5 minutes summary of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Last Updated on February 28, 2023 by factkeeps

In my last post, I wrote the 5 minutes summary of Dale Carnegie’s How To Win and Influence People. 

After writing that summary, many subscribers asked for more book summary. 

 

5 minutes summary of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
 5 minutes summary of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

So, this week, I am going to write a summary of Dale Carnegie’s another legendary book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”. 

This book is one of the best books for all time. This book tells the real meaning of life. This book explains the fundamentals of good living. 

We all have many problems in our life. We all worry about something. Some people worry about the job, some worry about their career, some about marriage. 

We all have issues in our life. Worrying excessively can actually make us physically ill. 

Yes, Worrying can damage our whole body. 

In this book Dale Carnegie will give us principles for Stop Worrying and Start Living. 

So, Let’s start the book summary 

Live in day-tight compartments

“Let’s be content to live the only time we can possibly live: from now until bedtime,” Dale Carnegie writes.

 

live in the present, forget the things of the past and don’t think about the future
Dale Carnegie

 

In this chapter Dale wants to tell us to live in the present, forget the things of the past and don’t think about the future.

Bible quote Jesus more accurately as saying : ‘’ Have no anxiety for tomorrow.’’

Dale also said that ‘’ Our business is not to see what lies dimly at distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.’’

Many people always worry about their past decisions, which is completely wrong.

Dale said that you can’t change your past so why are you worrying about that. Just live in the present and make it happier.

“Shut the iron doors on the past and the future,” Carnegie advises. “Live in day-tight compartments.”

Why not ask yourself these questions, and write down the answers?

  • Do I tend to put off living in the present in order to worry about the future, or to yearn for some “magical rose garden over the horizon”?
  • Do I sometimes embitter the present by regretting things that happened in the past—that are over and done with?
  • Do I get up in the morning determined to “Seize the day”—to get the utmost out of these twenty-four hours?
  • Can I get more out of life by “living in day-tight compartments”?
  • When shall I start to do this? Next week? Tomorrow? … Today?

Dale also discussed that Sir William Oscar always kept the poem written by the famous Indian dramatist, Kalidasa on his desk:

Salutation To The Dawn Look to this day!

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course

Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth

The glory of action

The splendor of achievement

For yesterday is but a dream And tomorrow is only a vision,

But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day!

Such is the salutation to the dawn.

Look well, therefore, to this day!

Such is the salutation to the dawn.

A magic formula for solving worry situations

In this chapter Dale provides the formula for solving worry situations.

Dale Carnegie discussed the wisdom of the father of applied psychology, William James: “‘Be willing to have it so.”

James said, “Acceptance of what has happened, is the first step in overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.”

We all know that something is beyond our control so why are we worrying about those things?

Dale gives us the magic formula of Willis H. Carrier by doing these three things— 

  • Ask yourself, “What is the worst that can possibly happen?” 
  • Prepare to accept it if you have to. 
  • Then calmly proceed to improve on the worst.

What worry may do to you

“Those who do not know how to fight worry die young.” —Dr. Alexis carrel

 

“Those who do not know how to fight worry die young.” —Dr. Alexis carrel
“Those who do not know how to fight worry die young.” —Dr. Alexis carrel

Yes, Dale said 

What Worry Does To The Heart High Blood Pressure Is Fed by Worry Rheumatism Can Be Caused by Worry.

Worry Less for Your Stomach’s Sake How Worry Can Cause A Cold Worry And the Thyroid The Worrying Diabetic.

Always remember that health is everything so don’t worry about all the things, Take care of your health.

Stay relaxed. 

Relax While You Work

Dale provides another way to stop worrying and start living.

Relax in odd moments. Let your body go limp like an old sock.”
” Relax in odd moments. Let your body go limp like an old sock.”

You can relax in odd moments, almost anywhere you are. Only don’t make an effort to relax. Relaxation is the absence of all tension and effort. Think ease and relaxation. Begin by thinking relaxation of the muscles of your eyes and your face, saying over and over, “Let go… let go… let go and relax.” Feel the energy flowing out of your facial muscles to the center of your body. Think of yourself as free from tension as a baby.

Dale gives the suggestions that will help you learn to relax:

  1. Relax in odd moments. Let your body go limp like an old sock.”
  2. Work, as much as possible, in a comfortable position. Remember that tensions in the body produce aching shoulders and nervous fatigue.
  3. Test yourself again at the end of the day, by asking yourself, “Just how tired am I? If I am tired, it is not because of the mental work I have done but because of the way I have done it.

By following these ways you will feel more energetic and productive. Taking a break is good for your body and mind.

Don’t Be Confused

According to Herbert E. Hawkes, Dean of Columbia College, Confusion is the chief cause of worry, few people bother analyzing the facts of their situation when they are worried.

He provides three steps method for stop confusing and stop worrying

  1. Get the facts about why you’re worried.
  2. Analyze those facts: Litchfield wrote “What can I do about it?” and underneath listed his various options, like fleeing, explaining himself, or acting like nothing happened.
  3. Make a decision about what to do, and do it: Litchfield decided his only option was to go into work like nothing had happened.

Forget about the good or bad opinions of others

Always remember, people don’t care about you, they just care about themselves.

If you’re worried about what other people think of you, you’re wasting your time and energy. In fact, most people are likely to be worrying a lot more about what you think about them.

So, stop worrying about what other people think about you.

Worrying is just a vicious habit you have learned.

Professor Duke Baird, professor of business administration at V.P.I. gave Dale three rules to break the worry habit:

Rule 1. Find out precisely what is problem you are worried about.

 Rule 2. Find out the cause of the problem.

 Rule 3. Do something constructive at once about solving the problem.

Conclusion

Yes, I know you will say that this is not a complete summary but as you already read at the title of this post that this is just a 5-minute summary of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

So, in my view, these are the key points of this book.

This book is a legendary book and if you want to stop worrying, I definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Just go and read the complete book and implement the principles of this book in your life.

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I will see you in my next post, till then Good Bye.

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