Not the best book on habits. Not by a long shot!
Jen Sincero, from the past, has had some things to say on money and motivation; the way she says them is something else. Half the time there is profanity, trying really hard to be silly and perhaps liked, but the opposite effect is had in this book where people are actually reading to change their bad habits or form good ones. It would be nice to have her take something serious (especially a book of this matter), instead of souping-up a book before the holidays to make a quick buck.
Some things she says don't make any sense as if her mind couldn't quite comprehend what she was trying to put out there on page. For instance, there is a matter presented when creating your new identity is of import to stray away from a bad habit. Take for example "I am not an alcoholic nor do I like the taste of that damaging substance." That is something for an identity of someone trying to form a new persona with a new habit. That was her leading point and made sense--fine. But then she introduces Janice in Alcoholic Anonymous where Jen Sincero highlights a "good example" (terrible example) of Janice showing a case-in-point of a new identity by stating “Hi, I’m Janice, and I’m an alcoholic". And Jen applauds this as saying that Janice is doing great by identifying with alcoholism. What? The rush for the holidays, I tell you.
It seems that books coming out in November or December are to be held off, in your part, until some honest reviews convince you otherwise. This book was okay, but it regurgitated that which we already know if you've ventured down inspirational works. There was nothing new, and mostly took some time to read for the extra stories that were played off as silly, but more annoying than anything else, as I have to read through the brambles of words to get to the main resources that would help to form habits.
A more succinct book can be found elsewhere. This is not a top pick from me to you. I would skip it if possible, unless you are a huge fan of hers, then please show your support. I admit it is a tough job to write a book. It takes courage and time. But still, we have opinions and mine is to go read something more powerful.
Annotations from Kindle Edition:
L.88) Start cultivating your new habit with a clean slate, focusing on the exciting new life that awaits you, as opposed to letting failures you’ve experienced in the past cloud your confidence. Who you desire to become is not only available to you but you’re meant to become this upgraded version of yourself, otherwise, you wouldn't have the desire in the first place and you sure as hell wouldn’t be bothering with this book.
L.239) Our beliefs, thoughts, and words are also habits, habits that inform the way we perceive the world around us, mold our identities, and, yes, take the actions we take.
One of the main reasons we fail to stick to new good habits and ditch negative ones is that we focus on changing what we’re doing (or not doing) without also making sure that we embrace this habit as a new and valuable part of our identity.
N) The point of identity, which is to say that we identify with a person such as not smoking, means that we do not perform that action as it is not attached to us any longer in form identification: I don’t identify as a smoker; I am not a smoker
Yet the author doesn’t make sense in sharing an irrelevant story about a woman who identifies herself as an alcoholic (“Hi, I’m Janice, and I’m an alcoholic”). And Jen Sincero goes on to say that this is the first crucial step by saying that you love something negative? She didn’t make her point intelligently and this came off as a person who doesn’t understand her subject matter.
L.277) Human beings are scared shitless of change. Change dismantles the “known” and pulls our sense of security out from under us. Change opens up a never-before-experienced void of possibility that could actually be, and oftentimes is, way more awesome than the known experience we’re clinging to.
L.325) When I finally decided that I was going to heal my relationship with money, I did everything I could think of crawl out of my hole--I read books about wealth consciousness, went to money-making seminars, too classes, hired coaches--but one of the most profound things I did was change who I was being. I forced myself to stop identifying as a broke-ass loser and to start identifying as someone who made money effortlessly.
L.410) Pulling back and taking stock of your habits, your beliefs, your thoughts, your identity, your words, and your actions is some of the most important work you can do, because it get you out of victim mode and puts you in control of your life.
L.1007) Write a day-in-the-life scenario for both versions, from getting out of bed, making your coffee, getting dressed: what stresses are running through your mind as the sad-sack you?
What are you excited about as you move through your day as the upgraded you? Paint a real, detailed picture of each version of your life to remind yourself that they’re both totally available to you depending on what you choose to decide.
L.1364) When temptation rears its head, because you are so no-nonsense and have already identified as the person you are becoming, the things you used to enter into negotiations with do not compute anymore.
Beware of the negotiation the moment it appears, lock into the perception of yourself as the fabulous creature that you are. Do not negotiate with temptations.
L.1527) Rituals can prove beneficial such as lighting a candle or playing soft music while doing a tasking activity.
L.1685) Remember that your desires were given to you because they’re meant for you. Remember that you were given the means to make and manifest these desires by believing in the not yet seen, by focusing your thoughts and words on the hollerings of your heart instead of your fears.
L.1883) You have the power and choice to become anybody you choose to become. I mean, think about that--that is one hell of a gigantic birthday present from the Universe. Practice being grateful that you get to make conscious choices, that you’ve experienced temporary failure so you could learn from it.
L.1939) The successful credit their success to repeatedly leaping over hurdles; to being the last person standing; to rebuilding when it all falls apart; to turning a deaf ear to the naysayers; to refusing to quit; ever, no matter how gnarly or boring or humiliating things get.
L.2107) It is usually the stuff you want to do the least that changes your life the most.
END