Self-improvement and growth are a big topic for me and I think it is everyone's duty to become the best version of himself. I try to read every day and with this blog, I want to summarize the books that I have read and say my thoughts about them.

Follow me [on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/devin_hasler/).
Follow me [on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-hasler-0a567521a/)

Devin Hasler



## 🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences

1. To live in the now is the greatest power
2. All the stress, pain and unhappiness occur because of a separation between the body and the mind
3. Not the past nor the future is relevant only the now

## 🕵🏼Who Should Read It?

The content of the book addresses everyone's life, and every person on this earth fights against the mind, their beliefs, and their emotions. This is why everyone should read this book. However, what I have to say, though, is that I can imagine the style of the book is not for everyone. The book is written in a sort of FAQ format, which is not everyone's favourite. Additionally, the book has a spiritual touch, which may be a bit too much for some people. But despite these points, I would highly recommend everybody to read this book.

## ☘️ How the Book Changed Me

The book changed me positively, as I am now more aware of the importance of being present in many situations. If I experience strong emotions, I remind myself of the sayings of Eckhart Tolle, and I try to acknowledge the feeling and let it pass away. Another thing that I started doing because of the book is being more present in daily tasks such as brushing my teeth, walking, or eating. All of these things have already had an impact on my overall level of happiness and appreciation in life.

## ✍️ My Top 3 Quotes

> “The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” Eckhart Tolle
>

> “You cannot be both unhappy and fully present in the Now.” Eckhart Tolle
>

> “Resistance is the mind.” Eckhart Tolle
>

## 📒 Summary + Notes

As mentioned before, the book is written in an FAQ style, which means that Tolle addresses posed questions and provides answers to them. The book has no underlying storyline. Because of this, I will try to group the posed questions and explain how Eckhart answers them.

### The Now

Eckhart Tolle explains that the "Now" is the only thing to strive for in life. He states that if someone manages to be fully present in the present moment, they have achieved the greatest power in the world. Tolle elaborates that all problems, self-doubt, and stress arise when we fail to live in the present moment. If we dwell on past events or constantly worry about the future, it becomes nearly impossible to find happiness and live a stress-free life. The issue with the past is that we allow our past experiences and actions to limit our potential in the present. The problem with the future is that it is merely an illusion and a product of our imagination. Our minds tend to continually attempt to predict the future, but most of these predictions are filled with negative or worst-case scenarios.

**How to arrive in the now?**

There are multiple ways to enter the present moment, but one of the most commonly used and recognized methods is meditation. Of course, there are various forms of meditation, but one of the simplest forms is focusing on your breath. During meditation, you become the observer of your breath and your body in general. Your thoughts become like clouds that come and disappear. This allows you to reach a state of deep calm and tranquillity: the present moment.

In your daily life, there are many opportunities to be more present in the now. One possibility is to fully feel every step as you walk or to be fully present while eating your meals. You can engage all your senses and feel all the muscles working as you eat.

These brief and small moments of presence in the present moment will dissolve stress and negative thoughts, ultimately improving your day and overall happiness.

### The mind

On the journey of becoming more present, it is vital to acknowledge that you are not the mind. If you believe that you are your mind, you create an illusion of separateness, the illusion that there is a distinct "you" and a completely separate "other." This leads to unconsciousness and a lack of presence. Eckhart emphasizes that it is not necessary to understand the mind on a scientific level, but rather to recognize that you are not your mind. It's important not to mistake the mind itself for a bad thing. The real issue arises when you seek your true self solely within the mind.

The mind also significantly influences the body, which is why being present is crucial. If you cannot feel your emotions and remain disconnected from them, you will eventually experience them solely on a physical level, manifesting as physical problems or symptoms.

### Surrender

To become free from stress and pain, one must surrender. This aspect aligns with Stoicism, as Stoics like Marcus Aurelius (to learn more about Marcus Aurelius, check out this blog: **[Meditations](https://www.peopleofgrowth.com/blog/meditations)**) often state, "What is natural cannot be bad."

The pain you experience is always a result of non-acceptance, an unconscious resistance to what is. Some spiritual teachings even go as far as to claim that all pain in the world is merely an illusion. Surrendering in the context of pain means going into and through the pain instead of resisting it. This may seem counterintuitive, but it leads to accepting and acknowledging the pain, ultimately reducing its dominance.

