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Who Are You?: A Success Process for Building Your Life's Foundation
Most of us take years trying to figure out just who we are, and if we fail to define ourselves, we risk being defined by the world we live in and never realizing our unique potential. This book provides a step-by-step process for finding out who you really are and pursuing a life that is meaningful and rewarding for you.
111 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 1, 2018
As the subtitle suggests, Stedman Graham's book is supposed to be "A success process for building your life's foundation". In my opinion, this guide can be dangerous. Despite the fact that there are some insights worth sharing, too much of it has to be seen in the right context. That's because Graham oftentimes uses his language too lightly.
Some good takeaways:
-Hapiness can only come from inside, no matter how horrible you perceive the world on the outside
-If you don't feel like an adult, you don't feel _responsible_ for your life
-In our Western culture, we define ourselves mostly by our jobs. In other cultures, it's more about what area people come from, who they are related to and what they do in their leasure time
-If you want to change your life situation, focus on what you have actual influence over, in smaller circles around you
-Surround yourself with your "cheerleaders": Good people who want the best for you. Try to minimize time with negative people and people who nudge you off course as much as possible
My biggest problem with the book is, that there's a great difference between self and self-identity. While Graham uses expressions like "the here-and-now", this distinction between the internal and the external remains superficial throughout.
His belief in this form of identity seems especially strong in the chapter about life's "stages", which are nothing else than the expectations of our Western society, putting pressure on individuals
"We have to know where we are and where we want to go to determine the most efficient route".
It's true that we have to know those things, but I'd be happy if the route were _effective_ in the first place, before I'd worry about efficiency. Nothing against wandering around in the woods for a while, when you at least know where you'll end up, right?
It's a very short book, so I think it's even more important to be precise with your language.
I don't want to get too wrapped up in my self-identity, don't focus too much on past, present life situation or my imaginary future. I want to use these concepts to find out what exactly it is that I want and then take the necessary steps towards achieving those things.
In the words of the honored Jim Rohn: "Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want."
Some good takeaways:
-Hapiness can only come from inside, no matter how horrible you perceive the world on the outside
-If you don't feel like an adult, you don't feel _responsible_ for your life
-In our Western culture, we define ourselves mostly by our jobs. In other cultures, it's more about what area people come from, who they are related to and what they do in their leasure time
-If you want to change your life situation, focus on what you have actual influence over, in smaller circles around you
-Surround yourself with your "cheerleaders": Good people who want the best for you. Try to minimize time with negative people and people who nudge you off course as much as possible
My biggest problem with the book is, that there's a great difference between self and self-identity. While Graham uses expressions like "the here-and-now", this distinction between the internal and the external remains superficial throughout.
His belief in this form of identity seems especially strong in the chapter about life's "stages", which are nothing else than the expectations of our Western society, putting pressure on individuals
"We have to know where we are and where we want to go to determine the most efficient route".
It's true that we have to know those things, but I'd be happy if the route were _effective_ in the first place, before I'd worry about efficiency. Nothing against wandering around in the woods for a while, when you at least know where you'll end up, right?
It's a very short book, so I think it's even more important to be precise with your language.
I don't want to get too wrapped up in my self-identity, don't focus too much on past, present life situation or my imaginary future. I want to use these concepts to find out what exactly it is that I want and then take the necessary steps towards achieving those things.
In the words of the honored Jim Rohn: "Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want."
March 31, 2013
A life changer for me. Great book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews