life Worth Living is Marsha M. Linehan.
What to read after Building a Life Worth Living?
If you're wondering what to read next after Building a Life Worth Living, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
- Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
- Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes
- The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
- Savor by Thich Nhat Hanh and Lilian Cheung
- Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman
- Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price
- Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss
- Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink
- The Twenty-four Hour Mind by Rosalind D. Cartwright