How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life with You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

In “You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life,” bestselling author Jen Sincero delivers a powerful, no-nonsense guide to overcoming self-doubt and unleashing your true potential. This transformative book is a must-read for anyone seeking to break free from limiting beliefs and embrace a life of unparalleled awesomeness. Keep reading to discover how Sincero’s wisdom can revolutionize your mindset and propel you towards the life you’ve always dreamed of living.

Dive into this comprehensive summary and review to uncover the key insights and actionable strategies that will help you transform your life and become the badass you were meant to be.

Genres

Personal Growth, Self Help, Psychology, Business, Inspirational, Adult, Mental Health, Happiness, Personal Transformation, Self-help, Personal development, Motivational, Inspirational, Transformational, Mindset, Empowerment, Spiritual, Psychology, Non-fiction

We all want something better for ourselves. Why is it often so hard to change our lives? “You Are a Badass” explains what is going on in our subconscious when we settle for less than we deserve, clearing the way for a radical reality shift. We are capable of being happy and sharing our gifts with the world. Once we believe in our value, we can open ourselves up to the best version of our life and begin living it.

Make your wildest dreams come true.

READ THIS BOOK REVIEW IF YOU:

• Struggle to accomplish your goals
• Have self-sabotaging tendencies
• Strive to find success doing what you love

Take a minute and answer these questions: Why are you in your current job? How did you choose your major in college? Why don’t you spend all your time on your favorite hobbies?

To the first question, you probably answered, “The job pays enough money.” To the second: “My parents told me to pursue a career in X.” And to the third: “Hobbies all the time? That would be selfish!”

These answers highlight what’s wrong with many of our choices in life. We do what others tell us to do, or what we think we are “supposed” to do. What you want, deep down, rarely enters into the equation.

This has to change.

You need to start living for yourself and doing what you love doing! While it might sound impossible now, by the end of these book summary, you’ll be well on your way to being a badass.

In this summary of You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero, you’ll also learn

• what the Big Snooze is and how to get out of it;
• why you should start vibrating at a higher frequency; and
• about the pitfalls of seeing yourself as a champion.

“You Are a Badass” is a transformative self-help book that guides readers on a journey of personal growth and empowerment. Jen Sincero shares her own experiences and insights, providing practical tools and techniques to help readers overcome self-doubt, identify and change limiting beliefs, and create a life they truly love.

The book is divided into five parts, each focusing on a different aspect of personal development. In Part 1, Sincero emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s true self and letting go of self-doubt. She encourages readers to recognize their unique talents and abilities, and to trust in their own greatness.

Part 2 delves into the power of the mind and the impact of thoughts and beliefs on reality. Sincero teaches readers how to reframe negative thoughts, cultivate a positive mindset, and align their beliefs with their desired outcomes.

In Part 3, Sincero explores the role of fear in holding people back and provides strategies for overcoming fear and taking bold action towards one’s goals. She emphasizes the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.

Part 4 focuses on the power of love and gratitude in attracting abundance and positivity into one’s life. Sincero encourages readers to practice self-love, forgive others, and cultivate a deep sense of appreciation for the present moment.

Finally, in Part 5, Sincero provides practical tools and exercises for turning ideas into action and creating lasting change. She emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, taking consistent action, and surrounding oneself with supportive people.

Throughout the book, Sincero’s writing style is engaging, humorous, and relatable. She shares personal anecdotes and real-life examples to illustrate her points, making the book both entertaining and informative.

Review

“You Are a Badass” is a powerful and transformative book that has the potential to change lives. Jen Sincero’s writing is refreshingly honest, humorous, and down-to-earth, making complex concepts easy to understand and apply.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its practical approach to personal development. Sincero provides actionable strategies and exercises that readers can implement immediately to start seeing results in their lives. Her emphasis on the power of the mind and the importance of changing one’s thoughts and beliefs is particularly impactful.

Another notable aspect of the book is Sincero’s ability to connect with readers on a personal level. Her writing feels like a conversation with a wise and supportive friend, making the book both engaging and motivating.

While some readers may find certain concepts or ideas in the book to be familiar or repetitive, Sincero’s unique perspective and engaging writing style make even well-known principles feel fresh and inspiring.

Overall, “You Are a Badass” is a must-read for anyone seeking to overcome self-doubt, embrace their true potential, and create a life of purpose and fulfillment. Sincero’s wisdom, combined with practical tools and exercises, makes this book a powerful resource for personal growth and transformation.

