A while ago, I knocked down a book that had been sitting on the bookshelf for a long time, "Rich Dad Poor Dad," and then gave it to a child who loves reading. This book is a frequent visitor to many "investment" reading lists and is written for teenagers.
In this article, I want to share not about investment, but about a method introduced in the book: how to break free from a vicious cycle and make good things happen.
🌟 This method is called the "Success Notebook".
This method is very simple.
Try it for a while, and you will see amazing changes.
Before we start,
I would like to ask you at this moment,
Take a moment to think about:
What is the most important thing to you?
Do you want to be successful,
Or do you want to make your life happier?
.
.
.
And then continue...
Method Introduction#
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Prepare a notebook, or you can use your phone or computer.
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Write "Success Notebook" on the cover.
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Before going to bed, write down 1-3 things that made you feel successful today, with no limit on the number of words.
- Feeling terrible today and can't think of anything? At least you successfully remembered to open the notebook and took another step towards developing a good habit.
- If you are troubled by emotions or even depressed. But you are willing to make an effort to climb out of the bad mood, you are great.
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Even small successes are okay, compare them to yourself.
It's okay to forget one day, but try to find a way to develop this habit~ For example, set a reminder on your phone.
Method Migration: You can also replace it with any goal you want to achieve. For example, if you care more about happiness than success, you can replace it with a Happiness Notebook and record the things that make you happy during the day.
Waiting for Miracles#
Persist for a while, and you will find that life has changed miraculously.
You become more confident, happier, and even luckier!
Things that you used to worry about not being able to do seem within reach after accumulating small successes.
When you feel occasional frustration or low spirits, try flipping through the notebook. It seems to have a magical power that makes you believe in yourself.
My Feelings and Practice#
At the beginning of the year, I encountered some physical discomfort. I tried various methods but didn't know the exact cause (later I found out that it was similar to symptoms of anxiety). After ruling out the possibility of physical illness, I had two sessions with a psychotherapist but didn't get the hang of it. I tried to explore the psychological part in my own way, which I am good at.
During the past half year, I have learned a lot about psychology, cared about my body and emotional feelings, faced my inner self, identified what is important, ignored unnecessary stress, and resolved various entanglements. Although there have been some new gains, the symptoms of anxiety have disappeared, but there are always new problems, and many things trouble me emotionally. The things I want to achieve still seem out of reach, and I often fall into self-doubt.
So I shifted from studying anxiety to exploring some more practical things.
How can I find what I want to do, learn to handle emotions better, and even start learning how to speak again... (It may be a bit late to start learning at almost 40 years old, but it's better than not starting at all.)
Some methods have not been found yet, and some have already yielded results.
A Bridge Across the Gap#
When I saw the method of the "Success Notebook," my eyes really lit up.
Just like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), it is a simple and specific technique, not just "big words".
There seems to be a gap between "big words" and each person's actual situation, often making people sigh: Knowing a lot of truths, but still unable to live a good life.
"Success Notebook," "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),"... are the bridges that help us cross the gap.
If the other side of success requires effort, plus some confidence and luck, the Success Notebook is the bridge forged by confidence and luck. What's even better is that everyone can make this bridge themselves.
Give it a try#
On the night I finished reading this book, I couldn't wait to create a new page in Notion and start recording my success notes for the day. It has been almost a month now, and I have recorded 24 entries. Every day, when I open my phone to prepare to record, recalling the day that has passed makes me feel happy.
At this moment, I still have many problems to solve, but I am no longer in a hurry. Perhaps in the eyes of others, I am still a failure. But in the course of this lesson called success, I have given myself a much higher score than in previous years.
The most important thing is that I no longer doubt the significance of what I am doing (which has troubled me for many years). I have become more patient, more able to trust and be intimate with my family, and using the newly learned methods to help others deal with some bad emotions also makes me feel good. I have also started to try expressing myself through writing, although it is clumsy, I am making progress little by little.
The mountain is still the same mountain, and I am still at the foot of the mountain, but my steps have become a little lighter.
Extra#
The reason why I started writing this blog is because of a conversation with my parents this evening. It started with a bit of low pressure and ended with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, which made me happy and satisfied. I thought this would be the most worthy entry to record as a "success note" today.
"Well~ Since it's so beautiful, why not write a post to share this simple and amazing method?"
(One more entry)
Here is my mom's first entry in her "Happiness Notebook":
Translation:
The way my parents have recently enjoyed exercising together is riding bicycles. Today, on a wide road with no vehicles or pedestrians, my dad deliberately rode at varying speeds, catching up with my mom and making her burst into laughter.
When my mom called me, she described my dad as "crazy" while laughing uncontrollably. I encouraged her to write this down, open her Happiness Notebook, and hope that she will gain more and more happiness.
"You're happy, so I'm happy🎶" (Can't embed Netease Cloud Music... just imagine it)