Review of Thriving in the Storm
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- Latest Review: Thriving in the Storm by Bill Murphy
Review of Thriving in the Storm
Thriving in the Storm written by William Murphy contains nine principles (chapters) to help one overcome any adversity. The author premises his writing on the traumatic childhood experience with his father. However he argues that it is possible to turn the storms that came in the form of abuse into positives for successful living. Murphy uses his life experience to draw the path from the past to the present going into the future whilst dealing with negativity by assuming a positive attitude.
He begins by advocating for self-awareness as a way to get to the crust of the matter. One must let bygones be bygones in the storms of life. Murphy did this by looking for the silver linings in the storms of life and managed to develop optimism and resilience. Another thing that kept him going was finding his purpose in life and pursuing it being guided by his values. This done he went on to declare his goals which were recorded and pursued with vision and focus.
Noteworthy in his approach, the author built a fortress by forming new habits and routines to cater for and survive any ensuing storms. Of course another principle is managing one's mind in time by using techniques such as preparation and health care for the mind, body and spirit. This being done, it is critical to identify and break the negative patterns by cutting out time-wasting habits. Murphy insists that prioritising things to do and tapping into your core genius leads to success.
Murphy goes on to address pessimistic ideas by highlighting the superpower of human positivity. According to him, "the trick is being able to catch your thoughts when they are negative and instantly turn them positive." (133). Techniques such as utilising a mantra, being grateful and forgiveness have a way of blocking negative thoughts and creating positive ones. As one goes through life they must appreciate the fact that nobody can do it alone, thus admitting that they are willing to learn and take criticism. This according to Murphy may entail having the right coach to whom one should be accountable.
Murphy's last principle is etched on the universal noble principle of generosity. He expresses confidence in the power of giving to create positive feeling both in the giver and the recipient. In that vein Murphy argues thus "true success... is about the love you gave and how you made a difference in the lives of those around you for the better." (p. 189). This somehow prepares one for the unavoidable storms of life. In the Epilogue Murphy outlines how he landed into another storm of life through an injury. Using his nine principles he narrates this experience and how he braved it to be able to run a marathon on crutches.
The book was quite an inspiration to me as a Minister of Religion. Murphy centred his arguments based on the Biblical principles of Faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
I rate this book 4 out of 4 and 5 out of 5 because it properly captures the theme of "Thriving in the Storm," by giving a practical approach to the nine principles.
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Thriving in the Storm
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