Eckhart Tolle explains all these concepts with a simple and informal writing style, making the reading of the book highly enjoyable and leading to eye-opening realizations. I highly recommend reading the book to gain a deeper understanding of the power of the present moment. I hope to see you in my next blog post.

With regards  
Devin Hasler

a book by Eckhart Tolle in which he explains the importance of living in the now.

The power of Now



## 🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences

1. EQ is a flexible skill that can be learned. While it is true that some people are naturally more emotionally intelligent than others, a high EQ can be developed even if you aren’t born with it.
2. people with the highest levels of intelligence (IQ) outperform those with average IQs just 20% of the time, while people with average IQs outperform those with high IQs 70% of the time.
3. Emotional Intelligence consists of four key parts: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management

## 🕵🏼Who Should Read It?

This is one of those books that everyone should read. It contains general pieces of information that apply to everyone's life, and the book is really easy to read. Every individual possesses emotional intelligence, which in turn affects their life. Thus, it is important for everyone to strive towards enhancing their EQ. Doing so not only benefits the individual but also positively impacts their relationships and those around them. If you are already familiar with books from the self-improvement genre, you will find a lot of familiar information. This is why I gave the book 3 stars.

## ☘️ How the Book Changed Me

Although the book contains valuable information, it did not have a big impact on my life. The book strengthened my perception of EQ and its values, but it did not provide me with a lot of new information about EQ. However, the book did manage to create the habit of trying to figure out the EQs of people, which could be a useful skill for searching for employees or meeting new, interesting, and socially intelligent people in general.

## ✍️ My Top 3 Quotes

> “People trust what they see over what they hear.” Travis Bradberry
>

> “CEOs, on average, have the lowest EQ scores in the workplace.” Travis Bradberry
>

> “What your folks forgot to explain is that you always have a choice-a choice in how you respond to what’s before you.” Travis Bradberry
>

## 📒 Summary + Notes

Emotional Intelligence is one of the three key components of a person. The other two are Cognitive Intelligence (IQ) and Personality. However, there is one important distinction between the three: Cognitive Intelligence cannot be significantly improved with exercise or training; it is largely defined by genetics. Personality is a result of preferences, such as an inclination for introversion or extroversion. Like IQ, personality, as defined by Travis Bradberry, cannot be changed significantly and remains stable over a lifetime. Emotional Intelligence, on the other hand, can be improved with training and practice. Emotional Intelligence is so important because it comes biologically before the rational brain. That means that the rational area of your brain can't stop the emotion by your limbic system.

<img src="/images/blog/emotionalIntelligence20/biologyOfBrain.jpg" alt="Biology of the Brain" title="Biology of the Brain" width="50%" height="auto" />


### The 4 parts of EQ

Emotional Intelligence consists of four parts: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Each of these parts contributes to your EQ. Self-awareness and self-management can be grouped under personal competence, while social awareness and relationship management can be grouped under social competence.

<img src="/images/blog/emotionalIntelligence20/partsOfEQ.jpg" alt="Biology of the Brain" title="Biology of the Brain" width="50%" height="auto" />

#### Self-awareness

To be self-aware is to know yourself as you really are. There is no finish line with self-awareness. Self-awareness is about knowing the true essence of yourself. It means noticing and understanding your emotions, both positive and negative. Travis Bradberry provides 15 self-awareness strategies and explains them in detail. For the purpose of the length of this blog, I will not do that. I will only provide the ones that I think are the most important.

**Quit Treating Your Feelings as Good or Bad**

This is the principle of stoicism, and I think it is one of the most important things for managing hard times and emotional stress. The importance of suspending judgment of emotions is massive, and it allows your emotions to run their course and vanish.

**Lean into Your Discomfort**

One possible way of managing emotions is to simply avoid them. The problem with this approach is that you will never be able to manage yourself and your problems effectively. A better way than avoiding your feelings would be to move toward your emotions and eventually work through them.

**Visit your Values**

It's crucial to stay focused on the end goal while managing day-to-day tasks. Taking a moment to reflect on your core values and beliefs can make a significant impact.