Introduction

There are probably things you’ve wanted to do for a very long time but you haven’t made them happen. On the other hand, you might realize that your current life is unfulfilling, but you have no idea what you want to do instead.

This is your new, top priority: Find out what kind of life makes you happy, create it for yourself, and open yourself up to new opportunities. No more excuses, and no more telling yourself that you can’t make it happen or that you don’t deserve it. Your most amazing life awaits you. Don’t keep doing the same things and hoping for different results. Try a new strategy, get out of your comfort zone, and take some risks!

You don’t need some epiphany to shake you out of your lukewarm existence. Just make the decision to change and do it. Right now.

My Subconscious Made Me Do It

We are all aware of our conscious mind — it’s the one that thinks, worries, decides, analyzes, etc. — but most of us are not aware of our subconscious mind that guides our instincts and emotions. This is potentially dangerous because, while we think our conscious mind is in control, it’s our subconscious calling the shots.

All of the experiences that your subconscious absorbs eventually turn into beliefs without you even realizing it. And unless you are very intentional and self-aware, those beliefs control your choices.

Perhaps you consciously tell yourself that you want a long-lasting, healthy relationship. But as a child, you watched your parents’ marriage turn bitter before they finally divorced, and your subconscious now holds the belief that intimacy equals pain. Because of this, you struggle to open up to new people and sustain a healthy romantic relationship.

It’s time to ditch the subconscious beliefs that are keeping you from living your best life, and the first step in doing that is to become aware of them.

The G World

No matter your specific beliefs about God or any higher power, it’s important to recognize how much easier it will be to transform your life once you connect with that power source. You may not even believe in a god at all but keeping an open mind is essential.

Think of that higher power as the energy that fills the universe and, it will match whatever kind of energy you are putting out. If you are exuding negativity, self-hate, and shame, you will only experience more of the same. However, if your energy is open and hopeful, awesome things will come your way.

But all this positive energy and belief must be backed up by action.

Present as a Pigeon

Picture a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the park. You’re lounging in the grass, soaking up the sun, and gazing at the skyline.

Suddenly, you remember the big meeting at work tomorrow. You’ll need to arrive early to prep, so you should pick your outfit and make your lunch tonight. Then, you remember when you missed a deadline last week, and your boss reamed you out in front of some coworkers. What if your boss brings it up in the meeting tomorrow?

At this point, you aren’t noticing the park at all. You are missing out on the beauty around you because you are absorbed with disappointments and worries. Do not make the mistake of being so wrapped up in your own head that life passes you by. In order to take hold of what you want, you have to be available to notice it.

The Big Snooze

The word “ego” refers to your self-esteem. How do you feel about yourself and what do you think you are worth?

The ego is the part of you that operates solely based on your subconscious beliefs. It is the part of you that sabotages the things you want in an effort to keep you in your comfort zone. The ego receives validation from others and worries incessantly about what they think.

When you learn to drop your ego and live in the moment, you find validation from within and recognize that you have the potential to do anything you want.

Love the One You Is

If you observe small children, you’ll notice how completely true to themselves they are. When toddlers want to sing, they sing loud. When they want to dance, they dance like nobody’s watching.

But as we grow and our subconscious gets constant feedback from others, we begin to doubt our talents and uniqueness. Then, we deny ourselves the things and activities we truly want because we don’t feel we deserve them, or we are too busy obsessing over what others might think.

It’s time to replace the self-loathing with self-love, and you need to be intentional in order to do it.

Realize how special you are and the unique gifts that only you can bring to the world. Take note of the things you think and say about yourself and replace the horrible diatribe you inwardly repeat with something positive.

Meditation 101

Getting in touch with your intuition and the energy of the universe is essential for realizing your purpose and understanding the real you. A great way to tap into this energy is through meditation.

Meditation in the simplest terms is being still and calming the constant thoughts that cloud your ability to hear your intuition. Meditation relaxes us, relieves stress, and opens our lines of communication with our inner selves.

Sitting down and doing nothing sounds easy, but if you are unpracticed it is trickier than you’d expect. Now more than ever, our attention spans have shortened, and we are constantly overloaded with information from our phones.

Take baby steps: Start with just a few minutes of meditation each day and work your way up.

