#Kelly McGonigal

[remingtonpost]

Movement offers us pleasure, identity, belonging and hope

[leon-production]

Kelly McGonigal - The Willpower Instinct It's in audio format, read, listen, educate yourself .🙈 It's harder than flipping through your facebook or tik toke feed but it's worth it. 🔥

[theambitiouswoman]

My Book Recommendations for Developing Self Discipline:

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear: This book offers a practical and science-based approach to building good habits and breaking bad ones. It teaches how to identify the root cause of your behavior, how to make small changes that lead to big results, and how to stay consistent over time.

"The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg: This book explores the science behind habit formation and how you can change your habits to improve your life. It offers practical strategies for developing good habits and breaking bad ones, based on research from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics.

"The Willpower Instinct" by Kelly McGonigal: This book draws on research from psychology, neuroscience, and mindfulness to offer practical strategies for improving self-discipline and willpower. It teaches how to overcome procrastination, resist temptation, and achieve your goals.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey: This classic book teaches seven habits that can help you become more effective in your personal and professional life. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility, goal-setting, and continuous improvement.

"Discipline Equals Freedom" by Jocko Willink: This book offers a no-nonsense approach to self-discipline, drawing on the author's experience as a Navy SEAL. It teaches how to develop discipline in all areas of your life, from fitness and nutrition to work and relationships.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND:

6. "No Excuses: The Power of Self-Discipline" is a book by Brian Tracy that explores the importance of self-discipline in achieving success. Tracy argues that self-discipline is the key to achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life, and offers practical strategies for developing self-discipline.

In the book, Tracy emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for your own life, setting clear goals, and developing the habits and routines necessary to achieve those goals. He also discusses the role of motivation and willpower in achieving success, and offers strategies for overcoming procrastination and staying focused on your goals.

Overall, "No Excuses" is a motivational and practical guide to developing self-discipline and achieving your full potential.

[watchingcbeams]

Compiled a bunch of reading lists/recommendations in my notes

Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard

And Strange at Ecbatan the Trees by Michael Bishop

In Between the Sheets by Ian McEwan

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman

Camp Concentration by Thomas Disch

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard

Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson

Engines of Logic: Mathematicians and the Origin of the Computer by Martin Davis

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

Polemics by Alain Badiou

Smalltalk Best Practice Patterns by Kent Beck

Speedboat by Renata Adler

The Dynamics of Creation by Gregory Bateson

The Theoretical Minimum: What You Need to Know to Start Doing Physics by Leonard Susskind

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Hard to Be a God by the Strugatsky Brothers

The Invincible by Stanisław Lem

At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’brien

Appointment in Samarra by John O’Hara

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

Far Away and Long Ago by W.H. Hudson

The Life of Jesus by Ernest Renan

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

The Stone Leopard by Colin Forbes

The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny

The Exile Waiting by Vonda McIntyre

Valis by Philip K. Dick

Nova by Samuel Delany

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe

Martian Time Slip by Philip K. Dick

Ubik by Philip K. Dick

Lancelot by Walker Percy

Rabbit, Run by John Updike

Pulphead: Essays by John Jeremiah Sullivan

Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov

A Beautiful Question: Finding Nature's Deep Design by Frank Wilczek

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Bicycling Science (MIT Press) by David Gordon Wilson

Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini

Epic Measures: One Doctor. Seven Billion Patients by Jeremy R. Smith

How to Be Alone: Essays by Jonathan Frazen 

On Beauty by Umberto Eco

On Ugliness by Umberto Eco

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

South Wind by Norman Douglas

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives by Leonard Mlodinow

The Infinite Resource: The Power of Ideas on a Finite Planet by Rainer Zitelmann

The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm by Lewis Dartnell

The Soul of A New Machine by Tracy Kidder

The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It by Kelly McGonigal

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

This Will Make You Smarter by John Brockman (Editor)

Uncontrolled: The Surprising Payoff of Trial-and-Error for Business, Politics, and Society by Jim Manzi

Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative by Edward Tufte

Wonderland by Joyce Carol Oates

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Childhood; Boyhood; Youth by Leo Tolstoy

Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Run Rabbit by John Updike

House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré

Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brien

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

The Coalwood Way by Homer Hickam

Hail and Farewell by George Moore

The American by Henry James

Victory by Joseph Conrad

Collected Poems by Robert Lowell

Collected Poems by W.H. Auden

Guerrillas by V.S. Naipaul

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Sanctuary by William Faulkner

The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood

The Collected Poems by Wallace Stevens

The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford

The Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant by Guy de Maupassant

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn

Victory by Joseph Conrad

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

The Enormous Room by E.E. Cummings

The Open Boat by Stephen Crane

The Best American Humorous Short Stories by Alexander Jessup

The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett

The Red and the Black by Stendhal

The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr.

