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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How to Do the Work summary
Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self
27 mins
Brief summary
"How to Do the Work" by Nicole LePera is a self-help book that offers a practical guide to becoming more self-aware and creating change. It helps readers to identify patterns of behavior, explore their emotions, and develop coping mechanisms to overcome obstacles and improve their mental health.
Table of Contents
How to Do the Work
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Dr LePera hit rock bottom, and realized that something in her life had to change.
We often hear of spiritual awakenings happening on mountaintops. Or in ashrams, temples, mosques, and churches.
But for Dr Nicole LePera, awakening came in a seemingly mundane way. She started crying over a bowl of oatmeal, and just couldn’t stop. She’d gone on holiday with her girlfriend, and instead of relishing the peace and quiet, it just made her realize how burnt out she’d become.
LePera had a very successful life. Or it looked successful from the outside, at least. She had her own psychology practice, a loving partner, and a great home in Philadelphia. But on the inside, she felt awful. She woke up exhausted, and felt detached from herself and the people she loved. She was frustrated and irritable at work. And her physical health was suffering – she experienced persistent brain fog and problems with her gut. She realized that something in her life just wasn’t working.
The key message here is: Dr LePera hit rock bottom, and realized that something in her life had to change.
What was it? LePera had spent years trying to heal herself and others as a clinical psychologist. But she’d long been missing something in her practice of mainstream psychology. It felt too limiting. She realized that to truly be able to heal herself, she needed to take a more holistic approach – to embrace a practice that allowed her to heal her body, mind, and soul simultaneously. Because, in fact, these things are all connected.
The author started to tackle her physical well-being, working out every day and eating well. She also embraced regular sessions of breath work and meditation. At first, keeping up the routine was a hard slog. But after a few months, her body began to crave it. LePera also started dealing with her childhood trauma, learning to process negative emotions from her past and starting to heal her inner child.
The results of all her hard work were that she felt better than she had for years – emotionally and physically strong. Via Instagram, she started to document her journey as a “holistic psychologist.” As thousands of people started following her account, it became clear that she was tapping into a much greater need. Today, over three million people follow her work, and identify as SelfHealers.
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What is How to Do the Work about?
How to Do the Work (2021) is a hands-on guide to healing our bodies and minds. The physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of our health are all interconnected. By changing how we eat and exercise, engaging in mindfulness and tackling past trauma, we can heal ourselves and transform our relationships.
How to Do the Work Review
How to Do the Work (2021) offers practical guidance on healing and creating personal transformation. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With simple yet powerful techniques, it empowers readers to address past traumas and create lasting change in their lives.
- By blending psychological concepts with spirituality, the book provides a holistic approach to healing and personal growth.
- Through engaging case studies and relatable stories, it brings the content to life, making it relatable and compelling to readers.
Best quote from How to Do the Work
Trauma creates the fundamental belief that we must betray who we are in order to survive.
—Nicole LePera
Who should read How to Do the Work?
- Spiritual seekers looking for new ways to connect with the world
- Children of emotionally unavailable parents looking to heal past trauma
- Anyone who’s tired of feeling sluggish and burnt out
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How to Do the Work FAQs
What is the main message of How to Do the Work?
Discover the power of healing through self-awareness and take control of your emotional well-being.
How long does it take to read How to Do the Work?
Reading time for How to Do the Work varies. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is How to Do the Work a good book? Is it worth reading?
How to Do the Work offers valuable insights and practical tools for self-improvement. It's definitely worth a read.
Who is the author of How to Do the Work?
Nicole LePera is the author of How to Do the Work.
What to read after How to Do the Work?
If you're wondering what to read next after How to Do the Work, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- How to Meet Your Self by Nicole LePera
- Widen the Window by Elizabeth A. Stanley
- How to Be the Love You Seek by Nicole LePera
- Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
- It Didn't Start With You by Mark Wolynn
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
- Become What You Are by Alan Watts
- The PLAN by Kendra Adachi
- Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche