Experiencing Vaccine and Mandate Fatigue?
5 Books To Down Regulate and Maintain Perspective
If you are anything like me, you’re probably sick of all of the back and forth over Covid. Masks, no masks. Vaccine advocates pitted against anti-vaxxers. Political leaders calling for strict restrictions versus small businesses fighting for their survival.
When is all of this ever going to end?
Exhausted by all of this? Here are five books that offer some solace and perspectives for the times we’re in.
Antifragile: Things That Gain By Disorder by Nassim Nicolas Taleb
Just like an athlete with an ACL or MCL tear can recover with a stronger knee, many things in life benefit from stress, disorder, turmoil, and adversity. Taleb has a word for this: antifragile — things that not only gain from chaos but gain a deep sense of strength and resilience that allows them to survive and thrive.
In this book, Taleb asserts that we should welcome uncertainty, even pursue it, if necessary, to grow and expand one’s life. It’s here where readers can walk away with an alternative perspective on the Covid pandemic as a strengthening exercise for one’s life advancement.
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Talib
According to Taleb, a “Black Swan is a highly improbable event with three primary themes: It’s unpredictable; it exacts a massive impact; and, after the fact, we can concoct a post-event explanation that makes it appear less random. Think 9-11 or George Floyd’s murder.
Black Swans, according to Taleb, impact virtually everything in our world, from social movements to many of the life events we experience. Tied to the pandemic, it’s a reminder for us all to focus on bringing the best version of ourselves to the table every day versus stressing about the unknowns of our present world.
Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets From The Best of the Best by Alan Stein
Here’s the takeaway from this book: Focus on your “inner growth game” versus outside factors you have no control over.
Sure you could focus your time, energy, and attention on who has and hasn’t received the vaccine. Or whether you side with the Dems and Joe Biden or the GOP regarding mask mandates.
So what if you focused on yourself? Performance expert Alan Stein Jr. offers a number of valuable strategies used by world-class performers that will help you boost your productivity and ascend to higher levels of success. High achievers, says Stein, are at the top of the game, honing their skills and habits, and doing the little things that increase their odds of success.
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life In A Noisy World by Cal Newport
One of the unfortunate end results of the pandemic has been an uptick in social media toxicity. That combined with a constant litany of breaking news interruptions has created a world of endless distractions.
Cal Newport’s message: Consider taking what he affectionately refers to as a “digital sabbath” by deleting apps, turning off notifications, and other measures unplug completely from the constant barrage of distractions. Doing this allows you to “stay in your lane” in life and remain laser-focused on the most important activities in front of you.
How I Found Freedom In An Unfree World by Harry Browne
Props to my buddy Steve Reed for introducing me to this author a few years ago. Harry Browne believed that a person’s happiness is the highest aim they can achieve in life. He asserted that freedom comes from living one’s life as they see fit, that happiness and freedom are achievable even if others remain unfree.
The essence of his message, which is captured in this excerpt from his book, speaks to the struggle of many of us during these times. Said, Browne:
"If you’re not free now, it might be because you’ve been preoccupied with people or institutions that have restrained your freedom. I don’t expect you to stop worrying about them, merely because I suggest that you do. I do hope to show you, though, that those people and institutions are relatively powerless to stop you - once you decide how you will achieve your freedom. There are things you can do to be free, and if you turn your attention to those things, no one will stand in your way. But when you become preoccupied with those who are blocking you, you overlook the many alternatives you could use to bypass them.”