Motivational Reading That Inspires And Keeps You Laughing
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Is there anything in particular that motivates you to immediately get off your butt and get to work to achieve those goals of yours?
Does it involve a motivational reading in which a Scottish man is talking sternly to you in ways that grab your attention?
No?
Well maybe it should.
Recently, I bought the book “Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life” by Gary John Bishop. I had heard from a lot of people that it was great motivational reading, and I had a new trial available on Audible so I got the audiobook version.
Truthfully, it is not your typical, run of the mill inspirational writing like I thought it might be. What I didn’t expect was to hear a very strong Scottish accent telling me exactly what I needed to hear. And an additional benefit is that it’s a very short read, compared to most any other book these days. Therefore, I was able to listen the entire book in just around three hours. And it’s a whole lotta motivation packed in that three hours, so it’s totally worth it!
I mean, realistically, one would think just by seeing the title that it would be a funny one. But honestly, a lot of the bluntness and direct statements that you don’t typically hear from people has a lot to do with it. For instance:
“If you can’t even stop watching TV long enough to get your life together, you obviously don’t want to change. That’s basic shit. It’s the bare minimum, to be honest.”
If I said this to you, you would probably be offended, right? But when you pay to read it or listen to it, it sits differently with you. Well, and that it’s not a personal quote to you only. However, that statement, that one statement comprised of two sentences, is quite powerful. It’s basic, direct, and truthful. Furthermore, it’s completely accurate and something many of us need to hear.
Another thing that I love about this book is the fact that it makes you think with a reality-focused frame of mind. It makes you analyze exactly what you want, why you want it, and how far you are willing to go to achieve it. Do you have a dream of being a millionaire? And why do you want to be one? Are you willing to work around the clock to be one? But are you willing to work around the clock to be one, knowing that other things will fall to the side like your family and hobbies? If you are willing to do that, why are you? Is it the status of being a millionaire that you want – the bragging rights? Or do you just want to be financially secure? Finally, if the goal is ultimately to be financially secure, can it be done with less?
Basically, explore your motives for chasing the dreams you have in mind and make sure you want them for the right reasons.
Also think about what you are willing and unwilling to do. Bragging rights isn’t really a top priority reason that you want to strive for, and it’s okay to have a life where you can accomplish more with less. Being with your family while earning a sizeable income in a suitable hour work week brings far more to the table than living at the office for a big bank account.
“Love the life you have, not the one you expected to have.”
– Gary John Bishop.
“The gap between how life is and how we think life is is often the black hole in which we fruitlessly labor.”
– Gary John Bishop
The book also forces you to take accountability for your actions.
It talks a lot about not placing blame on past circumstances that have formed the person that you currently are. Instead, you need to stop using those instances as excuses and focus on what you need to put into motion to be the person you want instead of the person that you are.
Motivational reading at a whole new level.
For example, if you had a rough childhood and you carry that with you into your adult years, it’s fine to acknowledge the struggles that you went through. But don’t let them cripple you. Instead, use them as a diving board and learn from the experiences that you had. Take them forward with you in different ways. Moreover, don’t use it as a clutch for not being able to do something that you really want.
“Stop doing all that shit you know you shouldn’t be doing and start doing all the shit you know you should be doing.”
– Gary John Bishop
“Create the reality you want to live in by beginning the process of having the kind of conversations (with yourself and others) that actually shape that reality. A simple way that I reframe my own everyday “problems” is by relating to them as opportunities. They instantly become items in my life that I use to educate and expand myself. I become curious and engaged with them rather than my usual default annoyed and frustrated self!”
– Gary John Bishop
“Remember, no matter how difficult, challenging, or pressing life’s circumstances can be, how you fundamentally relate to and engage with those circumstances will have the biggest say in how they turn out.”
– Gary John Bishop
In conclusion, this book was great for a variety of reasons.
However, the personality that is ingrained into the story is what really grabs on to you. I can’t speak for how it’s relayed in the written form, but the audiobook version sends it out in full force. It makes me feel like the author himself is standing right next to me, giving me a three hour long coaching session that I didn’t know I needed. I went into it with pretty standard expectations but got much more than that. I knew that many people had given it a positive review, but I truly had to experience it for myself to understand their love for it.
This book would be beneficial to anyone reading this, anyone who has anything that they hope to accomplish someday. Nevertheless, all need to find this book and read it. Likewise, there isn’t a person out there that this book wouldn’t be a benefit to.