#### Self-management

Self-management is your ability to use awareness of your emotions to actively choose what you say and do. A high level of self-management ensures that you are not getting in your own way and doing things that limit your success.

********Count to Ten********

This is a very effective way of dealing with anger and frustration. Just stop yourself and count to ten. Then proceed with your regained composure and rational perspective on the situation.

****************************Take Control of Your Self-Talk****************************

Your subconscious mind is very powerful and plays an important role in how we think about ourselves and the world. Therefore, it is important to control your self-talk and regulate what you allow to enter your subconscious mind.

#### Social awareness

Social awareness is the skill to recognize and understand the moods of other individuals and entire groups of people. Social awareness involves looking outward to learn about and understand the emotions and feelings of others. To build your social awareness skills, you will have to observe people in all kinds of situations.

****************************************Greet People by Name****************************************

This concept is so simple yet so effective. Greeting people by their names not only acknowledges them as the essence of who they are, but also allows you to remain connected to them in more than just a superficial way.

******Watch Body Language******

Reading a person's body language is an important skill to master because it is something that is very hard to hide. It provides you with valuable information about the other person and allows you to respond appropriately.

#### Relationship management

Relationships are an essential and fulfilling part of life. Since you are half of any relationship, you have half of the responsibility for improving and maintaining it. All relationships take work, and working on a relationship takes time, effort, and know-how.

******************Be Open and Be Curious******************

Being open means sharing information about yourself with others. This leaves less room for them to misinterpret you. However, just being open is not enough. You also need to be curious about the other person. This general curiosity is important and allows for interesting relationships.

I personally think that EQ is neglected a lot in our society, especially in schools and working environments. In schools, you are not taught that there is something like EQ, and you don’t learn how you can improve your EQ. Learning about EQ and how to improve it would have a dramatic effect on relationships and would probably have a big impact on the success and happiness of people.

If you want to learn from a person who has nearly mastered the four parts of emotional intelligence, check out my blog about the book "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius. Also, feel free to share your thoughts on emotional intelligence and its importance in the world and schools in the comments. I hope to see you again, reading my next blog!

With regards  
Devin Hasler  

A book about Emotional Intelligence, the importance of it and how to improve it.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0




## 🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences

1. The philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, known as Stoicism, emphasizes rationality, self-control, and acceptance of one's fate in the universe. This approach is still studied and appreciated today for its practical advice on how to live a fulfilling life.
2. The only thing that matters in life is activity
3. Nothing is good except what leads to fairness, self-control, courage, and free will. And nothing bad except what does the opposite.

## 🕵🏼Who Should Read It?

The book may not appeal to all readers, as it lacks a clear central theme and is comprised of personal reflections and notes from Marcus Aurelius. Originally not intended for publication, it is most engaging for those interested in Stoicism or seeking insight into the thoughts of Marcus Aurelius.

## ☘️ How the Book Changed Me

Meditations enhanced my understanding of Marcus Aurelius, and the book significantly increased my admiration for him. It also altered my perspective on self-control and material possessions. While I found some of Marcus's statements excessively rigorous and occasionally overly simplistic, I can affirm that I share many of his values and his approach to life. To me, Marcus Aurelius is an exemplar of how to manage persistent stress and discover purpose and joy in life.

## ✍️ My Top 3 Quotes

> “Noting natural is evil.” Marcus Aurelius
>

> “No thefts of free will reported.” Epictetus
>

> “You’re better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve.” Marcus Aurelius
>

## 📒 Summary + Notes

It is hard to summarize a book that has no central theme and that is not actually a book because Marcus Aurelius wrote 12 “Books” containing his thoughts and notes. These 12 Books have no central theme and are not in chronological order or even logical order. That is why I thought I will explain who Marcus Aurelius is and why he wrote those notes to himself. Also, I will summarize the book to recurring values and messages that Marcus Aurelius believes and lives on.

