That feeling when you start reading a new book, and before you get two pages in you just know it will change your life
This #thankyouthursday, I am grateful for that feeling when you start reading a new book, and before you get two pages in you just know it will change your life.
I guess you could say I had a hunch even before I got two pages in, because the title alone offered an enticing invitation: Let’s Talk About Hard Things is a suggestion I very much want to follow.
Hard conversations are so important, and I’ve been needing to have more and more of them. And while I have no illusions that one book is going to dissolve all my communication challenges, I am nonetheless encouraged by the words of author Anna Sale.
e.g., an excerpt from the introduction:
“I want to assure you that anyone can build the skills to have empathetic and productive conversations, even if you feel like tough conversations aren’t your strength. That’s what we’re going to do together here.”
Also, in what feels like a combination of irony and blessing, this book came to me for free, courtesy of Simon & Schuster, aka the publishing company where I worked for 10 years. My time there was very full of free books and rather devoid of hard conversations.
Now, though, I have a job where talking about hard things often IS our job, and hard conversations are definitely part of how we get better at what we do. And of course I need to talk about hard things outside of work too. Ugh.
So. I can’t say this is an endorsement of the book, because so far I have only read the introduction. But also, I highlighted multiple passages in the introduction, sent three screenshots to my boss, and decided to scrap my other ideas for today’s gratitude post in order to amplify awareness of Let’s Talk About Hard Things.
Because we all very much need to talk about hard things—but that doesn’t mean we currently know how. So let’s learn, and let’s talk, and let’s make our lives and the world better.
Love > fear,
Christina
p.s. If you didn’t already click through to the S&S link, here’s another chance. The book is free through July!
p.p.s. Actually there are two free books. FWIW, I’m definitely also planning to read High Conflict.