BY LEONG Z-KEEN
Book title: Reframe Your Brain: The User Interface for Happiness and Success
ISBN: 978-976-0015-45-3
Author: Scott Adams
Publisher: AcePremier.com Sdn. Bhd.
Publication Year: 2023
Price: RM59.90
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
– Dr Seuss, American children’s author, political cartoonist, illustrator, poet, animator, and filmmaker
I picked up this book on a whim while skimming through the bookshelves. Never did I think it would teach me important and practical lessons that offered a refreshing perspective on my surroundings.
As I embarked on a new journey in life, venturing into the “real world”, I felt overwhelmed and lost.
After some thought, I picked up the book without knowing its contents, heading into it with no expectations.
The author, Scott Adams, is a renowned cartoonist best known for creating the comic strip “Dilbert”. He is also well-known for his influential book on personal success titled “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big”.
In the book, the author first recounts a memory of getting annoyed while walking his dog because the pet only sniffed the grass instead of scent-marking areas.
After doing some research, Scott discovers the reason behind his dog’s behaviour. With this new understanding, Scott reevaluates his thoughts, and walking his dog becomes less of a chore and more of a fun activity.
In the first chapter, Scott explains that a “reframe” or “rewire” is a simple combination of focus, repetition, and adding emotion to it. The author further explains that emotion is a potent energy source for imprinting advice more quickly into your brain.
Chapters Two to Seven delve into issues such as repositioning your thoughts about success, mental and physical health, social life, and reality. The book also offers guidance on creating an operating system for yourself using these reframes.
I was especially drawn to the reframes in Chapters Two, Three, and Six because they offered me practical advice on viewing things differently and acting to solve issues I was facing.
One reframe that helped me was learning how to eliminate “writer’s block” from Chapter Two. Writing is never easy not because you lack knowledge of the subject, but because you struggle with how to begin.
In the book, I learned that starting with a small step, like writing something down, can help you tackle bigger tasks, such as beginning an essay. Even if you are unsure about what you write, starting is crucial.
Another valuable piece of advice from the same chapter was to try new things, even if failure seems likely. While the saying “Measure twice, cut once” is relevant, it does not always allow for learning from mistakes. Sometimes, you just need to take action. Embarrassment and failure can be powerful reminders that you are learning, rather than seeking perfection.
Chapter Three focused on reframing for mental wellbeing. This chapter provided me with invaluable advice on reducing stress and minimising negative outcomes by controlling what I can.
One reframe I particularly liked was imagining myself from outer space. This perspective gave me peace of mind, realising that my problems were similar to others when viewed on a larger scale.
In Chapter Six, the focus was on rearranging our perspective of reality. The author explains that “…we don’t agree on what is real and what is an illusion.”
Delving deeper into the context, I had a revelation. When I recalled my memories, I realised that almost everyone I had interacted with held onto opinions they did not want to change, even when faced with contradictory facts.
Having considered multiple reframes, it further cements the notion that “Humans are irrational creatures who justify their opinions.”
My final verdict on this book is that the advice offered helped clear my mind and put me at ease.
For those who have uncertainties in their perspective toward themselves and life in general, I would recommend this book for gaining insights, as it helped simplify my daily life.