At its worst, sitting still and calming your thoughts is a much-needed break from your chaotic life. At its best, it helps you find your consciousness in the moment and opens you up to new ideas and feelings that were inside you all along.

Your Brain Is Your Bitch

Your thoughts about your capabilities and worthiness create the world you live in. This is actually great news. If your thoughts created your current crappy reality, then they are fully capable of creating the badass reality you deserve. If you focus your thoughts on exactly what you want and take active steps toward those goals, your entire reality will begin to shift around you.

Don’t make the mistake of waiting for the evidence before you change your thoughts. It happens in reverse! Instead, adjust your mindset, and know that it will happen. Then, back this new mindset up with action.

Surround yourself with constant reminders of your goal and with people who support your goals. These are going to be the people who are living their own truths as well, ignoring all of the negativity from other people (and from their egos).

You don’t have to know exactly how you will get to your dream, you just have to believe that you will.

Lead With Your Crotch

Has “adulting” crushed you so far into submission that you cannot fathom a life outside of what is expected of you? As adults, we have responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean we have to strip ourselves of joy.

Most people are full of life and zest in their early years. They see their own potential, and they waste no time grabbing life by its horns.

As we get older, we tend to replace this mindset with a more “practical” one. We focus on what we should do instead of what we want to be doing. But life is too short to settle for mediocrity. You should be continually living out your passions. Approach new activities with a “why not?” attitude.

Imagine attending your first hip-hop dance class while thinking, “What if everyone laughs at me?” That kind of thinking is setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Alternatively, you could be saying, “I’m just going to give this a shot, and if I hate it, I can laugh about it tomorrow.”

Take the pressure off of yourself so that you can enjoy the journey.

Give and Let Give

The act of giving is one of the more courageous things you can do because it proves that you have faith in the universe. By giving to others, you trust that life is abundant. This opens up your spirit in a positive way, preparing you to receive in abundance as well.

On the other hand, if you’re afraid to give, you can become closed off and unavailable to the amazing things life has to offer.

We live in a balanced universe where every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When you give, you will also receive.

Giving doesn’t have to be difficult; it can be as simple as donating to your favorite nonprofit or giving one of your favorite shirts away to a friend.

You should also allow others to experience the joy of giving by being a gracious receiver.

Open yourself up to the awesome gifts this world wants to give you by first giving to the world.

Gratitude — the Gateway Drug to Awesomeness

Gratitude also opens you up to the positive energy available in the world. If you go through life angry, frustrated, or guilty, you will be so consumed with negativity that you’ll miss any opportunity to receive amazing gifts.

But, if you wear a lens of gratitude in every situation, you’ll be elevated in a way that is life-changing. The gratitude will pour back into you, and you will be open to receiving it.

You must show gratitude in all experiences, not just the outstanding ones. Gratitude is a practice, and it’s important to exercise your gratitude muscle even in negative situations.

Imagine locking your keys in your car after a long day at work. You could react negatively and only focus on the inconvenience. Or, you could face the situation with gratitude by saying, “This is good because I can watch the sun set over the city skyline instead of missing it on my drive home.”

One reaction opens you up to the amazing things happening around you; the other leaves you closed off and wallowing in negativity.

Forgive or Fester

Do yourself a favor and start treating emotional pain the same as physical pain — make it stop as soon as possible. You wouldn’t let a physical wound fester. So why are you letting your emotional wounds stay open and painful?

Are you hesitant to forgive because you can’t stand the idea of whoever hurt you getting away with what they’ve done? Then here is the good news: Forgiveness has nothing to do with the other person and everything to do with yourself.

Sure, it’s nice when someone admits they were wrong. But if they don’t, does it really affect you any differently? Whatever they did has already happened. All you can control now is your reaction.

It may help to remember that everyone is battling their own subconscious beliefs and limiting ego. Just as your forgiveness is not about them, their hurtful comment or action was likely not about you.

Ultimately, forgiveness is the choice between being right and being happy.

Procrastination and Perfection

If you’ve had the same goal for a long time, it’s time to ask yourself why you haven’t accomplished it yet. If you aren’t actively going after what you want, you are making excuses to yourself.

Your excuses may sound reasonable in theory — you’re underqualified; you can’t afford it; the timing isn’t right. But it’s more likely that you are just afraid. Are you scared of failure? You are expending so much energy on excuses when you could just put that effort into making it happen.

