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David Wilson


The Path of No Resistance: Why Overcoming Is Simpler than You Think 
Garret Kramer 
Greenleaf Book Group
3/5
So you thought that the secret to solving a knotty problem was to get analytical? Wrong answer, says performance coach Garret Kramer in The Path of No Resistance: Why Overcoming Is Simpler than You Think.
Forget about aggressively addressing all the angles because clearly that technique is not working - just look at the world's mounting problems: war, famine and strife still exist. Even worse, the level of respect in our families and communities is fraying, says Kramer, who claims the solution to the adversity is to switch from the intellect to insight and reconsider your viewpoint.
"The next time you feel angry, uptight or anxious - please, don't blame it on your circumstances," writes the former high-powered businessman and athlete.
"For the umpteenth time, your feelings come from you. Simply grab hold of this principle and see how easy it becomes to override your judgmental dispositions, find inspiration and uncover a loving outlook on anything."
Kramer says that you should forget about goal setting. That approach thwarts imagination, curbs awareness and kills possibilities, he argues, adding that your sense of self-worth has nothing to do with reaching goals. Another contentious claim suggests you should avoid risks. Don't act. Wait until you have an instinctual sense of conviction before proceeding, he says: sound advice on reflection.
His gist - that you can take charge, choose how you react to tensions - is established popular psychology theory, which he backs with personal examples. For example, he recalls how he beat nerves before a speaking event by looking inward. Grasping that the problem was his perception, not the event, he jumped on stage raring to go.
The realisation that your feelings stem from your thinking, not your circumstances, will inspire you to see any predicament differently, Kramer says.
"I understand it appears as if your thinking is tied to your circumstances, but this book's contention is that your thinking - everyone's thinking - is pretty much up for grabs," he writes. "Keep living," he says. "The mind is designed to self-correct."
David Wilson


Book Review

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