Building a Non-Anxious Life Book Summary - Building a Non-Anxious Life Book explained in key points
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Building a Non-Anxious Life summary

Transform Anxiety Into Resilience and Conquer Life’s Challenges

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12 mins

Brief summary

Building a Non-Anxious Life by John Delony provides practical guidance on understanding and addressing anxiety. It offers strategies for developing emotional resilience, promoting mental well-being, and cultivating a calm, fulfilling life amidst modern stressors.

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    Building a Non-Anxious Life
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    Choosing reality

    The first step on the path to a non-anxious life is choosing reality. Essentially, this means taking an honest inventory of your life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Only then are you equipped with the insight necessary to move toward greater peace and joy. 

    Fair warning (in case you weren’t already aware): facing reality can feel confrontational. Facing reality can hurt. Facing reality can be scary.

    Yet facing reality also means facing the light as well as the dark. While it’s true that very dark seasons of life are bound to come around, few of us catch the equally innate, everyday glimmers of light: the small blessings, moments of beauty, and spontaneous bubbles of laughter. Perversely, it’s often much easier to be honest about the bad than the good. 

    So, how can you make choosing reality a daily practice? 

    To start, set aside some time to sit with a pen and paper, or create a new note on your phone or computer. Then, ask yourself the following questions: In what areas – health, relationships, career, etc. – is my life going well? Conversely, what areas of my life do I want to improve? How do I feel about myself? Am I proud of who I am and the direction I’m going? 

    If it helps, you can take each main area of your life separately and interrogate the good, bad, and ugly, one by one. Honesty is the name of the game here, but this isn’t a hall pass to beat up on yourself. Remember to acknowledge what’s working just as much as what isn’t – even if that’s only a handful of things. 

    While this exercise isn’t one you’ll necessarily do every day, revisit and reflect on your notes regularly and add or amend as you see fit. Over time, you may find that you’re starting to see things clearer – as they are rather than as you’d like them to be or wish they weren’t. And it’s only within this context of reality that the following choices can be made. 

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    What is Building a Non-Anxious Life about?

    Building a Non-Anxious Life (2023) is a straight-talking manual for regaining peace and joy. It offers a six-step roadmap to navigating the stress-inducing modern world with intention and perspective – reminding us that while we might not be able to eliminate anxiety completely, we can reduce it significantly. 

    Building a Non-Anxious Life Review

    Building a Non-Anxious Life by John Delony (2021) offers practical strategies for managing anxiety and creating a more peaceful mindset. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With its real-life anecdotes and relatable examples, it provides readers with relatable strategies to navigate the challenges of anxiety and find inner peace.
    • The book offers a step-by-step guide to developing healthy coping mechanisms and cultivating a sense of calm in everyday life, making it invaluable for those struggling with anxiety.
    • By offering expert advice combined with personal experiences, the book creates a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish, ensuring that it is far from boring.

    Who should read Building a Non-Anxious Life?

    • Anyone for whom “stressed” has become the default mode 
    • Individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, or trauma 
    • People who want to improve their health and relationships 

    About the Author

    John Delony is a mental health and relationships expert at Ramsey Solutions and host of The Dr. John Delony Show. Prior to joining Ramsey Solutions in 2020, Delony worked in higher education and earned two PhDs from Texas Tech University. He’s the author of two best-selling books: Redefining Anxiety and Own Your Past, Change Your Future.

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    Building a Non-Anxious Life FAQs 

    What is the main message of Building a Non-Anxious Life?

    Building a Non-Anxious Life empowers us to overcome anxiety and live with peace and resilience.

    How long does it take to read Building a Non-Anxious Life?

    The reading time for Building a Non-Anxious Life varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Building a Non-Anxious Life a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Building a Non-Anxious Life is worth reading as it provides valuable insights and strategies for managing anxiety and leading a more peaceful life.

    Who is the author of Building a Non-Anxious Life?

    The author of Building a Non-Anxious Life is John Delony.

    What to read after Building a Non-Anxious Life?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Building a Non-Anxious Life, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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    • The Art of Positive Thinking by Elizabeth R. Brown
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    • Level Up by Rob Dial
    • A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel
    • All-in On AI by Tom Davenport & Nitin Mittal
    • The Anatomy of Anxiety by Ellen Vora
    • The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
    • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
    • Own Your Past Change Your Future by John Delony