It was a routine year end visit to the Sapna book house at Indira nagar in Bangalore for the usual purchase of the next year’s desk calendar and a diary; this was easily accomplished on the second floor of the shop. But succumbing to temptation, I went to check out what was on display at the books section and walked up to the third floor; there stacked neatly out right at the landing was this book.

First of all, it’s a thin book, 162 pages exact and skimming through the pages, it looked inviting and insightful and I hung on to it, billed and brought it home.

The book is easy to read and it ties together neatly the bits and pieces you already knew and heard from here and there, and brings clarity and action to the famous line “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” William Shakespeare, Hamlet. 

“It’s not about the events that happen in our lives, but our interpretation of them, which causes us to feel good or bad about something.”

Joseph Nguyen, Don’t Believe Everything You Think

“Pain is unavoidable, suffering is optional” I remember reading this line below a friend’s DP on Whatsapp. I did not have a clue on what it meant and this book opens with an explanation to this tagline.

The book is about cultivating a positive mindset all the while daring to diminish the negative thoughts. This is essential than merely good to have because we need to be in such a state of mind to progress ahead; to achieve our goals; to do things we have never attempted before.

While on the subject of goals, there is an interesting chapter on the subject in the book.

“There are two sources of goals: goals created out of inspiration and goals created out of desperation.”

Joseph Nguyen, Don’t Believe Everything You Think

Our fear and negative thoughts unknowingly sabotages any new line of thinking in order to keep us safe with the familiar and in control. We need to hush the negative thinking to be brave enough to try new things. Our thinking is always limited by our past experiences which may be of little help while we are striving to create and do new things. Life is flowing ahead and we all are aiming to live a life of no regrets !

This brings us to what can help us – our intuition; to which we have access only if we stop the over-thinking and find faith in guidance from God (or Infinite Intelligence). It’s then that opportunities that never presented before show up and we call them miracles or luck!

We like the familiar, we like the control it give us and we like to have everything figured out. The book nudges us to come out of this comfort zone.

“There is no need to try to figure it all out in advance. The path forward is only revealed when we begin walking. There’s never going to be a time where the entire path is illuminated for us to see beforehand. That would completely negate the need for faith and that is why faith and trust is of utmost importance when manifesting something.”

Joseph Nguyen, Don’t Believe Everything You Think

The book is short, sweet, to the point and very readable. The quotes scattered across are inspirational. The book makes you conscious of your thoughts and thinking and encourages you to practice non-thinking. It will take some work; but you are now aware of the why and the how becomes slightly more easier !

A good book !

Till next post, take care !!