“What I found was a hidden source of anguish that wasn’t just widespread but nearly universal among people who have done well in their careers. I came to call this the “striver’s curse”: people who strive to be excellent at what they do often wind up finding their inevitable decline terrifying, their successes increasingly unsatisfying, and their relationships lacking.”
― From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
― From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
“To see weakness as purely negative is a mistake. Weakness befalls us all, and in many ways. It has its discomforts to be sure and entails loss. But it is also an opportunity—to connect more deeply with others; to see the sacredness in suffering; even to find new areas of growth and success. Stop hiding it, and don’t resist it. Doing so has another benefit for strivers—maybe the most important one of all: you can finally relax a little. When you are honest and humble about your weaknesses, you will be more comfortable in your own skin. When you use your weaknesses to connect with others, love in your life will grow. And finally—finally—you will be able to relax without worrying about being exposed as less than people think you are.”
― From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
― From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
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“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
― Man's Search for Meaning
― Man's Search for Meaning
“Which wolf wins?’ the grandson asks. ‘The one you feed,’ the elder replies.” “But how do we feed them?” I asked my teacher. The monk said, “By what we read and hear. By who we spend time with. By what we do with our time. By where we focus our energy and attention.”
― Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Everyday
― Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Everyday
Brian’s 2025 Year in Books
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