Procrastination is self-sabotage in its laziest form. It’s so easy to put off taking the leap, but it’s time to stop putting limits on your life. Whatever it is you want to do or be, go for it now!

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Perfectionism is a waste of time and often an excuse not to even start. Remember that a project is better off completed than perfect, and if your first draft sucks, you’ll only improve from there.

The Drama of Overwhelm

Our lives are filled with amazing blessings. But instead of feeling gratitude for our blessings, we are often overwhelmed by them. Finishing projects, spending time with family, getting work done — it overwhelms us almost every day. And the saddest part is that the stress we feel is our own concoction.

Time is an illusion, and you will never have enough time if you choose to believe that you don’t. Don’t waste your time by talking about how busy you are. That is precious energy you could be putting toward the things you love (or getting things done!).

Respect yourself and your time by committing to only what you can handle. Make a list of all that you have to do and pare it down to the essentials and the things that make you happy.

Fear Is for Suckers

In order to be open and connected to the energy around us, we need to live in the moment. Fear is living in the future. Are you really going to agonize over something that hasn’t even happened yet (and may not happen at all)?

Get comfortable with the idea of the unknown, and your fear will begin to melt away. Imagine how much greater your life would be if you thought of the unknown as an exciting opportunity instead of fearing it.

Fear is largely a gut reaction or an unexplored subconscious emotion. You can take some of the power from your fear by digging in and dissecting why you feel this way.

Do your best in the here and now. Don’t concern yourself with future events that may or may not happen.

Millions of Mirrors

What are your biggest pet peeves? Is there a certain action or behavior that drives you absolutely crazy? Now think about why those behaviors irritate you.

All of the people you encounter throughout your life act as mirrors that are reflecting back at you. What you notice in other people is very telling about how you see yourself.

Understanding that your reactions to others are glimpses into your insecurities gives you a great opportunity. Instead of emotionally reacting to these behaviors, you can use them as teachable moments to dig into your subconscious.

The Almighty Decision

The road to making your dreams come true will not be easy. If going after passions were free of roadblocks, then everyone would be living their dreams. Therefore, making a solid, non-negotiable decision is the very first step.

If you have not made a strong decision to go for the gold, you will give up the moment the path gets difficult. It’s going to be uncomfortable sometimes. Your first attempts might be giant flops, and you might have to start from scratch and rebuild.

But none of that will stop you if you have made the decision to succeed.

If decision-making isn’t your strong suit, then do what you do with any new skill: practice. Start with tiny decisions, like where you want to eat for dinner. The next time your friend asks you which restaurant you prefer, don’t you dare say, “I don’t know.” It will get easier and easier the more you practice.

Money, Your New Best Friend

Finances are one of the biggest reasons people don’t chase their dreams. But we’ve already learned that claiming the life you want requires a change in perception, and how you think about money is no different.

If you believe that enough money will never be available to you, this is your reality. This mindset won’t allow you to visualize making more money, and it certainly won’t lead you to act. Why would you work for something when you’ve already convinced yourself that it isn’t possible?

Before you can make great money, you have to believe that you are capable of making it. Visualize it, and then do everything you can to make it so.

You also need to begin healing yourself of any unhealthy beliefs you hold regarding money, wealth, and financial goals.

This doesn’t mean that you should work 10 jobs and exhaust yourself. It means that you understand your true worth, give your absolute best in your current job, and open yourself up to new opportunities.

Doing vs. Spewing

What is the real difference between people who accomplish their goals and those who never do? Both groups of people want their dreams to come true. So why do some make it happen, and others spend their entire lives just wishing?

Successful people are the ones willing to get uncomfortable.

In order to radically change your life, you must be willing to change, take risks, and leave your comfort zone behind. If you want to continue improving and growing, you’ll have to embrace the discomfort.

Start by changing your habits. Look closely at your life and identify the habits that have kept you from your dreams.

Nothing motivates like peer pressure, so instead of hanging out with friends who have settled into their ho-hum lives, surround yourself with driven people who are making their dreams come true. They will inspire you to do better and hold you accountable.

Wanting a change is fruitless if you don’t act.

Believe that change is possible. Chase it with all you’ve got. Open yourself to new possibilities.

Those are the makings of a true badass.

Negative thoughts about yourself are holding you back from being the badass you really are.

