I used to be quite dubious about any book that claimed to have anything to do with mindfulness or self-help but I’ve actually learned a lot from some of these books in the last year. When Lana Grace Riva offered me a review copy of her book, Happier Thinking, I thought it would make a great addition to my Self-Care series.
It might seem hard to believe given my sunny online persona (!) but I’m actually something of a grump in real life. I’m a worrier, an anal planner and it doesn’t take much to change my mood, so when Lana’s book suggested that it could change how I think, I was intrigued by the idea of a more positive and care-free mindset.
In recent months I’ve been very much of the mind that ‘you shouldn’t worry about things you can’t control’ – but there plenty of other things for me to worry (and moan!) about. Fortunately Happier Thinking has plenty of suggestions for how I can change this – and it’s all very realistic and actionable.
Rather than bombarding you with science and stats, this short book focuses on some key areas without being overwhelming. It is ample enough to make some positive improvements to your outlook and send you on your merry way. Here’s a look at some of the problems it has helped me tackle:
- Writing the day off because it started out a bit shit
- Turning positives into negatives
- Accepting change
- Questioning my thoughts
It also reinforced the benefits of journalling, practicing gratitude and acts of kindness – both for myself and others.
Lana also has a great writing style – she feels very approachable and easy to talk to. I wonder if she’s considered podcasts…
I won’t tell you exactly how it helped – that’s what the book is for! And I recommend ordering a copy. It’s available on Amazon for £3.99.
I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own
