You Are Awesome: How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life (Book of Awesome Series, The) by Neil Pasricha

Change and failure often feel like inescapable foes, but Neil Pasricha’s “You Are Awesome: How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life” encourages readers to find their personal power in order to thrive.

In this third installment of his “Book of Awesome Series,” Pasricha distills his research on the power of mindset and the real-world strategies he’s used to face change and failure. Through accessible stories and useful tactics, he aims to help readers move through the noise and setbacks of life, inspiring them to become the authors of their own stories.

Pasricha believes that every individual can create a life they love, and his book provides guidance on how to get there. He covers topics from enduring an uncertain job market to coming back from failure, pouring himself into every page.

The first lesson he lays out is to accept different kinds of change. Pasricha quickly acknowledges that difficult moments are unavoidable, and that “not everything turns out in the way we planned.” He encourages readers to use their own experiences, stories, and values to adjust to new things.

By understanding their strengths and weaknesses, readers can gain ownership of their situations. To help readers truly understand their power to create the life they want, Pasricha introduces the “Wheel of Me.” This concept helps readers to evaluate how much control they can have in each area of their life, such as work, relationships, and routines. He coaches readers on how to determine what matters to them and how to prioritize that.

Following Pasricha’s lead, readers can also learn to use humor as a tool for resilience. Pasricha encourages readers to find laughter in the hard times, as it can be a powerful way to bring joy and positivity back into life. He candidly admits how valid it is to feel challenged, scared, and vulnerable. However, he pairs that sorrowful message with the idea that happiness can be found in the same moments, if looked for.

Though he dives deeply into the power of positivity, Pasricha recognizes that progress is not a linear path. He helps readers to face their own inner demons by providing steps to understanding the power of failure. Pasricha introduces the five steps of failure and encourages readers to deconstruct those moments and understand them fully, which can lead to growth. He makes a point to remind readers that progress means adjusting to each change, rather than trying to avoid it.

With Pasricha as a guide, readers will start to see just how powerful their own mindsets can be. He helps readers switch from victim to champion, celebration and optimistic outcomes. Pasricha teaches readers how to face fear without paralyzing them and how to move forward with intention and courage.

“You Are Awesome” helps readers navigate change, wrestle with failure, and live an intentional life. By providing personal stories and real-world solutions, Pasricha experiments in how to simply, yet powerfully, create the life you want. In this honest and self-reflective book, readers will find that controlling their stories is not only possible, but utterly awesome.