If you feel that you’re an undiscovered genius lost in the daily grind of a dead-end job, you need to ask yourself, “What’s holding me back?” Most likely it’s you – or, more specifically, your negative beliefs about yourself.

Here’s the truth: What we believe about ourselves is largely based on the messages with which we’ve been bombarded since we were very young. These messages are lodged in your subconscious mind. Your parents, for instance, might have told you that nobody in the family has ever been good at bringing in the bucks. The more you hear this message, the more likely it becomes that your subconscious – and therefore you – will conclude that you can’t make money.

The result? You’ll shy away from pursuits that could lead to financial success – be it learning about investment strategies or pursuing an MBA – even though you may want to do these things. That’s the power of your subconscious mind.

Take another example. Say you’re longing to find and marry your soul mate, but because you grew up with two parents who were always fighting and hurting each other emotionally, your subconscious mind equates intimacy with pain and suffering. Consequently, you remain unhappily single.

The negative things that you subconsciously believe about yourself and the world keep you trapped in a kind of sleep. Let’s call it the Big Snooze. The Big Snooze is like an overprotective mother who never wants you to leave the house; she wants you to stay with her, safe from the lurking dangers out there in the real world. Now, there’s nothing wrong with her intentions. But they’re entirely based on fear.

Fortunately, you’re more than capable of freeing yourself from the crippling power of the Big Snooze. How? It starts with giving yourself a big loving pat on the back. Let’s examine how this works in the next book summary.

By loving yourself, and not buying into what others think of you, you’ll have a better life.

When we’re young, we have an intuitive understanding of who we are and how to do things. We play and love without holding back or thinking about what others might think of us. But as we grow older, we stop listening to this inner knowledge and start doing what others tell us to do.

Because of this, we often end up in less-than-ideal situations, working jobs and remaining in relationships that make us feel lousy.

The first step to getting out of this rut is to start loving yourself. Every day you should shower yourself with love and affirmations. Create your own mantras, like, “I am beautiful and clever,” “There’s nothing I can’t do” or “The universe is awesome and I am too.” Whenever you have a spare moment, whether while waiting in line at the supermarket or driving to work, recite these mantras in your head. Even better, put them on Post-it notes around your house, so you’ll constantly be reminded of how great you are.

You should also stop comparing yourself to others this instant. Just imagine if Marilyn Monroe had compared herself to Kate Moss and concluded she should go on a diet and lose her beautiful figure. Or if the members of Led Zeppelin had compared themselves to Mozart and decided that they should replace their drummer with a harpsichordist. It would have been disastrous! So never compare yourself to anyone. Period.

Once you develop a more loving relationship with yourself, you’ll become less afraid of the things you really want to do. You’ll also be on the way to overcoming another common enemy of happiness: what other people think of you.

Consider how often you let what others think of you dictate your actions. Perhaps you dream of becoming an author. To do this, you’ll have to write a lot! This, in turn, requires you to carve out time while you hold down a job that helps you pay the rent.

Now, colleagues may snicker about your “hobby.” Friends may drift away as you spend less time with them and more time penning your magnum opus. These changes can be bitter, but you have to push through them if you want to get published.

If you start appreciating that you’re doing your own thing, you’ll find the strength to ignore the disapproval of others.

There is a limitless source of power all around you and you can tap into it.

Do you believe there’s a God? Most people, even if they’re not religious, still believe in some kind of higher power or energy. It doesn’t really matter what you call it – God, spirit, the Force, gut, intuition, the zone. What’s important is that you recognize the existence of a limitless force, or energy, that is beyond you, and that connects all of us.

For now, let’s call it Source Energy. This energy is everywhere around you, permeating the whole universe and everything in it. However, it doesn’t vibrate with the same frequency everywhere. You’re vibrating at a certain frequency and all the things you want in life are also vibrating at a certain frequency. And those things that vibrate at the same frequency attract one another.

This is also known as the law of attraction. Thus, when we’re feeling jealous, worried or pessimistic, we vibrate with a low frequency, thereby attracting more of this negative energy. But here’s the good news: By learning how to raise the frequency with which you vibrate, you can attract the things you want in life.

This is why learning to tap into the boundless Source Energy is so important. Without it, you simply won’t be able to raise your energy enough to attract the things you want. So, from now on, make tapping into it your top priority.

