#37: The Books That Helped Me Stop Proving Myself and Start Living for Real

The Achiever’s Curse is a deadly one. It starts subtle at first. But left unchecked long enough, it seeps into every aspect of your life, stealing joy and fulfillment every step of the way. Too many achievers don’t realize this insidious curse until they feel the intense pangs of regret on their deathbed.

Far too late, in other words.

I want to help you avoid this terrible fate…

I have read well over 1,000 books in my life - spanning across psychology, philosophy, leadership, business, religion, spirituality, personal growth, and more. Most of them were interesting. A few of them were inspiring. But only a handful got me to think so deeply that they didn’t just change my thinking, but changed how I live in the world.

In this episode, I share this odd collection of 12 life-altering books, to help you answer life’s most difficult questions before it’s too late to live your life in a completely different way.

Listen now.

Show Highlights Include:

• How the ambitious goals that require intense work ethic, study habits, and dedication also lead to misery and depression and even suicidal thoughts when they’re unconsciously driven by this (1:43)
• 3 tough questions most people never ask themselves (and 12 recommended books that act like your map to answering these existential questions in a way that fulfills your soul) (2:52)
• The insidious way avoiding death also means you avoid life (and one book that allows you to confront death, and thus, life) (4:40)
• The “Anti-Permanent” plan for living life fully immersed in the moment instead of silently being controlled by fear, anxiety, and shame (9:55)
• Why an obsession with productivity is a defense mechanism in disguise (most people realize this far too late when the pangs of regret are unbearable) (11:31)
• The terrible trap of saving most people fall into that steals fulfillment from your life even when it’s right in your hands (12:58)
• A weird way to build quiet, immovable confidence by defining morality (14:46)
• How the realization that meritocracy is a myth actually sets you up to finally quiet your subtle, but brutal toxic shame (29:22)
• Why play can save a dying marriage from divorce, a business on the verge of bankruptcy, and a cloud of depression from following you for life (33:17)

David Tian’s list of recommended readings can be found here:
https://davidtianphd.com/recommended-readings/

For more about David Tian, go here:

https://www.davidtianphd.com/about/

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Emotional Mastery is David Tian's step-by-step system to transform, regulate, and control your emotions... so that you can master yourself, your interactions with others, and your relationships... and live a life worth living. Learn more he