6 Books To Read When You Feel Like The Universe Is Against You
You plan every life move with precision, yet it never works out, and goes a totally different direction. These books will help you understand what this is all about...
I myself have always been a serial planner, especially when it comes to life decisions. I would leave no detail un-thought of. I felt this would seal my plan, and inch it closer to becoming a reality. While some would consider me to be over planning and over thinking, I knew this strategy would guarantee everything in my life to go just as I wanted it to. And friends…I kid you not, I have been this way since I was in elementary school.
Now, many years down the road I have been learning how wrong I was. I won’t get into the details, but for the last decade of my life I have come face to face with the fact that we are not the commanders of our lives. We’re meant to flow with life. We are here to learn and grow, not drive and steer to perfection. If this were the case, we wouldn’t live and grow wiser.
I’ve had many things not work out as I had planned in my adult life. But it is just in the last seven years that I have embraced and understood the saying, “it’s NOT a REJECTION, it’s a REDIRECTION”. The No’s in life are more often than not, the biggest blessings. They are the pathways that open up for better outcomes and opportunities to come through, and lead you closer to your true purpose.
But, trust me, I know it’s not always an easy concept to understand or accept. It can be the toughest pill to swallow. It can make you feel like you’re dead inside, numb, unphased, and hurt. I’ve been there. Friend, the universe is not against you, it may feel like it is, but it’s actually very much for you. Although you plan things for your life, it does not mean they are FOR YOU. There might be something bigger, better, truer in store for you —— allow it to come in. Don’t resist and shut down. Flow.
Here are 6 books I recommend to make this process easier for you, and see with a new found clarity.
Think Again, by Adam Grant
Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn.
With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, Adam Grant investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, harness the advantages of impostor syndrome, bring nuance into charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe all our thoughts or internalize all our emotions. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility, humility, and curiosity over consistency.
Emotional Agility by Dr. Susan David
The path to personal and professional fulfillment is rarely straight. Ask anyone who has achieved his or her biggest goals or whose relationships thrive and you’ll hear stories of many unexpected detours along the way. What separates those who master these challenges and those who get derailed? The answer is agility—emotional agility.
Emotional agility is a revolutionary, science-based approach that allows us to navigate life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind. Renowned psychologist Susan David developed this concept after studying emotions, happiness, and achievement for more than twenty years. She found that no matter how intelligent or creative people are, or what type of personality they have, it is how they navigate their inner world—their thoughts, feelings, and self-talk—that ultimately determines how successful they will become.
When Life’s Not Working, by Bob Merritt
Life is hard--for everyone. No matter how gifted or fortunate, everyone will experience some level of disappointment in life: difficult classes, jobs, relationships, and losses. But by following basic disciplines anyone can experience accomplishment, freedom, and ease in navigating through life's daily challenges.
In this positive, insightful book, Bob Merritt describes a set of universal principles that work for everyone in every stage of life, showing that what we do today determines who we become tomorrow. Anyone who has experienced pain or confusion from lost opportunities, broken relationships, or a nagging sense of emptiness will treasure this book that shows them that the best of life has not passed them by.
When Things Don’t Go Your Way, by Haemin Sunim
From renowned Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim, a guide to turning life's challenges into opportunities for self-discovery.
While loss, heartbreak, and loneliness are all part of the human experience, in this warm guide, internationally bestselling author Haemin Sunim shows us that these moments can actually be rare opportunities for self-discovery, serving as stepping stones to greater things in life.
Drawing on Zen Buddhist philosophy and Sunim’s own experiences, When Things Don't Go Your Way helps you navigate life's challenges with resilience and grace. Whether you're dealing with rejection, uncertainty, loneliness, conflicts in relationships, or burnout--or simply seeking to improve your mental and emotional well-being--Sunim offers a new spiritual perspective, one that helps us face life's challenges with greater ease and understanding, and offers solace and courage when we need it the most.
When Things Fall Apart, by Pema Chodron
How can we live our lives when everything seems to fall apart—when we are continually overcome by fear, anxiety, and pain? The answer, Pema Chödrön suggests, might be just the opposite of what you expect. Here, in her most beloved and acclaimed work, Pema shows that moving toward painful situations and becoming intimate with them can open up our hearts in ways we never before imagined. Drawing from traditional Buddhist wisdom, she offers life-changing tools for transforming suffering and negative patterns into habitual ease and boundless joy.
Daring Greatly, by Brenè Brown
Daring Greatly is not about winning or losing. It’s about courage. In a world where “never enough” dominates and feeling afraid has become second nature, vulnerability is subversive. Uncomfortable. It’s even a little dangerous at times. And, without question, putting ourselves out there means there’s a far greater risk of getting criticized or feeling hurt. But when we step back and examine our lives, we will find that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, and hurtful as standing on the outside of our lives looking in and wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to step into the arena—whether it’s a new relationship, an important meeting, the creative process, or a difficult family conversation. Daring Greatly is a practice and a powerful new vision for letting ourselves be seen.