If all this sounds complicated, there’s a simple and effective way to fill your life with Source Energy: meditation.

As anyone who has tried it knows, meditation – that is, sitting still and letting go of thought – is both straightforward and surprisingly hard at the same time. Besides calming the body and relieving stress, meditation makes us realize just how cluttered with unimportant thoughts our brains actually are. Sit down to meditate for only a few minutes and you’ll notice that most of those thoughts are about as focused and constructive as two toddlers struggling over a toy. By developing a meditation practice, however, you’ll gradually learn to declutter your brain and allow the Source Energy to flow through you.

Here’s a quick introduction to meditation:

Sit down in a chair or on some cushions on the floor, with your legs crossed and your hands in your lap.
Close your eyes and focus on your breath as you inhale and then exhale. There’s no need to breath in any special way. Just follow the breath in and out.
When a thought arises, gently let it go and turn your attention back to your breath.
It really is that simple. The important thing is to keep doing it – every day. You’ll soon notice that you have much more energy in your life.

Embrace being a novice, cultivate gratitude and learn how to forgive for a happier, richer life.

Your time on this earth is limited – so make the most of it! Every day offers a chance to enjoy and celebrate life’s journey, though it’s all too easy to forget this in the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

There are three things you can do to value each day a little more.

First, change your attitude toward challenging tasks. Rather than approaching problems like an expert, come at them like a complete beginner, with a willingness to learn. People with a passion for learning don’t feel pressure to prove their abilities, which means they don’t grapple with the fear of failure, either. For learners, mistakes are no longer frightening but a welcome part of the educational journey.

Let’s say you’re a professional ice skater. If you see yourself as a champion, each fall may feel like failure, like a blow to your self-esteem. So if instead you see yourself as a lifelong learner, you’ll approach new challenges with a playful attitude, as well as more courage to take risks, which in turn will help you learn more.

Second, make an effort to express and experience gratitude daily. Gratitude isn’t about giving shallow thanks for the sake of being polite – it’s a positive state of being. By being grateful, you keep all the good things in life in the foreground of your thoughts. And by practicing and sharing gratitude, you can help others stay positive, too.

Here’s a simple way to practice gratitude. Before you go to bed at night, write down ten things you’re grateful for. It can be anything. Maybe you’re grateful for the beautiful flowers in your garden. Maybe you’re grateful that your parents-in-law finally left your house after a weekend visit.

Taking every opportunity during the day to be grateful will ensure your energy frequency remains high.

Finally, you can improve each day by learning to forgive both others and yourself. If someone hurts you or betrays you, the incident will continue troubling you until you forgive them.

Forgiveness allows you to move forward in life. The same goes for something you might have done in the past that you now regret. So, if you’ve done your best to make amends, it’s time to forgive yourself. By accepting yourself and your mistakes, you’ll be better equipped to free yourself from negative thoughts and sleepless nights.

Your thoughts are powerful, so make them work for you!

In our modern world, we’re hyper-focused on action. Thinking things over and taking time to examine our thoughts, on the other hand, are habits that we don’t often practice. But we should.

Thoughts are powerful, as they create our realities and lead us to where we want to go in life.

To start, you should figure out what you want, and simply remain open to how you might get there.

Perhaps you want to become a writer, but the road to becoming a published author is unclear. To uncover the how of this process, you might look to literary role models and examine how they achieved their dreams to find inspiration for your own path. As you feel your way and begin to make progress, you’ll start to feel more comfortable calling yourself a writer.

And that leads us to the next way you can make your thoughts work for you: Simply think of yourself as the person you want to be.

By acting as if the thing you want is already a reality, negative thoughts won’t be able to hold you back. In other words, fake it ‘til you make it!

If you dream of becoming a great speaker but are afraid of addressing a crowd, don’t focus on your trembling hands or timid voice. Instead, visualize yourself delivering entertaining, eloquent speeches, and you’ll soon be presenting more confidently. The more speeches you give, the more your confidence will grow and the more your public speaking will improve – this is called a virtuous circle.

To further boost your thinking power, spend time imagining your goals with as much specificity as you can.

Let’s return to our writer example. There are many kinds of great writers, from novelists to essayists to true-crime writers. By pinpointing which kind of writer you’d like to be, the path toward your goal will become clearer.

Tackle procrastination, excuses and hesitation, and nothing will stop you from taking action.

