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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Emotional First Aid summary
Guy Winch
Healing Rejection, Guilt, Failure, and Other Everyday Hurts
21 mins
Brief summary
'Emotional First Aid' by Guy Winch offers practical techniques for dealing with emotional pain and managing psychological wounds. It emphasizes the importance of self-care and provides tools to help readers overcome setbacks and build resilience.
Table of Contents
Emotional First Aid
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Key idea 1 of 7
Reaffirm yourself to prevent minor rejections from doing serious harm.
Do you remember the first time you were rejected? Perhaps you weren’t picked for a team at school or didn’t get invited to a party. Whatever your first experience of rejection was, one thing’s for sure, it wasn’t your last.
Rejection happens throughout life. The kid who didn’t pick you for her team becomes a stranger who ignores your polite hello, or a company that won’t hire you.
But even though it’s so common, rejection still hurts. Hearing “No” or feeling left out triggers emotional pain and anger, and affects our self-esteem and sense of belonging. And just like a scratch can lead to an infection if it’s not treated, minor rejections can lead to more serious psychological issues.
The key message here is: Reaffirm yourself to prevent minor rejections from doing serious harm.
One of the effects of rejection is that it dents your self-esteem. In an attempt to understand why you were rejected, it’s easy to fall into the trap of self-criticism and believe that you’re somehow lacking. To avoid this, it’s important to remind yourself of your own positive traits and boost your sense of self-worth.
Start by throwing counterarguments at any negative thoughts that pop up. Make sure that your counterpoint is not only kinder, but also relevant to the situation. So rather than thinking you messed up a job interview, tell yourself that the company just needed someone with a very specific background.
Once you’ve wrestled with your negative thoughts, give your self-worth a boost by remembering your valuable traits. Think of five positive traits that are relevant to the rejection – for instance, if you don’t get the dream job that you interviewed for, list five qualities that make you a great employee. Then, write a few short paragraphs explaining why each trait matters to you, the role it plays in your life, and why it’s crucial to your self-image.
Lastly, soothe the hurt of rejection by reaching out to the people around you.
Humans have a fundamental need to feel like they belong, and this is one of the reasons rejection can be so difficult. To restore your sense of belonging, spend time with loved ones, this will help you feel more connected. If it’s not possible to be around friends and family, taking in reminders like photos, messages, or mementos will also do the trick.
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What is Emotional First Aid about?
Emotional First Aid (2012) is an easy-to-follow manual for addressing the everyday emotional hurts we all experience. From rejection to loss to low self-esteem, Emotional First Aid provides effective strategies for ensuring that treatable emotional pains don’t become deep wounds with lasting psychological effects.
Emotional First Aid Review
Emotional First Aid (2013) by Guy Winch is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their emotional well-being. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with practical strategies and tools, it provides readers with the skills to heal psychological wounds and strengthen emotional resilience.
- The book combines compelling real-life stories and scientific research to offer a unique perspective on emotional health, making it highly informative and relatable.
- With its accessible language and engaging anecdotes, it ensures that exploring emotional well-being is never dull, keeping readers engaged and motivated throughout.
Best quote from Emotional First Aid
Self-forgiveness should be the outcome of a conscious process, an effort to come to peace with our wrongdoing.
—Guy Winch
Who should read Emotional First Aid?
- People struggling to let go of past hurts
- Psychology enthusiasts
- Parents wanting to raise resilient kids
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Emotional First Aid FAQs
What is the main message of Emotional First Aid?
The main message of Emotional First Aid is that taking care of our emotional well-being is just as important as taking care of our physical health.
How long does it take to read Emotional First Aid?
The reading time for Emotional First Aid varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Emotional First Aid a good book? Is it worth reading?
Emotional First Aid is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their emotional well-being. It provides practical strategies for dealing with emotional injuries and building resilience.
Who is the author of Emotional First Aid?
The author of Emotional First Aid is Guy Winch.
What to read after Emotional First Aid?
If you're wondering what to read next after Emotional First Aid, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Rejection Proof by Jia Jiang
- Didn't See That Coming by Rachel Hollis
- Mind Magic by James R. Doty
- How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart by Meggan Roxanne
- Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
- When You're Ready, This Is How You Heal by Brianna Wiest
- Coach Yourself Confident by Julie Smith
- Powered by Me by Neha Sangwan