### The life of Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and philosopher who ruled from 161 to 180 AD and is best known for his writings on stoicism. He sprang from a distinguished enough family. The year of his birth coincided whit his grandfather’s second tenure of the consulship, in theory, Rome’s highest office. It was to be his grandfather who brought him up, for his father died when he was very young. Marcus Aurelius is said to have been fond of quoting Plato’s dictum and those who have written about him have rarely been able to resist applying it to Marcus himself.  Although Marcus was born into a wealthy family, it was never considered that Marcus would become emperor of Rome but in 137 Ceionius (the planned successor of the emperor Hadrian) died unexpectedly, and Hadrian was forced to cast about for a new successor. His choice fell on the childless senator Antoninus, whom he selected with the proviso that Antoninus should in turn adopt Marcus (his nephew by marriage). Marcus took on the family name of his adopted father, becoming Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.

### Happiness and Mindfulness

Marcus demonstrated a high level of self-awareness and a keen understanding of how to achieve happiness and mindfulness. This is exemplified in Book 4 where he stated the following: “People try to get away from it all—to the country, to the beach, to the mountains. You always wish that you could too. Which is idiotic: you can get away from it anytime you like.” His solution for this problem is going within. Being mindful. He states that the most important ability to have is to control your thoughts and treat them with respect. He said that you should forget everything else because each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already or is impossible to see.

Marcus said that there is no reason to not be happy. Why should you suffer and be degraded -miserable, tense, frightened?

### Minimalism

Despite being one of the wealthiest and most influential individuals in the world, Marcus never fixated on material possessions and refrained from boasting about his belongings and power. He wore normal clothes, fasted and sometimes lived in a soldier’s tent to remind him of his values.

For example, in Book 8, he says you should be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short. You should focus on that and not let anything distract you. You should not wander all over and finally realize that you never found what you were after, how to live. Not in syllogisms, not in money, fame, or self-indulgence. Nowhere.

Also, he says that you should stop prizing other things because otherwise, you will never be free and independent. You will always be envious and jealous, afraid that people might come and take it all away from you.

### Stress

It's easy to see how the emperor of Rome would be under a lot of stress. During Marcus' reign, he faced a plague that caused widespread death, had to navigate conflicts with the Parthian empire, and even dealt with multiple attempts to deceive him. Despite all of these challenges, Marcus had a simple yet effective way of managing stress. He reminded himself of the following:
What is it—this thing that now forces itself on my notice? What is it made up of? How long was it designed to last? And what qualities do I need to bring to bear on it—tranquillity, courage, honesty, trustworthiness, straightforwardness, independence or what?

### Self-control

It has been said that Marcus possessed an extraordinary degree of self-control. In his writings, Marcus frequently emphasizes the importance of self-control. For instance, in Book 3 he states:
How to act: Never under compulsion, out of selfishness, without forethought, with misgivings. Don’t gussy up your thoughts. No surplus words or unnecessary actions.

His self-control is also displayed when he talks about waking up early. He agrees that we have to sleep sometime. But he said that nature set a limit on that—as it did on eating and drinking. And you’re over the limit. You’ve had more than enough of that. But not of working. So if you want to learn how to wake up as early as marcus aurelius you have to read the summary about the book miracle morning (https://www.peopleofgrowth.com/post/themiraclemorning)

### Death

Marcus has a very drastic view of death and a very simple one too. He states that death is only the dissolution of the elements from which each living thing is composed. If it doesn’t hurt the individual elements to change continually into one another, why are people afraid of all of them changing and separating? It’s a natural thing. And noting nature is evil.

According to Marcus, the only thing to be afraid of is the possibility of one day losing our comprehension of the world.

In observing Marcus' way of life, it is evident that he maintained a strict lifestyle while also being open to showing helplessness. This is particularly impressive, given the environment in which he was raised. It's remarkable that Marcus helped to shape modern Stoicism, which is evident when reading contemporary books on the subject (see https://www.peopleofgrowth.com/post/discipline-is-destiny). Despite facing countless distractions, Marcus was able to manage his life in a simplistic and disciplined manner. I hold great respect for him and his lifestyle. Please share your thoughts on Marcus Aurelius and his way of life in the comments below. I hope to see you in my next blog post.

With regards  
Devin Hasler

A book about the values and life of Marcus Aurelius a Roman emperor and former practitioner of stoicism.

Meditations


## 🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences

1. Self-improvement is not punishment it is simply the work for which pleasure is the reward
2. Improve your Body, your Temperament and your Soul every day
3. The less you desire, the richer you are, the freer you are, the more powerful you are

## 🕵🏼Who Should Read It?

This book is written for everyone because it contains rules and values that apply to everyone and can aid in their self-improvement journey. However, it is possible that some individuals may find certain rules and values in the book to be overly strict or extreme. Additionally, those who are seeking a book that offers specific actions to improve their life may not find what they are looking for in this book.

