Book summary of You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

An inspiration for readers to stop doubting themselves and unlock their inner badass in this fun, practical guidebook to empowerment.

The Big Snooze refers to your subconscious that's molded by negative thoughts and limiting beliefs. These come from messages you constantly received early in life that have been internalized. They're holding you back from success and happiness.
1. If you heard "No one in the family is good academically" while growing up, you might be discouraged from going to a good college.
2. If your parents did not have a good relationship, you might expect the same in your relationships and be hesitant to pursue healthy intimacy.
Love yourself fully to replace your negative thoughts. Repeat mantras and affirmations frequently and consistently. Remind yourself of how awesome you are whenever you have a spare moment.
1. E.g., when you are waiting in line, repeat to yourself "I am smart, beautiful, and a badass."
"If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present."
As kids, we did what we wanted, but as we grew up, we lost touch with our inner wisdom and started doing what others expect. This leads to unsatisfying jobs, relationships, and lives.
Regain your inner agency by stop comparing yourself to others and stop thinking about what others think.
1. Everyone is unique and experiences different circumstances. If The Beatles compared themselves to Beethoven, they would not have achieved their revolutionary status.
2. Caring what others think holds you back from fulfillment. Don't let others dictate what you want to do. E.g., attempt your dream of being a writer even if your family thinks it's a waste of time.
3. "What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them."
4. "Because if you base your self-worth on what everyone else thinks of you, you hand all your power over to other people and become dependent on a source outside of yourself for validation. Then you wind up chasing after something you have no control over, and should that something suddenly place its focus somewhere else, or change its mind and decide you're no longer very interesting, you end up with a full-blown identity crisis."
Understand, appreciate, and admire how unique and special you are.
1. "You are perfect. To think anything less is as pointless as a river thinking that it's got too many curves or that it moves too slowly or that its rapids are too rapid. Says who?… You are the only you there is and ever will be.
We all have unique gifts to share, and life is more fulfilling when we use them for a purpose. When unsure of your purpose, just take action on anything and see if it feels right.
The Law of Attraction states that similar frequencies attract one another. In other words, there is an invisible Source Energy made up of frequencies that permeate our universe, and the universe will respond with frequencies similar to the ones you emit. If you emit positivity, you will experience more positivity back from the universe. Conversely, if you are negative, you'll attract more negative experiences.
1. E.g., always feeling jealous will bring more things into your life that make you jealous.
Your thoughts create your reality. To transform your life, change your mindset. By shifting your beliefs and perspectives, you begin manifesting a new reality and will notice signs of change all around you.
Fake it until you make it. Think of yourself as already being the person you aspire to become. For example, if you want to be a good public speaker, imagine yourself giving a confident and inspiring speech in front of a crowd. Be detailed in your imagination. This type of visualization will propel you forward.
Meditation is a simple, effective way to connect with the Source Energy. Sit quietly, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. When thoughts arise, gently return your attention to your breath. Meditation will reduce stress, make you realize the inconsequence of your worries, and unclutter your mind.
Embrace the attitude of a life-long learner. Approach new challenges with curiosity and a willingness to improve. Don't expect perfection. This reduces pressure and you'll welcome failure as a lesson instead of fearing it.
Give and you will receive. To draw positive experiences into your life, radiate positivity outward. When you send kindness, care, and goodwill to others, it will be returned to you.
Go with the flow. Embrace life's twists and turns with optimism and positivity, see them as opportunities to grow and live a fuller life.
Cultivate gratitude daily. Express thanks for the good things in your life. This keeps positivity forefront in your mind and uplifts others too. Try writing down 10 things you're grateful for, big or small, before bed each night.
Practice forgiveness. If someone hurts you, forgiveness allows you to move forward versus staying stuck in the past. The same applies to forgiving yourself for mistakes -- once you've made amends, self-acceptance lets you break free of regret.
When you dislike someone, you're likely projecting your own insecurities. To stop, first own your faults. Notice what irritates you -- is it a suppressed or missing quality in yourself? Realize that these negative feelings have no benefit and let them go.
Cut ties with chronically negative and toxic people if needed.
Achieving goals require action, but procrastination and hesitation often gets in the way.
1. Procrastination often stems from fear of failure. When that happens, remind yourself of the purpose of your goals. If your purpose isn't motivating enough to drive you to action, then reevaluate it.
2. Hesitation often comes from the fear of judgment and becoming someone you dislike. Stop judging yourself and others. Deeply consider if reaching your goals will make you happy. If the answer is yes, then you'll become less hesitant to act.
3. Refocus your energy on making excuses onto taking action.
Don't get overwhelmed. Remember to listen to your body and take care of your health.
Rejection and failure is a part of the journey. Don't let them stop you from reaching your goals. Pursuing a goal requires perseverance.
1. Michael Jordan worked even harder after he was cut from his high school varsity team.
2. Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school three times.
3. "So often, we pretend we've made a decision, when what we've really done is signed up to try until it gets too uncomfortable."
Surround yourself with an environment and people that drive you towards your goal. It is worthwhile to change your surroundings if they are hindering you.
Reflect on how you think about money. It's good to be responsible, but also justify splurging if it will improve your life and advance your goals. Use finances as a tool to live your dreams.
Get out of your comfort zone, believe in yourself, break your bad habits, and stop thinking about making a change and decide to act.

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