Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all small stuff

But there are some small things we should sweat.

The book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all small stuff” took the world by storm in 1997, spawning an entire movement focused on helping people let go of their anxieties and worries. Multiple follow-up titles that focused on specific groups (family, at work, etc.) came soon after.

My wife bought them all, and while they’ve been sitting on a bookshelf literally for decades, I must confess I’ve never read them. Until now.

My three takeaways:

If you haven’t read it, or read it lately, it’s worth your time. Even after nearly 30 years, the advice is solid, actionable, and worth seeking.

1. There are 100 short essays that are easy to read and may change your perspective and help you reframe the challenges you are facing.

2. Most of the content is gleaned from ancient philosophy, notably stoicism, Buddhism, Taoism, and epicureanism, along with a smattering of newer ideas in psychology.

3. The title is catchy but doesn’t really convey the overall message as effectively as it might.

While the book was a massive success, staying on the NY Times bestseller list for two years, I suspect that it served as little more than bookshelf…