How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Critique - Term Paper Example

? ID Lecturer How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1948) by Dale Carnegie I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book ‘How to stop worrying and start living’ by Dale Carnegie. This is because it offered me insights into how an individual can make an effort to do something different than what he does best regularly – worrying. I learned that living life is also an option, and much significant because this life is indeed worth living for. There might be instances when worrying sounds feasible and the only option yet it never wins you anything. It just brings a sense of trouble and disappointment on one’s face. What remains then is a will to do something which is distinctive and has a new meaning attached to it. This is called living a life because an individual has the right to do that. I will delve deep into why I appreciated this book. As a beginning, it offered me a chance to study a combination of practical and tested formulas which facilitated in resolving ambiguities and confusing within worrisome situations and circumstances. It additionally gave me an idea which will instantly turn the criticism coming my way into instant advantage. Even though this seems like a far-fetched proposition, I acquired it when I studied this book. It even gave me an idea as to how I can add an hour a day, which would be an ideal option for me considering how less time I have on hands everyday. Moreover, it was an interesting read because I got to know many facets related with doing away all my worries, asking me to give my best in such situations and basically telling me up close and personal how to start living my life to the maximum. I am sure with so much going Dale Carnegie’s way; no one can avoid reading this book. I will give quite a few examples as to why this book is a must read. Initially, one finds out that the book presents some of the basic facts that are related with worries and why these happen in the first place. Then the writer goes over the discussion on basic techniques that analyze worries from a number of different angles. When this has been done, the need is to break the worry habit since its breaking a person deep down inside. Then the writer focuses on the seven varied ways towards cultivating an attitude driven by mind which buys peace and happiness – an aspect that is of significance in this day and age. After this has been done, the book realizes the need to understand some of the golden rules behind conquering one’s worries. The book moves further ahead and pinpoints the tangent of criticism which is simply put, not appreciated by anyone. It touches upon the aspects that keep one worrying from criticism, if it has been done or will be done in the future. Proceeding ahead, there are six distinctive ways through which fatigue can be prevented and energy can be upped under different situations. The writer also emphasizes upon the need to discern that kind of work which makes one happy and successful in the long run. When this has been done, the requirement is sought for lessening one’s financial burdens and the attached worries that come along. Lastly, the book highlights how the true tales of 32 people who conquered their worries in one way or the other. It basically provides short anecdotes of these people, which is essentially an interesting read for everyone. Why I like this book is because it has a definitive plan for everything as long as the reader does not get bored. Then again, I do not believe that someone will get bored with its contents because they are all meant to attract attention on the part of the readers. The words that have been used, the structure of the sentences, phrases and gestures are just in line with how such a book should have been penned. It calls for praise for Dale Carnegie because he has put certain aspects that have remained much significant for the people while they are worried and how they should make amends on a regular basis. Making corrections is all the more imperative because people cannot reside in a world where there are immense amounts of worries and concerns. The mind just cannot take so much pressure and the need is to get over such ranks at the earliest. It is a fact that every human being has a threshold level but then again there ought to be a limit for everything. The preface of this book is an interesting one. Dale Carnegie has given a personal perspective as to how this book was written and the need for it to appear in print. I find it very amusing because he touches upon aspects which other writers would not go into. He recounts how he gave up the work that he hated and started doing something that he would seek pleasure from. Since he liked to write, he planned to do it for his living. He feels he made the right decision then which paid dividends in his later life. He has nothing to feel bad about it because Dale Carnegie’s name is one to feel proud about as far as linking up with him is concerned for anyone. I think that worries are part time. They never remain throughout an individual’s life. The realization that there is a worry or concern makes one feel bad about his entirety. If he does not quite feel that it is a worry, then perhaps things must be handled differently. Now the question is how to do it. After reading this book, I found the answers myself. It is just a clear and simple answer in the form of start living life as one wants to. Now then, how does one do that? Considering more and more men and women are feeling the pinch when it comes to burdens, be them financially or emotionally, this becomes an even more significant aspect. As Dale Carnegie puts it in his book, worries take you nowhere. They just make you feel bad about your own self, which is not something that an individual would like to buy in this day and age. Since this is a fast evolving world of technology, being angry about one’s own self is not a very healthy sign. It certainly has its share of disadvantages that need to be weighed in. When someone knows that worrying will not help him, then what is the need to be concerned about petty affairs? The answer to this question lies in the fact that it is out of control on an individual’s part if he gets worried. Sometimes it just becomes too much for him because he is unable to properly balance the worries alongside the small moments of happiness that come along. It certainly is a difficult exercise to undertake. What I like about this book includes the fact that he is ready to offer solutions, which is somewhat of a surprise as far as a written piece is concerned. This is seldom the case. Why I say this is because books like these can just pinpoint the problem yet fall short on the expected count as far as providing solutions is related. But Dale Carnegie’s book is different, and more significant in the fact that there are no loopholes that one can discern and explain. It presents a rationale for many areas which to a naked eye would look grave ones yet Dale Carnegie’s