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Possession by A.S. Byatt

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse

De Facto Inclusions of Italo Calvino: The Baron in the Trees; The Nonexistent Knight; The Cloven Viscount by Italo Calvino

The Blue Hotel by Stephen Crane

Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser

Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann

Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham

The Oxford Book of English Verse

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

The Oath by John Lescroart

Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley: Complete Poetical Works

Within a Budding Grove by Marcel Proust

Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert Caro

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

[professorfaber]

books finished (not necessarily started) this year

only marking ‘strongly recommend’ (👍) and ‘don’t recommend’ (❌️). well and molière is molière lol

The Fascist Revolution: Toward a General Theory of Fascism by George Mosse (January 2) 👍

The Ba‘th and the Creation of Modern Syria by David Roberts (January 19)

The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and their Influence on Nazi Ideology by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke (February 20) 👍

The Brown Plague: Travels in Late Weimar and Early Nazi Germany by Daniel Guérin (March 6) 👍

Fascism in Brazil: From Integralism to Bolsonarism by Leandro Pereira Gonçalves and Odilon Caldeira Neto (March 22)

Iraqi Arab Nationalism: Authoritarian, Totalitarian, and Pro-Fascist Inclinations, 1932–1941 by Peter Wien (April 5)

Bunch of Thoughts by M.S. Golwalkar (April 11) ❌️

Hebrew Fascism in Palestine, 1922–1942 by Dan Tamir (April 18)

Latin American Dictatorships in the Era of Fascism: The Corporatist Wave by António Costa Pinto (May 2)

L’École des femmes by Molière (May 17)

A History of Fascism, 1914–1945 by Stanley Payne (May 30) 👍

Anarcho-Fascism: Nature Reborn by Jonas Nilsson (June 20) (extremely doesn’t count, basically a pamphlet) ❌️

French Colonial Fascism: The Extreme Right in Algeria, 1919–1939 by Samuel Kalman (August 23)

The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How To Get Good at It by Kelly McGonigal (October 11)

Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977 by Stanley Payne (October 27) 👍

Inside Latin America by John Gunther (November 10)

It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis (November 24)

i have ambitions of finishing wynot’s polish politics in transition over the weekend but that’s probably not going to happen

[tilly-tilly-2827]

Leave It By Degrees #4

The unhinged love story loosely based on Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost that I can't get out of my head.

Synopsis: "How are you going to keep that?"

AO3 post from here!

Previous story from here!

No sex. No porn. No wanking. No phone. No digital devices. No social media. No alcohol. No drugs. No smoking. No Substance. No women are allowed in the Villa. (No men for Benedict). No work. No family issues…   

“How many no’s do you plan to include in this list, dear brother?” 

Anthony glared from his thick-framed glasses, closing his bulky volume of The Brothers Karamazov, carefully placing a leather bookmark on the pages. 

“Read the next page, there’s more.” 

Wake up at 5:00 in the morning. Only drink water. Complete the morning stretch and weight training by 6:00. Cold showers only. Complete 10km run. Meditate for three hours. Fast Every three days. Study Japanese for three hours. Journaling in the morning. Practice trumpet. Yoga. Pirates…

Benedict went through the 95 contents of the list, and as he read on, he could feel the three sheets of paper become heavier and heavier in his hands. 

“This is quite a list, brother. Might I ask how you made this?” 

“Well, it’s a combination of Andrew Huberman’s morning routine, Kelly McGonigal’s the Willpower Instinct, added with the basic ideology of tantra, which has roots in Hinduism and Buddhism; the term referring to “Text, theory, system, method, instrument, technique or practice… ”

“Sometimes I forget how nerdy you are, brother.”

“Call it thirst for knowledge and self improvement.”

“And so you say, brother.” Benedict shook his head, dropping the list on the table between them. “By doing all this, you think you can get over her?”

Anthony nodded grimly. “Why do you think I would even do this?”

“Perhaps you’ve lost your mind after five bottles of whiskey.”

“My mind had never been clearer than last night, brother.” Anthony grunted. “If it were not for the whiskey, I wouldn’t have planned this,”

“Brother, you are going to the Maldives.A Fucking beach resort. Probably full of hot models and influencers that will just drool at your mere presence. I doubt you could keep the oath even a day.” Benedict continued, munching on raisins, “Plus, why do I have to be dragged in your sadhana?”

Anthony simply rolled his eyes, and returned to his book. “Brother, you seem to have forgotten that you were the one begging me to take you with me.” 

Damn. He remembered. 

Since meeting the love of his life, his muse, and his inspiration four years ago, his artist career had been going on the rails; first making it through the Wells Art Contemporary, then having a piece submitted in the National Gallery, and even getting a solo feature in the Art Monthly. He had been trying to keep himself away from his hedonistic habits, the pills, weed, and alcohol. But there were just some nights that he just couldn’t resist the temptation. And yesterday was one of those nights. Anthony had given him a call from the pub, half crying half laughing on the other end, presumably drowning himself in whiskey. Benedict had been sent to pick him up, only to get terribly drunk with Anthony again. The new gallery was coming up in three months, yet Benedict found himself at quite a loss, feeling absolutely blank facing the white canvas. His latest submissions had been relatively well received ,with positive reactions from viewers and good sales, but some critics had slandered his work; criticizing that it never had originality. And for all those reasons, Benedict had decided to get wasted with his dear brother. (After 5 hours, Simon had come to the pub, dragging the two men into his Lamborghini.)

The breakup must have been rough, Benedict had thought as he watched his usually disciplined brother lose himself in intoxication. From a brotherly standpoint, Benedict could see that Anthony had been serious and committed in the relationship in his own way, but it wasn’t enough for the uprising pop star Sienna Rosso. During that night, Anthony had dabbled about relationships ruining his life and the necessity to improve himself to the highest potential. For those purposes, he declared firmly that he was going to go on a digital free Celibacy, and Benedict, who had been utterly drunk, had agreed to go with him. More accurately, he might have pleaded. Benedict wasn’t really expecting his brother to remember his oath, much less drag him into the private jet to the Maldives on the very next day. 

“Come on, brother. You’re self-employed.” Anthony had grabbed him in the neck and plunged him into the car. “I’ll do my journaling, yoga, running, and meditation, and you can set up a studio in a villa.”

Apparently, the digital free rule had applied the moment they boarded the plane, the TV screen in front of him had been covered by a black cloth, and even the music plug had been closed as well. 

“Woodson, and you agreed to do this?”

Benedict turned his head around to the only employee from the Audrey Foundation, who sat timidly in the 4-box seat at the far end of the jet, quietly tapping away in his silver MacBook. Poor man, Benedict thought to himself, his own life being at the mercy of one Anthony Bridgerton. 

“Uh, um, yes, Mr. Bridgerton.” He fumbled, adjusting his brown frame glasses nervously with his fingers, “If m,Mr. Bridgerton chooses to pursue a goal, it is my greatest interest to support him in any way possible.”

“Yet, I see you working on your computer.”

“Mm, Mr. Bridgerton had asked me to do a briefing every morning from the day before, and I’ll be the one correspondence for M, Mr. Bridgerton in case of a family or a corporate emergency.”

“The list specifically stipulates no work.”

“Benedict, I’m running a company with a hundred thousand employees on my shoulders.” Anthony said, settling himself deeper in his seat, “It’ll be worse for my mental health if I don’t hear from the company at all. This was decided with my therapist, brother, and we both agreed that once a day would be suitable…”

“Yes, yes, I get that, but why did you have to bring Woodson? If you just need a briefing every morning, just open up a computer or get a call! You didn’t have to bring the poor fellow all the way to a beach resort to just work and do a celibacy with a grumpy boss…”

“It’s a digital-free holiday, Ben,” Anthony grunted, not removing his eyes from the book. “It won’t be digital-free if I open a laptop.”

“And getting a briefing every morning counts as not working? It’s only been three minutes since we boarded this plane, and you’re already breaking the oath you firmly declared…”

“Mm, Mr. Bridgerton.” Benedict slightly raised his eyebrows as Woodson interrupted his words, but Woodson continued awkwardly, “I, I’m from Maldives, Mr. Bridgerton. I was born and raised there, and Mm, my parents and my sisters still live on the mainland.”

“Oh.”

“Woodson is merely an emergency liaison, and nothing more.”

Anthony growled from the back of his throat, and Benedict understood that it was Anthony telling him to shut the fuck up. Benedict couldn’t suppress a smile, as authoritative and grumpy as his brother could be (99% of the time), the attentiveness his brother had over his siblings and his employees was something that Benedict greatly respected and deeply admired about his elder brother. While Benedict tended to focus on one thing and one thing only (being an artist, it was a positive trait), Anthony had keen eyes on everything and everyone all at once. Benedict knew the Audrey Corporation would have been in shambles if Anthony hadn't been the firstborn.

Come to think of it, it was the first time in six years Anthony had even chosen to take a holiday. Since he took over the company at the age of 26, Anthony had chosen to devote body and soul to his father’s legacies, working non stop to keep the company running. Nights and Nights of negotiations and board meetings, conferences, while supporting his seven siblings and keeping them from falling apart from the sudden death of their father. There was always a sense of guilt he felt towards his brother; the way Benedict had chosen to run away and escape from the responsibility, while Anthony took all the burden of the family on his shoulders. 

“I will swear to the Celibacy oath, brother. Also the drinking, smoking, and the pills. Digital free oath as well.” He kicked his brother’s feet playfully with a grin on his face, Anthony eyes stayed on the book, but he saw a satisfied nod. “You have my full support, and I concentrate on my art as well.”

“Good.”

“By the way, brother.”

“Mm?”

“Why did you laminate this list?”

“I plan to take it everywhere with me.”

“What kind of CEO uses a laminator?!”

“Benedict, this was made by the latest model I specifically ordered from Japan that has 6 rollers which rapidly increases the speed of each process; the biggest length taking up 0.6mm, Benedict…”

And Benedict spent the next ten hours on flight listening to Anthony ramble on about the difference between a six roller laminator and the two roller version, the concept of hypersexual society and its effects to the modern toxic masculinity, and how the transmutation of sexual energy enhances their prana/ life energy. Six hours in, Benedict had begged on his knees for a glass of whiskey, but Anthony had apparently had banned them from even bringing them in on the plan. 

Fuck, he thought. This was going to be harder than he thought. 

Apparently, it wasn’t as hard as he had imagined it would be. The Soneva Fushi was a frequent place the Bridgertons had stayed in, being the very place their parents had honeymooned. Benedict had joined the family vacation there every year until he left the house at 18, so he knew the way around the place. The presence of Anthony was not intimidating as he had anticipated, but more soothing. He noticed that it had been years since he spent time with his elder brother, and found themselves chatting about their father and the childhood memories they shared. The time their father had taken out to hike. How he had taken them to horse riding. His terrible pranks using glue and shoes.

 Even at a beach resort, Anthony was the epitome of self-control and discipline, waking up at 5 o'clock sharp every morning. Anthony was kind enough (?)  to rip Benedict from the sheets every morning, dragging him to the beach for a morning jog. It was incredibly refreshing to start the day, with the morning light and the ocean breeze on his skin, and Benedict had never felt so fit and clear minded. Perhaps he was reaching his higher self, as his brother had said. 

However, no matter how healthy, how sober, or how disciplined he was, when he returned to the studio he had set up in the sunroom of the Villa, Benedict was still in front of the white canvas, staring at the endless white. To pass the time, he continued sketching, walking around the beach, the lobby, the bar, sketching the people around him, but when he sat in front of the canvas, he could do nothing at all. 

“You have to call me Benedict, Woodson.”

“Mm,Mr. Bridgerton, I really cannot.”

“But I’m not your boss, there’s no need for formalities.

“I,I must pay my respects to every m,member of the Bridgerton family”

“So you wouldn’t respect me if I wasn’t a Bridgerton?”

“I, I, I, I cannot answer that question, Mr. Bridgerton.”

“So you don’t respect me.”

“I,I call you Mr, Bridgerton to show my respect, Mr. Bridgerton.”

“You call my brother Mr. Bridgerton, how do you make the difference between us two?”

“W,well, I use the higher tone when I call Mr. Bridgerton, and I use a lower tone when I am referring to Mr. Bridgerton.”

“Woodson, I truly cannot hear the difference. Which is which again?”

“Benedict, stop interrogating my subordinate.”

After a week in the Soneva Fushi, the morning briefing had become a regular routine for the three, with Woodson running over the emails and the calls from the company as Benedict and Anthony grimaced over the caffeine-free herbal tea. The brief that morning had been the usual, nothing particularly important but Benedict noticed that Woodson tumbled on his words more than he usually does, especially on the M’s, and tripped several times on the S’s he normally flows smoothly.

“Anything troubling you, Woodson?” Benedict casually asked, trying to keep a light tone. 

“Uuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………………” After that, there was a long pause. Benedict noticed that the birds were exceptionally chirping away happily that morning and Anthony took a nice long sip of mint tea from his mug, 

“I,I, I…..I've been getting multiple emails from the Gunningworth Foundation requesting a direct meeting to negotiate a deal with Mr. Bridgerton.”

“The Guuningworths?” Anthony raised his eyebrows suspiciously, sitting up from his seat, “I don’t think we ever had any deal with them.”

“Oh, no no no no, Mr. Bridgerton!!” Woodson shook his head fervently. “It is a deal for Mr. Bridgerton.”

Benedict chuckled softly seeing his brother's ears turn slightly pink as Anthony buried himself behind the newspaper. 

“I’ll remember that I’m referred to by the lower tone, Woodson.” Ben clapped his hand on Woodson’s shoulders, “Perhaps about the patron contract?”

Woodson scrolled through the screen, his brown glasses nearly slipping off from his nose. “Indeed, Mr. Bridgerton.”

“How much is Gunninworth willing to pay to my dear brother?”

“The email says that the amount would be negotiated, but coming from the Foundation, I estimate an amount of several hundred thousand yearly.”

“Perhaps this is not a bad deal for you, Benedict.”Anthony closed the newspaper, setting the mug on the table. But, Benedict simply looked out in the distance, watching a young couple snuggle together in a hammock on the beach. “ Gunningworth Foundation is a prestigious institution; especially in the arts division.”

“I’m not interested.”

“Any reasons?”

“I refuse to be controlled by an authority.”

“Benedict.”

Benedict signed at his brother's condescending tone. 

“I’m not a big fan of Araminta Gunningworth.”

As childish and immature his little brother sounded, Anthony could understand Benedict’s disdain. Araminta, being the substitute chairperson in the Gunningworth Foundation was a frequent guest in the London socialite; Anthony had greeted her several times. But there was a certain coldness to her that he could not decipher, the complete opposite from Benedict’s gentleness. Anthony also knew how much his brother hated control and restrictions, so it would be better for him if he wasn’t under a contract….

“And few associates from The Gunningworth Foundation are visiting this very place today.”

“WHAT?!?!”

Both Benedict and Anthony spilled the tea from their respective cups. Poor Hugh, the emails he printed out several hours ago from his house were drenched in ill-smelling liquid. 

“Isn’t that close to stalking?”

Benedict sputtered, his eyebrows knitted in a deeper frown.

“Unless the team forcefully tries to invade the Villa, i, it does not violate the law.”

“Jesus,” Benedict rolled his eyes. “This kind of behavior is the exact reason I don’t want to be involved in the contract, invading a private holiday just for a painting.”

“There is no need to respond to their offer,” Woodson continued firmly, “if any of them does something out of the line, I will call the security and the police immediately.” 

“Thank you, Hugh.” 

“B,but I recommend staying out of bars and restaurants, or lobbies, Mr. Bridgerton. They might be lurking everywhere to lure you into the deal..."

-------------------------------------------

“Oh, Posy.”

Sophie could only sigh when her step-sister told her that she had booked three weeks in Soneva Fushi, not the one night stay she had originally planned.

“Poses, it’s a business meeting, not a holiday…”

Sophie groaned over her laptop screen recalculating the budget as Posy happily packed four bikinis and several sets of summer dresses in her suitcase. Beach towels, sandals, sunglasses, Posy’s red globe trotter travel suitcase were almost overflowing. 

“Oh, come on Sophie, it’s not every day Mom lets us go to a Beach Resort for a meeting. And I’m sure Benedict Bridgerton would want to talk in a relaxed environment, not in a stuffy suit.”

“But three weeks, Poses? There was no need to book that many days.”

“Sophie, do you really think Benedict Bridgerton would compromise in a day when he completely ignored your emails for the past months?”

“You have a good point, Poses.” Sophie had to smile, neatly folding the floral Guchi summer dress that was thrown over the floor. “You’re right. I’m might have been too overconfident,”

“Oh, and Sophie, I booked the three-bedroom Villa!”

“The suite?!”  

There are some times Sophie could forget how bold her stepsister can be. On usual days, Posy is just a sweet little bean, cute and bubbly, living in her own world of warmth and happiness. It was fascinating how different she was from her mother and her sister; but after 10 years of being by her side, Sophie had understood that her bubble of joy and happiness was also her defense mechanism, protecting herself from the snarks and the quips she often got from the family. She was mostly shy and hesitant around others,but every once in a while, she would make everyone’s mouth drop in astonishment. Like the time she said she was going to go to the Antarctic for her graduation trip. Or the time she got an alligator as a pet. 

“Poses, I love you, but imagine the cost, the expense! The finance department would be at their wits end when they see the bills.”

“I might have used Mom’s credit card?”

Sophie knew that Araminta never checks her credit card accounts. 

“Posy, you badass.”

Sophie did also not imagine that Kate would be showing up in the airport with a beautiful off shoulder teal summer dress. With a white Rimowa suitcase and Saint Laurent shades, she might as well have popped out from a summer cover of Vogue magazine. 

“Sophs!”

Sophie had been greeted with a big bear hug, already feeling the tropical breeze in her coconut and Lily perfume. 

“Kate, I thought you had work…”

“I’ve been working my ass off since I joined the Danbury Associates,” Breaking away from the embrace, Kate elegantly sipped on her chai, “I asked, and Agatha was more than willing to give me three weeks off.”

“But, the money, Kate…”

“I’ll pay for my own food and other expenses. Don’t worry about that.” Kate told her reassuringly, “Posy gave me a call a week ago, telling me that there was a spare room.”

“Oh, Posy.”

As Sophie quickly turned around, she saw Posy smiling from ear to ear, beaming in her beautiful yellow dress. 

“You helped me so much for the preparation, Sophie.” Posy shyly continued, taking her arm. “I heard you talking on the phone with Kate about the breakup, and inviting Kate was the only thing I could do.”

“Oh, Posy, you didn’t have to do this,” (Oi!, Kate interjected) Sophie wrapped her arms around Posy’s neck, giving her the biggest hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you Posy. We’re going to make this deal, and prove Araminta wrong, okay?”

“Sophie, you’re choking me!” Posy giggled, wiggling around in her arms. Kate smiled softly at the sisters but quickly tossed her empty cup in the bin. 

