Unf*ck Yourself
Gary John Bishop
Contributed by Micheal Celestin
Chapter 2
Summary

Gary Bishop sets willingness as the foundation of everything that happens to anyone. Ideally, he claims that people fail to change their life situations due to their unwillingness to make the required steps (Bishop 19). He talks about one hating his or her job, being in a bad relationship or having health problems. According to Bishop, all these situations have solutions that start and end with the individual involved (Bishop 19). For instance, one can quit the job, end the relationship, eat well and exercise often including seeking the necessary assistance for any health issues. However, failing to take the necessary steps is an indication of unwillingness and makes one remain in the same state of life despite it being bad. Therefore, the author urges his readers to stop blaming luck, other people, outside influences and childhood or neighborhoods (Bishop 19). Instead, they should show the willingness to act effectively and change their lives.

Bishop claims that one has to control his or her destiny or the destiny will control him or her (Bishop 21).  He affirms that life cannot stop due to an individual’s pauses, procrastination, confusions or fears. Instead, life will always continue with or without an individual irrespective of him or her being active or inactive (Bishop 21). Therefore, one has to be willing to do different things in life, and Bishop supports his argument using Niccolo Machiavelli’s quote that says “Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great” (Bishop 22). On the same point, the author tries to expound the significance of “unwillingness.” Ideally, he says that the term is as powerful as “willingness.” The writer asserts that unwillingness ignites resolve and determination, providing an access to taking a robust and urgent approach to one’s situation (Bishop 22). Bishop says that an individual may use the term to show a line he or she is not willing to cross back. This includes continuing with a job that one hates or staying in a bad relationship. In other words, willingness and unwillingness are two powerful terms that apply to different situations depending on the individual. Therefore, just as Bishop says, one has to choose the one that works or feels effective for application in life situations (Bishop 23).

The author also talks about some situations where one is unable to make a change. In such a circumstance, Bishop says that one has to accept the fact that he or she put him/herself in that situation. This has to happen without having self-blame or turning oneself into the victim (Bishop 23). With this realization, it becomes easy for one to embrace change thus moving in a positive direction. Another issue raised in this chapter is the urge to do what it takes to achieve success or get what one wants in life. Bishop asks his audience if they think about the path of achieving their life desires. For instance, he talks about being filthy rich, which is a dream of many individuals. However, he reminds the readers that one has to put an extra effort including working long hours and giving up vacation times just to continue working (Bishop 24). Thinking about the required efforts may leave people saying that it is not necessary to achieve that richness or a healthy body. However, these people should not blame themselves later for missing the outcomes, as they are unwilling to work for them (Bishop 25). Otherwise, they have to embrace reality in order to plot the road to accomplish any goals.

Bishop notes that some situations might seem difficult or may be painful. He affirms that some problems may seem big and impossible. However, one has to look at the faced situation carefully and the consciousness may reveal the true size of the issues (Bishop 26). Apart from that, the author claims that willingness is the lifeblood of the new, the infinite well of possibility and potential, a state where new futures arise and a completely new person can begin. Therefore, he says that one has to keep asking if he or she is willing until the answer “YES” becomes the echo of everyday occurrences (Bishop 27).

Analysis

In accordance with this chapter, the author seems to believe that willingness is the key to many life-changing decisions. His ideology is both relevant and applicable considering all the situations that entangle the human life. Ideally, one has to be willing in order to approve and accept a certain change. Without that decision, it is clearly difficult to make any transformation, as one will be living in a comfort zone. However, showing the willingness to experience change opens the doors to embracing new things and moving in a different direction. Nonetheless, this has to happen without any blame or the feeling of guilt and resentment.

On the other hand, Bishop declares an unwillingness to be another powerful approach to various life situations. His expression of the term is a way of providing his readers with an alternative of being willing. Ideally, some people are never willing to do anything but are always unwilling to continue living the same way. Therefore, introducing the term shows that Bishop understands the diversity of his audience and is willing to resolve their issues effectively. The unwillingness shown by most people occurs to be powerful since it makes them avoid making the wrong decisions or living the wrong way of life. Due to this, they resent the unbearable situations thus embracing change and moving on with life positively.

The author also shows the readers the importance of considering life issues before embracing them. For instance, he shows the process involved in becoming a wealthy individual, and one has to be willing to put the necessary effort before achieving the set goals and life desires. This also includes leading a healthy life, as one has to embrace and accept the pain while in the process of losing weight or acquiring a six-pack ab.

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