Good or bad – it’s all a choice.

First Published 5 May 2022

I read a lot of books, in fact I might even go so far as to say it’s an addiction!  What I don’t do often is discuss the books I read – well that was until I joined a couple of book clubs.  One of the book clubs is really more of a weekly natter now but the other is quite focused and we go through a wee list of questions on each book.

This month’s book was completely marmite.  The chat on what’s app at the start of last month was around the dislike for the author’s style (or voice for those listening to the audio book)  and the book in general. 

As you probably know I do love a good deadline – so with about 3 or 4 days until the meeting, I finally got the book!  I was dreading it.  The author’s personality really shone through the whole book and whilst I wasn’t massively keen on her style, I really enjoyed the message and the concepts she put across.

What was really interesting in our discussion were the vast differences in our perspectives of the book – although I do think overall (even if it was reluctant in some cases) we did agree that there were some gold nuggets in the book.

My big takeaway (which was more of a reminder/confirmation) was around choice.  Nothing is really good or bad.  We get to choose how we perceive everything.  We can choose our reality and choose our emotion around every thing that is happening in our lives.

In practice this might be met with cries of “easier said than done”.  To which I will wholeheartedly agree.  I am sure in the moment I might struggle to find the good in – for example – stubbing my toe or a diagnoses from the doctor, but we do choose how we respond.  We can choose to rant and swear and beat ourselves up or we can choose to grin and bear it or even to see it in a positive light and look for the opportunity.  It all just takes practice.

The book suggests to make a commitment to witnessing our choices as the first step is awareness.  Once you have the awareness of your choice, then ask yourself the consequences of the choice you are making and follow this up with;  “will this choice bring me and those around me happiness?”.

This might be a strange process to go through when for example you are choosing what colour of socks to wear…!  But you never know who you might make smile if they spot that you are wearing colourful stripy socks.  It really is a matter of choice.

If you are struggling to choose your reality or just need a sounding board, please do reach out for a zoffee!

And if I have gotten you intrigued to read the book so that you can decide for yourself if love it or hate it,  it was “Just F*cking Do it” by Noor Hibbert