“Come on girls, we’re going to be late. And I’ve been dying to go to the new airport lounge that reopened last January…”

As the three girls headed to the baggage inspection arm in arm, Sophie was beginning to regret she had only packed her navy suit and her formal black shoes in her suitcase. 

With Posy and Kate by her side, the ten-hour flight had passed in a second, reviewing the profile report she had made on Benedict Bridgerton while sipping on some glasses of wine. Posy had booked first-class seats, and Sophie was more than happy to get some sleep in the fully flat seat. Even after the ten-hour flight, she felt no fatigue or discomfort, she was in the best condition she could ever be. The Maldives had welcomed the three in the most pleasant weather possible, not a single cloud in the sky, the bright sunlight shining on their respective suitcases. 

Kate and Sophie could only stand in awe as they were taken to the private lounge in the airport, the clear blue ocean spread before them at the window. The surface of the ocean glittered and shimmered in the radiant sun, and the water was so transparent Sophie could even see the bottom of the ocean, the sand and the rocks gleaming like crystals.  

“This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been Sophs.”

“Ditto. Ditto, Katie Cat.”

“Oh, this is only the beginning, girls!” Posy chirped happily as she munched on the cookies on the counter, “It only gets better from here!”

And as Posy had said, it only got better, better and better. Taken to the island on the private airplane, (“I didn’t even know these kind of things existed,” Kate muttered.) the three arrived in the Soneva Fushi. Dazed by the extravagance and the beauty of it all and the sweet tropical breeze, Sophie had taken the welcome drink unconsciously, clinking the glasses together. The Villa was exceptionally gorgeous as well, the one that was built over water, and as the footman opened the door to the Villa, Sophie just stood there in awe, taking in the beautiful scenery before them, the deep blue ocean and the clear sky opening before them. Both Kate and Posy squealed with joy, and quickly stripped away their dresses and divided into ocean.

“Heaven.” Kate declared, putting her gorgeous hair into a bun. “Heaven on earth have I experienced.” 

“We have to go to the beach, Katie.” Posy continued, quickly adjusting her ample bosoms in her lacy white Bikinis. “Oh you’re going to love the spa here, and the restaurant…”

“There’s a spa?!”

“Yes!!”

“Oh my god!”

“I know!”

“Sophs, come on, you have to jump in!!”

“I’m not wearing a swimsuit!!” Sophie laughed, no she wasn’t risking her to ruin her only New Yorker suit, “Besides, Poses, we got to get going.”

Posy groaned, dunking her head into the water. 

“So, what’s the plan?” Kate asked, settling herself in the deckchair. 

“I’m planning to go to the bar or the restaurant to get a chance to meet them by chance.”

“Sophs, as a lawyer, I have to advise you that is dangerously close to stalking.”

“It is, isn’t it?.” Sophie sighed, “but since he’s been ignoring all my emails, that’s the only plan I could come up with. If I could get a chance to talk to him once,”

“You think one chat could bring him to the table?”

“I did my research, Katie Cat.”

Kate only hummed in response, feeling that perhaps she shouldn’t inquire too deeply on her friend's measures. 

“So Posy, can you take the restaurant for me? I’ll take the bar.”

“Can’t we go to the spa first?” Posy gave a small wine, but Sophie gently shook her head.

“The faster we finish this job, the longer we can enjoy the holiday, Poses.”

“Fine…” Although in grumbles, Posy reluctantly got out from the lagoon, taking a towel from the rack. 

“I’ll join you in the bar at eight, Sophs,”

Sophie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Kate, you don’t have to do this. I’ll be fine on my own…”

“I just want to get drinks,” Kate laughed softly, putting shades on her eyes, “Won’t interfere with your work.”

“To get laid with some rich money?” Sophie grinned. 

“Oh, I’m still keeping my oath, Sophie.”

“That’s my girl,”

“Good luck Sophs.”

“Fingers crossed.” 

But even after 3 hours of dwelling inside the stalls, there was no sign of one Benedict Bridgerton. Sophie could feel her confidence shrinking as hours passed, and Kate gently rubbed her shoulders as the clock struck eleven.

“It’s only the first day, Sophs. You have more opportunity to find him in the next few days.”

“I just knew that he was going to be here,” Sophie said softly. “I thought I knew.”

“Sophs, hours of research on the internet doesn’t mean you could fully predict every inch of their action.”

“I was just being delusional, I guess.” Sophie signed, “I’m just going to finish this one drink. You go ahead, Katie. I’ll catch you up in the room in an hour.” 

“Will you be alright on your own, Sophs?” Kate gave her one of her teary puppy eyes, and Sophie simply giggled, softly shoving her shoulder playfully. 

“I’m all right. Night, Katie Cat.”

