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by Robin Sharma
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Resisting Happiness summary
A hands-on guide to happiness
15 mins
Brief summary
"Resisting Happiness" by Matthew Kelly is a self-help book that explores the reasons behind our resistance to happiness and provides practical strategies to overcome it. It emphasizes the importance of taking small steps towards personal growth, rather than waiting for a big change to happen.
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Resisting Happiness
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Key idea 1 of 6
When you overcome resistance you can get more done and lead a more spiritual life.
What is resistance? Take an everyday example. The alarm rings in the morning and you sleepily fumble in the dark and hit the snooze button. That’s resistance at work. And you’ve just lost the first battle of the day.
In other words, it’s that familiar and discouraging feeling that makes you put off things that you know need doing.
Resistance is a major problem, especially when it comes to long-term projects.
Most people who start writing a book, for example, never end up finishing it. Laziness, lack of confidence or just plain self-sabotage get in the way.
That’s something Matthew Kelly knows a lot about. As a published author, he’s regularly asked for advice on how to get a book into print. But most of the people who ask him for tips haven’t even finished writing their own books!
Kelly tells them to get back to him once they’re done with the writing process – and he never hears another word from around 95 percent of his correspondents. These people clearly lost their individual battles against resistance. Procrastination or sloth won out.
So how could these budding authors have achieved full bloom?
Well, one way to start fighting resistance is to name the obstacle. Once you’ve identified the nature of the hurdle you face, it’s much easier to work out how you can get over it.
Another option is prayer.
Take Kelly. He’s a busy guy and spends a lot of time on the road. Constantly encountering new sights and sounds could easily become a source of distraction. That’s why he took up the habit of devoting ten minutes each day to praying.
When he prays, he considers four questions. Who am I? What’s my life’s purpose? What’s most important? What’s least important?
Answering those questions provides clarity. It leaves him with a sense of purpose and reaffirms what he’s passionate about. And that’s a great basis for making better life decisions.
The added bonus? It’s helped him become more spiritually fulfilled.
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What is Resisting Happiness about?
Resisting Happiness (2016) is a probing exploration of the reasons we sabotage our own happiness. Drawing on author Matthew Kelly’s deep well of personal experiences, it’s a profound and personal guide to leading a happier and more meaningful life. Happiness, Kelly believes, is a choice. If we want it, we have to choose it. And that means overcoming resistance and negativity.
Resisting Happiness Review
Resisting Happiness (2016) explores the inner battles we face when it comes to pursuing true happiness and offers valuable insights on how to overcome them. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With its profound reflections on life's purpose and meaning, it prompts readers to deeply contemplate their own happiness and take action.
- Combining personal anecdotes, practical wisdom, and spiritual insights, it provides a holistic approach to finding lasting happiness, making it highly relatable and applicable.
- By addressing the common obstacles we encounter on the path to happiness, such as fear and procrastination, it offers practical strategies to overcome them, ensuring a thought-provoking and empowering read.
Best quote from Resisting Happiness
It may sound weird or warped, but I think being told by your doctors that you have six months to live is one of lifes ultimate luxuries.
—Matthew Kelly
Who should read Resisting Happiness?
- Self-helpers looking for a practical guide to achieving happiness
- Anyone scared of loneliness
- The spiritually-minded
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Resisting Happiness FAQs
What is the main message of Resisting Happiness?
The main message of Resisting Happiness is the pursuit of true happiness by overcoming resistance.
How long does it take to read Resisting Happiness?
The estimated reading time for Resisting Happiness varies, but reading the Blinkist summary can be done in just 15 minutes.
Is Resisting Happiness a good book? Is it worth reading?
Resisting Happiness is worth reading as it provides insights on overcoming resistance and finding true happiness.
Who is the author of Resisting Happiness?
The author of Resisting Happiness is Matthew Kelly.
What to read after Resisting Happiness?
If you're wondering what to read next after Resisting Happiness, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Self-Help That Works by John C. Norcross et al.
- Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve by Stanley Rosenberg
- The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt
- Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety by Drew Ramsey
- On Gaslighting by Kate Abramson
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Happy Ever After by Paul Dolan
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- The Joy of Connections by Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer
- The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz