Stop Letting Everything Affect You: How to break free from overthinking, emotional chaos, and self-sabotage

Chidiac notes that many people feel anxiety on waking. The author shares his ritual to dispel this feeling: placing his hand on his heart and expressing gratitude “for another day of life” (181). He asserts that daily gratitude is a prism that transforms one’s perception of the world. A positive mindset can reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth. Everyday gratitude also allows individuals to become more present, compassionate, and generous, and it attracts positive energy.

The author cites the example of anti-apartheid activist and politician Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison. After his release, Mandela became president of South Africa at the age of 75 and implemented lasting change in the country. Chidiac challenges the reader to decide what they will do in the next 27 years. He insists that it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams and transform one’s life.

The motivational message of this chapter draws on well-established research on gratitude and positive psychology, such as Sonja Lyubomirsky’s The How of Happiness, which advocates gratitude rituals to improve mood and increase present-moment awareness. 

Chapter Lessons

• Use brief, embodied rituals to ground yourself at the start of the day.
• Notice how gratitude increases attentiveness to people and surroundings.
• Reject the belief that it is too late to change direction.

Reflection Questions

• What thoughts or emotions tend to surface when you wake in the morning? How do these early moments influence the rest of your day?
• How might a brief gratitude practice change your emotional state on waking? What small ritual could you realistically commit to each morning?