“Night, Sophs.” Kate left her side, gently touching her waist on the way out, and as soon as Kate was out of her sight, Sophie hastily took the pack of cigarettes from her pocket. Lightening the tip with a cheap lighter, she contemplated her thoughts.  She thought Benedict Bridgerton would appear here, she had a weird hunch that he would. Perhaps she was overconfident, she thought to herself, thinking that she understood everything about him after just one night…

Would he recognize her if he saw her? But she oddly knew that he wouldn’t, she didn’t miss his drunk slurs and blood shot eyes that showed his intoxication, and Sophie even hadn’t taken off her mask mid-coitus. It was four years ago, and it would be a miracle if he even remembered her….

“A lovely girl drinking all alone in the bar? It would be a crime to leave you all alone, my lady.”

[caglar-yusuf-yucedag]

İzledikten sonra bakış açınızı değiştirip hayatınıza yön verecek 21 TED konuşması:

1- Zindel Segal - Depresyonla nasıl başa çıkabilirsiniz?

2- Matt Walker – Uyku Sizin Süper Gücünüz

3- Julian Treasure – Nasıl Konuşalım ki İnsanlar Dinlemek İstesin?

4- Kelly McGonigal - Stresi nasıl kontrol altına alabilirsiniz?

5- Judson Brewer - Kötü alışkanlıklarınızdan nasıl kurtulabilirsiniz?

6- Matt Mullenweg - Evden Çalışmak Neden İşiniz için de, Sizin için de Faydalı Olacak?

7- Matthieu Ricard - Nasıl mutlu olabilirsiniz?

8- Tim Urban – Usta Bir Erteleyicinin Kafasının İçindekiler

9- Scott Geller - Nasıl motive olabilirsiniz?

10- Amy Cuddy - Vücut Diliniz Kim Olduğunuzu Belirler

11- Monica Lewinsky - Utancın Bedeli

12- Shonda Rhimes - Bu Yıl Benim Herşeye Evet Deme Yılım

13- Shane Koyczan - Bugüne Dek...

14- Andrew Solomon - Hayatımızın En Kötü Anları Nasıl Bizi Biz Yapar

15- Sarah Kay - Eğer Bir Kızım Olursa

16- Brene Brown - Kırılganlığın Gücü

17- Rita Pierson - Her Çocuğun Bir Şampiyona İhtiyacı Vardır

18- Amanda Palmer - Sormanın Sanatı

19- Simon Sinek - İyi Liderler Harekete Geçmenin İlham Kaynağıdır

20- BJ Miller - Hayatın Sonunda Aslında Önemli Olan Şey

21- Emilie Wapnick - Neden Bazılarımızın Yalnızca Bir Gerçek Hevesi Yok

[default-cube]

9,35, and 48 for the book ask game?

Thank you for asking! These were really hard to answer

9) do you have a favorite author? Oh this is hard. This is really hard. There are so many to chose from! I'm just gonna mention a couple (in no particular order!) Orson Scott Card - I know you haven't particulary enjoyed ender's game, but I really liked it. Way better however was the spinoff series ender's shadow which I absolutely devoured. I love it! (that being said if you didn't like enders game chances are you also wouldn't like ender's shadow) Hemmingway - His short stories are just so so great. Serious recommendation to just get a short story collection from him and read through it. George R.R. Martin - but not for the reason you might think! I refuse to read asoiaf until it is finished (so I can be sure that it will be finished), but I absolutely loved his early sci-fi short stories! Huge recommendation to Dreamsongs (particulary volume I), which is a great collection of his early work, in publication order, with bits of autobiography thrown in in between. John McCrae - Now admittetly I've only read one work of him (Worm), so it might be a bit weird to put him into "favourite author" category, but that work was 1,680,000(!) words long, and being able to contiously hold the tension in a novel for that long is just an enourmous feat. So, also huge rec for Worm (though be aware that it is also probably the most gruesome novel I've read so far, so if you cannot stomach that, are on the lookout for pretty much any trigger-warnings, or just plain don't like too much violence in your novels, you might want to stay away)

35) what’s a book you read over and over? I… don't think I have any fiction books that I've read multiple times. For non-fiction, books that I've read 5+ times would be The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal (classic self-help, but helped me tremendously when I was about sixteen), and, as much of a cliché as it is, the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays translation)

48) what book would you give someone if they wanted a glimpse into your psyche? Oh God. I don't know. <- 15 min. have passed since I wrote this sentence and I still don't know, this one is the hardest question for sure. I definetly identified a lot with shevek from Le Guin's The Dispossessed, though I don't know if I would call that a "glimpse into my psyche".

[backfoundation]

14 Days of Health Improving Books

Day 6: "The Joy of Movement" by Kelly McGonigal, PhD

Topic: Physical health and mental well-being through movement.

Why it fits: Celebrates the role of exercise in improving mood and resilience.