understanding and explanation is such that any problem derives out a solution automatically. I have actually started to see things from a better perspective after reading his book. And this has happened for good measure. He is very definite about presenting magic formulas as far as solving worry issues are concerned. This is done by making people understand where they are going wrong and what they ought to do in order to turn the wrong into a correct decision. Even though some problems seem hard to imagine and understand, Dale Carnegie is one person who can be seen as an optimist. This, I say because his vivid views and candid remarks are something to gain an insight from. Some individuals might just ignore his thoughts but it is their own loss if they do so. If they listen to what Dale Carnegie has to offer, perhaps many of their tasks would be handled in an amicable fashion. The need is to comprehend where they are going wrong and what corrective measures are required to be taken on their part. This will solve a number of problems if only they can realize where they went wrong in the first place. Moving ahead, as Dale Carnegie suggests analyzing a problem lessens the worries that have climbed up the mind ladder. If analysis is done correctly, there would be fewer worries for an individual. However if he is blowing things out of proportions, then there ought to be several worries that shall make him their friend, and that too for a long period of time. I like the way Dale Carnegie has made use of different techniques and methodologies within the book to resolve a problem, a worry or even a transformation issue in life. At certain places within the book, there are a definite number of steps or rules which makes the book quite an interesting read. This is so done to make the people realize that sequential aspects seem to resolve ambiguities and confusions, which is not easily decipherable through long paragraphs. I believe he is played the right cards by asking people to see things in a step by step sequence. It would help his cause immensely because people like things to be broken into small parts or tangents, and this is where the effectiveness of the book comes out in the open (Carnegie, 1948). What remains as a very imperative factor within this book is the comprehension that in order to keep away worries, one needs to have a tough mind, and this can only be done when the mental attitudes are kept under check. Then again, it is easier said than done. However, on the part of Dale Carnegie, he offers quite a long range of solutions which makes me feel that he has done justice with the subject at hand and essentially the book itself. Indeed it calls for a great read if the author himself is ready to offer solutions and remedies for a problem that comes about as a natural one for just about everybody in these torrid times. I am certain that Dale Carnegie’s approach has been positive because his solutions are head-on and very apt, in line with what he is trying to manifest within this book. What moved me immensely during this book was the personal account of Dale Carnegie himself. He gave examples of his parents where they left an indelible mark on his personality. This is the reason why he mentions the golden rules for overtaking or conquering worry. Even though once again this is easier said than done, Dale Carnegie presents these golden rules through his own example. And this is how I come in awe of him because it is a difficult method of quoting one’s own self, and that too in a book which will be read by many. I appreciate his gesture of bringing in his parents which adds to a bit of personalized feeling regarding the contents of this book. I opine that this book will help immensely within counseling regimes. This I say because there are definite viewpoints which can be made use of within counseling. After all, counseling is helping individuals towards bringing sanity within their lives and what better way there would be than thinking of Dale Carnegie’s book itself. Since Dale Carnegie has used his personal examples and that too with sincere reason, it would not be a bad idea if the book is employed for treating patients who are undergoing mental trauma and stress. It will put them at ease and settle their concerns once and for all. What is even more significant is the fact that it will tell the people that Dale Carnegie has done something commendable which needs to be appreciated across the board and that too for good measure. Similarly, I have learned a great deal about counseling from this book. It has offered me an understanding that whenever an individual is going through stress, he needs to break it down into certain areas or phases which help in solving his problem. By this I mean to suggest that the problem identification is indeed one of the most arduous tasks that need the attention of the people. If problem is identified, then only there can be a solution made available for it. Yet if the problem is not recognized, there would be no basis of a solution in the first place. After this is done, a proper analysis is required which will weigh in the positives as well as the negatives. When all these steps are handled in an adequate fashion, then other steps will be undertaken to make sure that anomalies are kept at a safe distance. Also this will help resolve the quandaries which remain within the fore of an individual who warrants counseling. I also learned that counseling is the epitome of understanding many things. It is the pathway that allows an individual to breathe freely or start breathing in a way that he deems fit. Many counselors are able to pinpoint the exact nuances which acquaint an individual whenever he is going through stress or trauma. What these counselors will actually learn from Dale Carnegie’s book is a tenet that is hard to find anywhere else. They will know how to simplify things that they usually do and determine the grey areas within their fore. This indeed is something that reaps rich rewards for the counselors who transfer it to their patients and the ones who require counseling. To conclude this paper, it would be correct to state that Dale Carnegie’s book has been an eye-opener. It has facilitated me at understanding where I was going wrong in my life and what corrective steps were needed on my part. It allowed me to set priorities within life so that I do not feel left out of a situation or happening that has come about all too quickly. It will also make others realize that if they get worried for no reason or even small things, then it is their fault alone. Dale Carnegie has presented solutions which must be taken note of so that their life domains are made better. All said and done, I am in awe of Dale Carnegie’s book and would recommend it to people around me. I have read the book and plan to read it again sometime soon as it is not only attractive to go through but also allows one to get self-motivated. References Carnegie, D. (1948). How to stop worrying and start living. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. Read More