Page 74 - Cascade I SHPS School Magazine 2024

by changing something within our
b y changing something within our Brianna Wiest
lives. Likewise, jealousy is labelled
liv es. Like wise, jealousy is labelled
as “a cover-up emotion “and the
as “a cover-up emotion “and the
reader is invited to go through a
reader is invited to go through a
small exercise that eventually helps
small exercise that eventually helps
us to recognise our self-sabotaging
us to recognise our self-sabotaging
behaviours thereby instilling in us
behaviours thereby instilling in us
the courage to commit to what we
the courage to commit to what we

actually desire. The author seems
actually desire. The author seems

to have taken the sting from these
to have taken the sting from these
negativ e emotions quite deliberately
negative emotions quite deliberately
so that the reader succeeds in enter-
eader succeeds in enter-
so that the r
ing into the much-coveted space of
ing into the much-co v eted space of
personal renaissance.
personal r
enaissance.
Another very effective tool em-
Another very eff ective tool em-
ployed by the writer comes under
ployed by the writer comes under
if you are on the lookout for an the heading, “Your subconscious to check it one time today. If you
anchor to rein in the waves of your mind is trying to communicate want to eat healthy, drink half a
mindscape for a smoother sail. with you.” The author gives a few cup of water today. If you want to

What does self-sabotage look like examples of how our subconscious read, read one page. Then keep do-

is a question posed by the author mind might be trying to communi- ing those things. Do them every
initially and from the very next page cate with us through our behaviours. single day.”
onwards, we are invited to ponder Thus, one step at a time, we gain The brutally honest image of be-

over the possible answers as the momentum in building emotional ing in our own cages and staying in
narrative presents a wide range of intelligence by listening to ourselves them even though there is no lock
scenarios that validate our being in a and interpreting our thoughts and on the door, is potent enough to
cycle of self-sabotage. What follows feelings. Finally, by pitting “intu- build confidence to push ourselves

is a very organised way of presenting itive nudges” against “intrusive out of our comfort zones and here
facts that can help us to identify the thoughts”, the writer invites us to the narrative comes full circle. As
signs of self-sabotage, together with build emotional intelligence, not by we read chapter 7, titled “From
the discussion of practical ways of breakthroughs but in micro shifts. self-sabotage to self-mastery”, we

resolving it. They vary from very She writes, “A mind blowing singu- have already grasped something that
tangible ones like resistance, disor- lar breakthrough is not what changes was always within our reach- an ex-
ganisation and unhealthy habits to your life. A Micro shift is. Making traordinary transformation and the
intangible ones like perfectionism, big sweeping changes is not diffi- realisation that true growth comes

downplaying and fear of failure. cult because we are flawed incom- from within and how important it is

Chapter 3 lives up to its title, petent beings. It’s difficult because that we tap into our own power to

“How to interpret emotions”, as a we are not meant to live outside of discover it . The book is a reminder

guide to a better understanding of our comfort zones. If you want to to stop being mere onlookers, see-
undesired emotions, ranging from change your life, you need to make ing life pass by us. It galvanises our
anger, sadness, guilt and regret to tiny, nearly undetectable decisions collective imagination to adopt new
resentment and chronic fear. When every hour of every day until these ways of thinking and to choose our
anger is described as “a beautiful choices are habituated. Then you’ll responses to life’s situations, truly

transformative emotion”, we gain just continue to do them. If you leveraging the power of words. And

confidence to mobilise the same want to spend less time on your truer still, we go only as far as our
anger into something productive phone, deny yourself the chance minds go.

74 Cascade