I had the chance to attend one of Dr. Reza’s talks a few years back, and it still astonishes me to this day how impactful his words back then were. I’m glad to know that he’s now published a book that reinforces his teachings.
Although many authors talked about journaling, the way Reza put it is very different, most people capture what went wrong, but instead, he asks to reflect on what you love, what you learned, and what did you laugh about?!! Instead of focusing on what went wrong, many times we forget to focus on what we actually love because it is the little things in life that matter. Human nature is always looking for negative stuff happening to us. I found it particularly useful to reflect on my day and keep track of my growth. It’s a record for me to write down anything that means something to me. I’m one of the lucky few that pre-ordered and got the InControl e-journal for free. Great reinforcement of your ideas by giving out a journal, Reza!
Keeping a journal was one of my conscious steps towards igniting my personal power to take control of my life, which is described as taking a massive plan after knowing what we know about each scenario’s possibilities and consequences in the book. Making a decision after knowing what to watch out for can save you from a great deal of damage. Reza encourages people to think of what kind of disposition they start to develop if they want to create intentional change within themselves. This tip has honestly, especially, bettered myself. I have also noticed how much my relationships have improved once I started to think about the consequences of having certain thoughts or acting a certain way.
Like the title of the book suggests, InControl reinforces the importance of, first, working on yourself before anything else. I enjoyed the parts of the book where Reza teaches ways of developing better habits.
First, it is important for you to recognize what you are in control of and what you are not. I do think that a lot of times people try to control what they cannot, and don't do what they can. You don’t need to apologize for what you can’t control but you have to take full responsibility for what you can control. Once you’ve got that down, you’ll easily recognize what you should be putting effort and time into, and you’ll be able to start making better choices in life. That is, according to Reza, when you should start implementing better habits. Repeating these good habits will eventually ease you into living a better life without the part when you have to constantly be mindful of the pros and cons of your decisions. You’ll be able to maximize the benefits of living a life being in control. Every encounter in life comes with a lesson to learn, which is why it is important to go out and just enjoy every new person or place you might come across. You might just find the next thing to help you feel more fulfilled about your life. Excellent read, highly recommended.