Activate Your Power – Eitan Sharir (What I’m Reading: 11-2011)
“Think of the last time that you justified your behavior only to find out at a later stage that you were procrastinating change. The next step is to be honest with yourself and recognize that what you are justifying now is based on fear and insecurity and the resistance to change. The final step is to decide whether you are going to continue fooling yourself or, pluck up the courage and do the right thing that will help you move forward.” Quote from Chapter 3 – Characteristics of the Ego – Justification
“You may have had a great insight, seen opportunity for change, or been excited about your future prospects only to be tripped up by the ego. Before you knew it, you are experiencing doubt, anxiety, and insecurity. The little voice of the ego (using your own voice) started to say things like, What are you thinking about? You’re too old for this! Or, You’re too young for this! Or, You don’t have enough money for this! Or, It’s never been done before. All this doubtful internal chatter happens incredibly fast, and in an instant, your dream, your vision, this potential for something great, has been squashed by the ego.” Quote from Chapter 3 – How The Ego Operates
HK Comment: This is one of the most powerful books that I’ve ever read in terms of delivering insights into one’s own soul, motivations, fears and aspirations. Suffice it to say that I read the first 6 of ten chapters in the first ‘sitting’.
I was initially going to add a glib “if you can take it!” to the first sentence of my comment, but that would not have been fair. As one turns the pages, because of the skill with which Eitan Sharir wields the tools that elicit the sometimes painful insights, there is truly a sense of relief, healing, empowerment and renewed purpose for the journey ahead.