Thought is a powerful tool when it comes to achieving your goals, but it must be combined with real action. And to act positively, you need to first overcome the drag of procrastination and hesitation.

When we procrastinate, we let the fear of failure stop us from following through on decisions. If you think that you’re not qualified to perform a certain task, you’ll look for any reason not to try it. Thoughts like “My writing isn’t good enough” or “It’ll never pay the way” will only hold you back.

To overcome these excuses, you need to convince yourself of your purpose. If your resolve is weak, this may be a sign that you need to redefine your goals.

Taking action also requires you to overcome hesitation. This isn’t easy! Often, we hesitate when we’re afraid of becoming someone we might not like. Let’s say that you dream of becoming a stage actor, someone who holds the attention of admiring audiences and commands a powerful presence.

But you hesitate when you seriously consider this goal. After all, you’ve never liked extroverts, and it seems to you that most stage actors are subjected to negative judgments, too. Will becoming an actor turn you into the type of person you dislike most? Short answer – no. You simply need to learn to overcome your hesitation.

To do this, stop judging others. Then spend time asking yourself tough questions, like, “Do I really want to become an actor?” and “Will it make me happy?”

If you answer yes to these questions, then it’s time to recognize your hesitation and procrastination for what they really are. No more excuses!

From friends to habits to money, focus all aspects of your life toward your goal.

So you’ve decided to change your life path to work toward your dream goal. But how far will you go? All too often, talented people don’t live their dreams because they give up too soon.

Remember that failure is a fact of life, and that we all experience rejection. For instance, basketball legend Michael Jordan didn’t make the cut for his high-school basketball team, and renowned movie director Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school three times!

While rejection is a part of everyone’s journey, quitting is something you should never do when pursuing your dreams. Instead, learn from your mistakes and keep pushing until you create the life you’ve always wanted.

To overcome the temptation to give up, you need to remain responsible in all aspects of your life. If your habits, surroundings or circle of friends make it harder for you to achieve your goals, it’s time to make some thoughtful changes.

In fact, creating a new environment and lifestyle centered around your life purpose is one of the best ways to stay on track.

If you’re an aspiring athlete, surround yourself with people who have similar passions. Start and end your day in ways that will help you reconnect with your goals. Explore new groups, places and communities that can provide you with more support as you push forward.

It’s also worth reflecting on how you think about money. While it’s good to be conscientious about saving and spending, choosing to spend big from time to time is justified if doing so will improve your life. Use your money to live in accordance with your goals!

Ultimately, your new life will emerge through clear intentions, powerful desires and real-life action. Cast aside what others think of you and, crucially, give yourself permission to live your dreams!

Conclusion

The key message in this book:

To be the badass you’ve always wanted to be, learn to pinpoint the things in your life that are holding you back and then address these blocks by making changes to your lifestyle and thinking. Don’t let anyone distract you from doing what you love! Soon enough, you’ll find yourself living the life of which you’ve always dreamed.

Your dream life is within your reach if only you would believe it. Rejoice in the fact that the reality you seek already exists and can be yours if you make the decision to find it.

Identify the subconscious beliefs that have gotten you this far and replace them with positive beliefs that will take you much further. Forget what other people think about your choices, and make your happiness your only priority. Open yourself up and listen to your intuition. Give wholeheartedly and receive with gratitude.

Get off the couch and take action!

Life is too short to live in anything but a state of complete happiness and fulfillment.

About the author

Jen Sincero is a motivational speaker and life coach, helping people radically change their lives and find their calling. Sincero is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author. She has also written You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth.

Table of Contents

Introduction
How you got this way. My subconscious made me do it
The G-word
Present as a pigeon
The big snooze
Self-perception is a zoo
How to embrace your inner badass. Love the one you is
I know you are but what am I?
What are you doing here?
Loincloth man
How to tap into the motherlode. Meditation 101
Your brain is your bitch
Lead with your crotch
Give and let give
Gratitude: the gateway drug to awesomeness
Forgive or fester
Loosen your bone, Wilma
How to get over your B.S. already. It’s so easy once you figure out it isn’t hard
Procrastination, perfection, and a Polish beer garden
The drama of overwhelm
Fear is for suckers
Millions of mirrors
The sweet life
How to kick some ass. The almighty decision
Money, your new best friend
Remember to surrender
Doing vs. spewing
Beam me up, Scotty.