I’m a huge fan of Huff Post Healthy Living so it was only a matter of time before I found myself settling into Arianna Huffington’s book, Thrive:The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder.
Basically, it’s a reference book for all things healthy living. She writes that productivity at work should not sacrifice personal well-being, and actually — the better we care for ourselves, the more productive we can be at work and happier in our lives. The goal is for this third metric to step in and perhaps overshadow the 1st and 2nd metrics for success — money + power.
Many of my favorite topics are explored with deep insights — mindfulness, meditation, intuition, art… to name just a few.
And while she’s not exactly breaking ground on the subject matter — there are hundreds of books out there pushing a similar idea of whole living — she seamlessly blended the material of her own personal experiences with scientific research and stories from respected academics, thought leaders, and even her daughters. Sprinkled throughout each section are bits of poetry and passages from the likes of Rumi, T.S. Elliot, Carrie Fisher, Henry Miller and Andy Warhol to support her ideas more thoroughly.
She writes:
On experiencing loss and pain–
We are not on this earth to accumulate victories, or trophies, or experiences, or even to avoid failures, but to be whittled and sandpapered down until what’s left is who we truly are. This is the only way we can find purpose in pain and loss, and the only way to keep returning to gratitude and grace.
On change–
And the wisdom to know the difference (referring to the serenity prayer) comes from our ability to move from our narrow, self-absorbed world to a world that encompasses a larger perspective and a higher altitude. And it all starts with daily, tiny, positive changes that move us in the direction we want to go.
On art–
Museums and galleries remain among the few oases that can deliver what has become increasingly rare in our world: the opportunity to disconnect from our hyperconnected lives and experience the feeling of wonder. Museums are where we go to commmune with the permanent, the ineffable and the unquantifiable. And it’s an especially rare, and thus precious , experience in our technology-besieged lives.
My big take-away (which literally is a TAKE AWAY) from the book was on the relationship with our devices.
In a nut shell — if in that moment of staring at your phone…it’s not truly adding to your life, then TAKE IT AWAY.
Buy the book here
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I have heard bits and pieces of this book – thanks for opening it up and sharing some of its goodness with us. I’m going to put it into my to read list 🙂 As for your point about devices – yes! discernment is the most important quality to exercise, as for all media, including books, music and movies. I am super fussy about how I spend my time!
I am 100% all for the comment regarding our devices. I am well versed in this area. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the book.
Sara, I’m the same way– super picky about how I spend my time. However, I do sometimes find myself slipping into the abyss of my phone..for no real reason other than to distract. I guess sometimes it’s easier to stare at a phone then at an elevator I’m waiting on…
I think the key is to use our devices, and not let them use us! 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
Oh, cool, Elysha! Thanks for the recommendation–sounds compelling. Am headed to my fave indie bookstore this week, so will check it out. Especially love the quote you share about being whittled and sandpapered down to the essence of ourselves–I often visualize us as being like wave-polished stones…beautiful, well-worn, the core of that rock. Thank you for the inspiration, lovely friend. xoxo
ST, that quote was the inspiration to post on the book. I found it to be such an eloquent way of capturing our essence — similar to peeling back the layers, which is often a phrase used to describe the process in yoga. Thank you for sharing your visual of being like wave-polished stones, well-worn to the core — that’s a beauty as well. Hope you’re enjoying your Sunday! xoxo