All Book Summaries
In the book Don’t Believe Everything You Think, the author invites us to step back from our compulsive thinking patterns and explore what it really means to live consciously. The central idea is simple but profound — you don’t need to stop thinking, but you also don’t need to believe every thought that crosses your mind. Instead, through mindfulness, you can learn to observe your thoughts as they come and go, without letting them define you or dictate your actions.
So how does this idea connect with the goals we set in life?
The Two Origins of Goals
When you start to look closely, you’ll realize that not all goals are created equal. Some arise from lack, and others from abundance.
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Desperation Goals: These are born from a sense of insufficiency — the feeling that something is missing in your life. They often come from overthinking or a deep-seated belief that you need something external to feel whole. These goals might sound like: “I need to make more money,” “I need a better job,” “I need to be in a relationship.”
Such goals can indeed motivate you and help you achieve practical milestones, but they rarely bring lasting fulfillment. They’re not the end; they’re merely the means to an end. -
Inspiration Goals: These arise from a sense of abundance — when you already feel whole, grateful, and alive. They’re not driven by lack but by a natural desire to create, share, and express something meaningful. These goals might sound like: “I want to teach what I’ve learned,” “I want to build something that helps others,” “I want to express my creativity.”
These are the goals that represent the end in themselves. You pursue them not to fill a void, but to express who you already are.
Why It’s Not About “Good” or “Bad” Goals
It’s tempting to label one type of goal as good and the other as bad, but that’s not the point. The value of a goal depends entirely on the person experiencing it.
Money, for example, is not inherently bad. We all need it to live and thrive in society. But when the pursuit of money becomes the sole purpose, when it’s driven by insecurity or comparison, it begins to drain rather than enrich life. There’s a limit to how much money you truly need — beyond that, the rest becomes redundant.
The real question isn’t whether a goal is good or bad — it’s whether it’s coming from fear or from freedom.
The Reflection Question
If this idea feels abstract or confusing, here’s a simple reflection that might bring clarity:
If I had infinite money, had already traveled the world, felt no fear, and received no recognition for what I do — what would I still want to do or create?
This question strips away the noise. It helps you identify the goals that aren’t driven by insecurity or external validation. The answers that remain are often your truest, most inspired desires — the ones that come from abundance, not lack.
Closing Thought
“Don’t Believe Everything You Think” isn’t just about quieting the mind; it’s about rediscovering the clarity that naturally arises when the noise fades. When you stop chasing goals born from desperation, you make space for goals born from inspiration — goals that reflect not what you lack, but what you love.
And perhaps, that’s the most fulfilling way to live — not by thinking your way to success, but by feeling your way to purpose.
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