## ☘️ How the Book Changed Me

The book has improved my perception of stoicism. As a result of reading it, I re-evaluated some of my life goals and the material possessions that I believed were necessary. Furthermore, it reinforced my admiration for Marcus Aurelius. I intend to read "Meditations" now in order to gain more insight into his philosophies and the values associated with the stoic way of life. This book serves as a powerful motivator and imparts important life lessons.

## ✍️ My Top 3 Quotes

> “When a man can control his life, his physical needs, his lower self he elevates himself.” Muhammad Ali
>

> “Freedom is only the opportunity for self-discipline.” Eisenhower
>

> “You may lose battle but never lose a minute to sloth” Napoleon
>

## 📒 Summary + Notes

The book employs prominent figures to illustrate crucial values that lead to success, good health, and happiness in life. It recounts the lives of notable individuals such as Lou Gehrig, Queen Elizabeth II, boxer Floyd Patterson and Marcus Aurelius, among others, and details their actions to demonstrate important values. The author, Ryan, classifies these values into three categories: The Body, The Temperament, and The Soul.

### THE EXTERIOR (THE BODY)

The advantages of maintaining a healthy body are widely acknowledged in all scientific fields and Ryan emphasizes the importance of taking care of your body. In this chapter, he highlights the significance of going to bed and waking up early, as previously mentioned in the summary of "Sleep Smarter."

[Sleep Smarter](https://www.peopleofgrowth.com/post/sleep-smarter)

Ryan also emphasizes the need to govern our bodies effectively. Although our bodies have remained largely unchanged for thousands of years, our environment has undergone significant transformations. Our bodies are designed for survival, but survival is no longer a concern in contemporary society. Therefore, when our bodies crave unhealthy food, we must remind ourselves, that we no longer live in the Stone Age and we don't need to worry about getting enough food.

It is crucial to exercise control over our physical needs, dress well, treat our bodies well, moderate our desires, work hard, exercise regularly and pursue opportunities because these actions can foster positive thinking and happiness while also resulting in significant rewards.

### THE INNER DOMAIN (THE TEMPERAMENT)

The temperament of a human being is just as important for a healthy and successful life as having a healthy body. Many people are entirely in control of their physical appearance, but their life is a mess elsewhere, leading to nothing. Practising self-control daily and managing your temptations is vital. You must concentrate and keep your focus on the main thing only. For example, Ludwig van Beethoven would sometimes abruptly leave a conversation with his friends to write down a new melody during his famous flow state. Focus goes hand in hand with respecting your time and using it wisely. Too many people waste endless time watching TV or on their phones watching YouTube. However, it's important to know that you don't have to be perfect and the 80/20 Pareto Principle can help you get things done efficiently. The Pareto Principle states that you can get 80% of your work done in 20% of your time, but the remaining 20% of the work will take 80% of your time. Therefore, use your time wisely, moderate your ambition and strive to improve yourself every day.

### THE MAGISTERIAL (THE SOUL)

In this chapter, Ryan talks about how it's not uncommon to find someone who has physical control of themselves. Nor is there a shortage of brilliant people who have brought their minds and spirits under control in the pursuit of this profession or that one. What is extraordinarily rare is someone who not only combines these two disciplines but also manages to do so in the so-called arena, in public life as a doer, a contributor to society.

Ryan explains the importance of staying flexible despite your habits and making others better. He tells the story of Angela Merkel, who did not let the position she was in or the money she had change her. She had no problem when people referred to her as the "girl of the pastor". That is the key. Do not let the success you experience change the way you talk with people or how you view them. Be strict with yourself but tolerant of others. This is one of the most important values for a stoic.

Now equipped with the values of a modern stoic, I wish you the best of luck on your journey to practice stoicism. Feel free to leave a comment about what you think of the book and the values it preaches and I hope to see you again, reading the next blog.

With regards  
Devin Hasler

A book that explores the concept of discipline and how it can help us achieve success in all areas

Stoic

The power of Now

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Meditations

Discipline is Destiny