HEY!
The book under analysis is “Nine Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and Life” written by Henry Cloud. The book covers the concepts that teach how to be a full-fledged person and to live a successful life. It offers nine main principles that may help a person cope with the settled goals of his/her life. The principles are built in a rather thorough and logical way. Considering these nine principles in more detail is necessary for understanding how to become a successful and well-balanced person who can enjoy life to its fullest extent.
In the first principle, the author calls people to be frank to cognize their hidden dreams and emotions that are focused on the achievement of their dearest dreams (Cloud H., 2004). The second principle, in its turn, covers the point of the necessity to abandon all the fears and to face the objective reality. In other words, some people live in a fairy tale and are not aware of the complexity of life because they are continuously trying to avoid the obstacles they face. Cloud compares difficulties with a terrible toothache stating at this that a successful person is the one who goes to a dentist as soon as he/she feels a toothache (Cloud, 2004).
The main idea of the third principle comprises the concept of planning one’s future, which is not only challenging but rather contradictable as well. On the one hand, it is reasonable to visualize one’s plans and goals; moreover, the psychologists even recommend doing so emphasizing that the thoughts can materialize. This is what Cloud advises in his book; he offers the readers to go through their future life imagining their job, family, friends, etc. This, according to the author, gives people a chance to experience significant events in their lives, which makes it possible for them to avoid mistakes and obstacles in the future.
The third principle presupposes that people themselves are creators of their success (Cloud, 2004). The ideas which this principle brings about are quite useful for lazy people who simply wait for success to come without being willing to work and earn the right to be successful. Cloud posits that people are creators of their destiny and their success depends only on the deeds accomplished by them, as well as on their readiness to bear responsibility for these deeds.
The fifth principle is extremely important and it seems to serve as a basis for the rest of the principles presented in the book under consideration. This principle implies an idea that a successful person is an industrious and strong-willed leader who never gives up on destiny and strives for a better life. Thus, the essence of this principle is that people should never be satisfied with what they have because several opportunities offered to them can help them get even more.
The sixth principle teaches the readers not only how to control their anger, but how to use it constructively and wisely for solving the problems. According to Cloud (2004), there is subjective and objective hate of which the former is simply destructive, while the latter opposes dishonesty or deceit. It is namely due to objective hate that people may become successful because it often serves as a motivation to fight injustice.
With his seventh principle, Cloud calls people not to play fair for quite often good deeds remain unreturned, which may be frustrating and disappointing. Cloud asks his readers not to follow such fairness as “an eye for an eye” mentioning that one should treat other people not as they treat him/her, but better for this can help them preserve their dignity. The eighth principle consists in admitting one’s errors and being humble remaining patient to the faults of other people at this. Finally, the ninth principle consists in upsetting the right people, or only those who inhibit the success of the others and who are manipulative. Therefore, following these nine principles, a person can become successful and enjoy his/her success knowing that he/she had earned it.
YOU!
After a thorough study of the book, I have picked up several useful ideas for my further personal improvement and development. When I considered the fifth principle, I have found that it fully coincides with my life concept since my life slogan is: “Never give up” and “What does not kill you makes you stronger”. Thus, I have been convinced one more time that I am heading in the right direction.
Further, I should agree with the principle that instructs how to overcome pain, to continue life, and, consequently, to enjoy every single moment of one’s life. I am supportive of this idea because it is more ridiculous to endure pain just because of being afraid to figure out the main problem of one’s life. I came across similar situations when I had to make important decisions. I was stopped by the obstacles and was reluctant to overcome them, which only made my life more complicated. Later, however, I discovered that facing the problem and finding a solution to it can be beneficial; moreover, it is less time-taking than simply waiting for a problem to get solved by itself.
LOOK!
Cloud’s book presupposes several extraordinary comparisons of different concepts people might be interested in. What is more useful about it is that it provides examples to illustrate these concepts. The book is full of proverbs and wise sayings that prove the author’s ideas and convince the readers that these ideas are correct. Consequently, it is quite easy to grasp the main ideas of the principles and to apply them in practice. The book has a simple structure that amazes the reader by the availability of the information. Another great advantage of the book is that it makes people think over their life principles, concentrate on their drawbacks, and eliminate or accept them. Some of the principles can be argued with, however. One of them is the third principle which is pieces of advice to plan one’s life. It should be admitted that there exist people for who planning is not a variant for their whole life is all about spontaneity.
DO!
Covering all the concepts that are consistently introduced by the author, I will surely keep in mind those basic ideas of the first principle which comprises a concept of frankness and an exact identifying of veritable goals and ideas. Being open to the Universe contributes greatly to the fulfillment of one’s most desirable dreams and ideas. In other words, if a person has a burning desire to change something, he/she is likely to achieve this. It is worth adding that, to become successful, a person should do something to achieve it, instead of simply waiting to obtain it in vain (Ghorashi, 2003). Everything in this life requires the first step that helps people to realize their goals and to move further on the way to a better life.
Reference List
Ghorashi, B. (2003). How to Become an Exceptionally Successful Young Person: A Guide to Early Planning and a Roadmap to Success Plus How to Face Worry, Defeat, and Uncertainty and Rise Above Them All. US: Universe, Inc.
Cloud, H. (2004). Nine things you simply must do to succeed in love in life. US: Thomas Nelson, Inc.