Unlocking Positive Change: A Mindset Revolution

Books

Sep 30

What is 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think about?

Short, punchy essays that help you notice your patterns—thoughts, emotions, and habits—so you can relate to them differently. In therapy terms, it’s a practical nudge toward meaning-making: clarifying what matters, then choosing how you’ll live it today.

Some books feel like quick companionship when you’re ready to think—and live—a little differently. 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest is one of those: brief chapters that help you spot the stories you’re telling yourself with an invitation to try on kinder, truer ones. Why does this matter? Because how you think is how you make meaning. If existentialism says “you exist first, then create your Why,” this book is a set of small mirrors for the how: how you meet feelings, how you talk to yourself, how you choose the next “right” thing. I return to it in session because the ideas convert into tiny, doable reps—friend-tone reframes, noticing the “ticker tape,” choosing proportion over perfection. It’s not about self-improvement as performance; it’s about building a life that feels more coherent, humane, and yours.

What the Feelings You Suppress Most Are Trying to Tell You

One of my favorite essays—one I often bring into therapy sessions—is What the Feelings You Suppress Most Are Trying to Tell You. Wiest explores how the emotions we ignore or push aside hold profound messages about our inner world.

She describes emotions as signals, guiding us toward our fears, desires, and unresolved wounds. When we suppress them, we don’t erase them; they linger beneath the surface, influencing our thoughts and behaviors in ways we might not even realize. This essay challenges us to listen—really listen—to what our emotions are telling us instead of trying to silence them.

Her writing makes complex emotional concepts feel clear and digestible, which is why I return to this essay often, both for myself and in my work with patients.

This is meaning-making in real time: feelings are data, not directives. When you listen without self-attack, you can ask, What is this pointing to? What value do I want to live here?

The Little Things That Shape How You Feel About Your Body

Our relationship with our body is deeply personal, yet often shaped by external influences we don’t even recognize. In The Little Things You Don’t Realize Are Affecting How You Feel About Your Body, Wiest unpacks the subtle but powerful ways societal norms, media, and even passing comments can shape our self-perception.

I appreciate how she highlights the quiet background noise—the unspoken messages we internalize about our worth and appearance. She encourages readers to recognize these influences and develop self-compassion, rather than unconsciously accepting negative narratives about their bodies.

Her words serve as a powerful reminder that self-acceptance isn’t about achieving a certain look—it’s about shifting the way we see ourselves.

Our environment writes quiet captions under our self-image. Changing the inputs (who you follow, what you consume) changes the captions—and the meaning you build.

There Is No Such Thing as Letting Go—Only Accepting What Is Already Gone

We often hear the phrase "just let go," but what does that actually mean? In this essay, Wiest reframes the idea, suggesting that letting go isn’t something we do, but something we accept.

She writes about how we struggle with letting go because we believe, on some level, that we can still control the past. But the truth is, the past isn’t something to hold onto or release—it’s something to make peace with.

This resonated deeply with me. Letting go isn’t about erasing memories or forcing ourselves to move on before we’re ready. It’s a process—one that takes time, reflection, and often, a great deal of self-compassion. No one should rush you into it.

For many of us, learning to let go feels like losing a part of ourselves. But in reality, it’s an invitation to step forward, unburdened, into the present.

Existentially, “letting go” is an attitudinal choice: meeting what we didn’t choose with dignity and proportion. Acceptance is not passivity; it’s the ground for movement.

How to use this book (3 simple reps)

One value → one act: Choose a daily value (care, truth, steadiness) and match it with a 2-minute action.
Friend-tone reframe: When the inner critic spikes, rewrite one sentence as if you were speaking to a friend.
Micro-reflection: End the day with one line: What did I give, receive, or choose that matched my values?

What I love most about 101 Essays to Change the Way You Think is that it doesn’t offer simple, feel-good solutions. It invites deep reflection, encouraging us to challenge the way we think, feel, and move through the world.

This book sits on my shelf, well-loved and well-worn, its pages dog-eared and underlined. It’s not just a book—it’s a companion, one I return to whenever I need perspective, reassurance, or a gentle nudge toward growth.

If you’re looking for something that will challenge and expand your thinking, I highly recommend picking up this book. You may find yourself coming back to it, too.

FAQS

Both, lightly. It’s practical reflection that supports the existential task of making meaning through daily choices.
One essay at a time. Pair it with a tiny action or a one-line journal note so it lands in your life, not just your head.
Absolutely! Practice makes perfect. Often when we are trying to alter our thinking patterns it feels very counterintuitive. Different perspectives and meanings can ease anxiety or a loud critic.
Readers who want short, concrete prompts that translate into gentler thinking and more intentional days.