[blimmo]

Click here to listen to the full episodeMost of us do everything we can to avoid stress. But new research shows that if we learn to accept and even embrace stress, we will be happier and more effective in our lives. In this episode, Brian interviews Dr. Kelly McGonigal, author,...

[theambitiouswoman]

hiya, please can we also have ted talk recommendations like your book recs post? :) for the categories you mentioned ♡ thank you

Here you go angel ♡

Business:

The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed - Bill Gross

The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers - Adam Grant

The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - David Allen

How to Pitch to a VC - David S. Rose

The Future of Money - Neha Narula

Personal Development:

The Art of Being Yourself - Caroline McHugh

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - Angela Lee Duckworth

The Power of Believing That You Can Improve - Carol Dweck

How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over - Mel Robbins

Try Something New for 30 Days - Matt Cutts

Mental Health:

The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage - Susan David

Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid - Guy Winch

Depression, the Secret We Share - Andrew Solomon

All it Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes - Andy Puddicombe

The Art of Stillness - Pico Iyer

Relationships:

The Secret to Desire in a Long-Term Relationship - Esther Perel

The Power of Vulnerability in Relationships - Tracy McMillan

Rethinking Infidelity... a Talk for Anyone Who Has Ever Loved - Esther Perel

The Mathematics of Love - Hannah Fry

The Hidden Influence of Social Networks - Nicholas Christakis

Success:

The Happy Secret to Better Work - Shawn Achor

Embrace the Near Win - Sarah Lewis

Why We Do What We Do - Tony Robbins

Keep Your Goals to Yourself - Derek Sivers

Why You Will Fail to Have a Great Career - Larry Smith

Goals:

The Power of Setting Goals - John Doerr

The Puzzle of Motivation - Dan Pink

Smash Fear, Learn Anything - Tim Ferriss

Why We Do What We Do - Tony Robbins

The Skill of Self-Confidence - Dr. Ivan Joseph

Self Love:

The Art of Being Yourself - Caroline McHugh

The Power of Vulnerability - Brené Brown

Your Elusive Creative Genius - Elizabeth Gilbert

The Psychology of Your Future Self - Dan Gilbert

The Surprising Science of Happiness - Dan Gilbert

Confidence:

Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are - Amy Cuddy

The Art of Self-Confidence - Dr. Ivan Joseph

Dare to Lead - Brené Brown

The Hidden Influence of Social Networks - Nicholas Christakis

The Confidence Gap - Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Health & Wellness:

The Brain-Changing Benefits of Exercise - Wendy Suzuki

How to Make Stress Your Friend - Kelly McGonigal

The Science of Cells That Never Get Old - Elizabeth Blackburn

Why Dieting Doesn't Usually Work - Sandra Aamodt

The Art of Stillness - Pico Iyer

[online-course-vip]

Kelly McGonigal – The Neuroscience Of Change

Kelly McGonigal – The Neuroscience Of Change Description Of The Neuroscience Of Change Personal Transformation Based on Mindfulness and Self-Compassion What’s your most important goal? Why does it matter so deeply? How will you overcome the obstacles? Answer these questions with sincerity, proceed with mindfulness and compassion, and you have just set in motion a revolutionary method for personal…

[masongrizchel]

"The Willpower Instinct" 💪📘

I finally finished my 8th book as we concluded the first month of the second quarter.

"The Willpower Instinct" by Kelly McGonigal offers a deep dive into willpower, moving beyond simple resistance to temptation. Exploring common hurdles like stress and sleep deprivation, McGonigal delves into the complex web of factors shaping self-control. She stresses the importance of physical well-being through sleep, nutrition, and exercise, alongside the power of self-compassion in overcoming setbacks. Additionally, the book champions the value of celebrating small victories and mindfulness to boost confidence and self-awareness. By reframing stress and fostering supportive networks, individuals can bolster their resilience and willpower. Lastly, setting achievable goals and embracing continuous learning are key to sustained success. These insights provide actionable strategies for enhancing self-control and achieving personal goals. 🌟

More books to read 📚📖📚

[notquitesuperhuman]

Can Stress Be A Good Thing? a look at Kelly McGonigal’s TEDTalk

Remember months ago, I posted about looking at various TEDTalks and highlighting what can be learned from them? Yeah, I hadn’t exactly gotten around to that and there is a reason. The same day I made that post, I was invited to apply for my own TEDTalk. Talk about manifesting magic! So I have been busy analyzing them for whole different reasons. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been watching them…

[paginadepsihologie]

Puteți învăța cum să vă controlați atenția, emoțiile și dorințele, printr-un program pas cu pas care vă ajută să vă identificați obiectivele, să vă întăriți autocontrolul și să faceți schimbări pentru toată viața, indiferent dacă este vorba de slăbit, sănătate financiară, reducerea stresului, învingerea tendinței de a tergiversa lucrurile, cum să fiți un părinte mai bun sau cum să vă concentrați mai bine.