What is the main message of I’ve Been Thinking?

The main message of I’ve Been Thinking is to find inner peace and inspiration in daily life.

Who is the author of I’ve Been Thinking?

Maria Shriver is the author of I’ve Been Thinking.

Religion & Spirituality

I’ve Been Thinking Book Summary - I’ve Been Thinking Book explained in key points

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I’ve Been Thinking summary

Name: I’ve Been Thinking
Rating: 4.3 (98 reviews)
Author: Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver

Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life

4.3 (98 ratings)

18 mins

Brief summary

I've Been Thinking by Maria Shriver is a thoughtful and reflective guide that shares insightful life lessons on how to find meaning and purpose in our daily lives. With personal anecdotes and inspiring quotes, Shriver encourages us to take a step back, re-evaluate our priorities, and cultivate a more mindful and reflective approach to living.

Topics

Meaningful Living Meditation Inspiration Trauma & Healing Spirituality

Table of Contents

I’ve Been Thinking
Summary of 6 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 6

What’s in it for me? Discover the power of reflection, meditation, and prayer.

Do you know who you are? Do you know why you’re here and what your purpose in life is?

It’s OK if you don’t! It’s OK to not have an answer to these questions – or for the answers to change over time. But they are great questions to keep asking to ground and recenter yourself on your journey through life.

These days, we’re often too busy working, worrying, and arguing to give much thought to such grand, existential questions. As a result, we miss out on the things that truly matter. In a weekly column for her digital newsletter The Sunday Paper, author Maria Shriver has been encouraging her readers to pause, reflect, and reevaluate their lives in order to change this.

These blinks will encourage you to find out what a meaningful life means to you!

In these blinks, you’ll learn

the power of giving thanks;
the meaning of family; and
the importance of grieving.

It’s important to pause and reflect so you can change direction if you need to.

Despite what people’s social media accounts may have you believe, no one lives a perfect life. Behind the scenes, our lives are full of twists and turns, of loss and love, of beautiful coincidences and nasty surprises.

The problem isn’t that life’s not perfect. The problem is that we get angry, sad, and frustrated because we expect it to be.

But here’s the thing. We can’t change the things that happen to us. But as famous writer and civil rights activist Maya Angelou advised, “If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”

Here’s the key message: It’s important to pause and reflect so you can change direction if you need to.

Changing the way we think about things means we can also change how we react to them and strive to become the most caring, considerate, and compassionate version of ourselves.

Of course, these changes take time, and time is a precious resource in today’s busy world.

That’s why it’s the most important gift you can give to yourself. As often as you can, slow down your life and press pause. This means consciously scheduling uninterrupted time in your day that you can use to think, reflect, and just be in the present moment.

When you do this, you will notice that many things in your busy life are not what they seem – and not as they need to be. You may pause and realize that, even though you had a crappy day at work, you are surrounded by colleagues who admire and respect you. You may pause and reconsider passing on the gossip you just overheard in a snarky text to your friends. You may pause and find that the anger you’re feeling toward your spouse is really sadness over the death of a friend.

So whenever you’re struggling with a situation or decision that your imperfect life throws at you, pause! Think about what you would like your values, purpose, and mission in life to be. Recall the times in the past you’ve demonstrated strength, wisdom, and courage. Remember that you’re not defined by the things that happen to you, but by how you choose to deal with them. And then move in the direction of who you want to be.

Prayer, meditation, and gratitude practices are great ways to cultivate inner peace.

The author, Maria Shriver, grew up in a deeply Catholic family. A daily prayer practice wasn’t just encouraged, it was mandatory. And although she has since learned that Catholicism doesn’t hold all the answers for her life, she still prays regularly.

The key message here is: Prayer, meditation, and gratitude practices are great ways to cultivate inner peace.

Being a mother requires leadership skills that all of society could benefit from.

When women talk about being mothers, they often do so in apologetic terms. “Oh, I’m just a mother,” they say, or “I’m a mother but…” and then quickly list all their other achievements.

But isn’t raising your children to be smart, caring, and kind human beings the biggest achievement of all?

Care for your family, friends, and community.

Just as motherhood isn’t reserved for mothers, being a family isn’t just for blood relatives.

Maria learned this the hard way when her youngest son, Christopher, left for college. At first, she was terrified of feeling alone in her “empty nest.” But then she realized that her motherly love could extend further than her immediate family. There were plenty of people to fill her nest – friends, neighbors, colleagues, and distant relatives. All she had to do was reach out.

Grieving is a long and personal process.

Grown-up children aren’t the only things in life that are hard to let go of. We’re all afraid to lose the things that are dear to us – whether that’s a person, a job, or a relationship – and we have all experienced grief because of it.

The key message here is: Grieving is a long and personal process.

Don’t be afraid to reevaluate your beliefs.

Life changes us. With each experience, with each failure or success, we grow – and if we’re doing it right, we grow kinder, wiser, and more compassionate.

As we grow, we may find that our attitudes of the past no longer serve us and that some of our old opinions are holding us back. So why shouldn’t we change them as well?

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What is I’ve Been Thinking about?

I’ve Been Thinking (2018) is a collection of thoughts, quotes, and prayers to accompany you through daily life. Whether you’re young or old, religious or agnostic, have both feet on the ground or find yourself in a difficult place, it will inspire you to chart your own path to a meaningful life.

I’ve Been Thinking Review

I’ve Been Thinking (2018) by Maria Shriver is a heartfelt reflection on finding purpose and joy in life. Here’s why this book is worth reading:

Filled with wisdom and inspiration, it offers practical advice on navigating life's challenges and embracing personal growth.
Combining personal stories, essays, and insightful reflections, the book speaks to the soul and encourages personal transformation.
Shriver's authentic voice and vulnerability create a deep connection with readers, making the book a compelling and relatable read.

Best quote from I’ve Been Thinking

Mothering: Its a muscular job. It takes balls.

—Maria Shriver

Who should read I’ve Been Thinking?

Workaholics and busybodies who need to catch their breath
Non-believers looking for spiritual guidance
Anyone struggling with their faith, grief, or loss

About the Author

Maria Shriver is a news anchor, journalist, author, activist, and mother. She’s also the niece of John F. Kennedy and former First Lady of California to her ex-husband Arnold Schwarzenegger. She has written several books about faith, grief, and spirituality and is the founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement.

Categories with I’ve Been Thinking

Religion & Spirituality Motivation & Inspiration

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