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Unf*ck Yourself
Gary John Bishop
Contributed by Micheal Celestin
Content
Overview
Context
Themes
Reviews
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
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Chapter 6
Summary

Gary Bishop believes that thoughts do not define people. Instead, he sees their actions as the real determiner. This involves the things people do in their everyday life. He gives an example of a situation experienced by many people around the world. This is where they feel like not clearing their work despite the needed urgency. Instead, some people indulge in time-wasting activities such as browsing. At the same time, they keep thinking that they cannot make it in life considering all the issues they are undergoing (Bishop 62). The author affirms that most people undergo such situations including the most driven, most successful and even the wisest individuals. In addition, he notes the difference between these people and other ordinary people as their understanding that what they think and what they do does not always have to align (Bishop 63).

Further, the author insists on people not being their thoughts. He notes that most individuals let their internal condition weigh heavily on what they do. However, he says that the great performers are great since they have learned to experience those feelings while sidestepping the inclination to act upon them (Bishop 63). Apart from that, the author talks about having negative thoughts. He claims that everyone has negative thoughts but some people choose to act positively despite the existence of those negative thoughts. Ideally, one can change his or her life through actions and not through thinking about doing (Bishop 64). Additionally, the author believes that thoughts without actions are just thoughts. Besides, he claims that having negative thoughts about oneself, others or one’s circumstances cannot have an impact on the person’s success as long as they leave the thoughts where they lie (Bishop 65).

Gary Bishop further tries to show how doing changes one’s thinking. Ideally, the writer believes that doing is the quickest way of changing an individual’s thoughts (Bishop 65). He confirms that all the negative thoughts and conversations usually disappear whenever an individual immerses him/herself in doing something (Bishop 66). He asserts that when individuals focus their attention on the actions at hand, their consciousness eventually starts to get the idea. He also upholds the ideology that by accepting and including one’s thoughts as just a small part of the whole and getting down to taking actions, one starts to slowly realize just how out of touch they have been (Bishop 67).

The author continues to talk about the importance of actions over inaction. He quotes Dale Carnegie saying, “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy” (Bishop 67). From that point, the author urges his audience to uphold actions without hesitation. He claims that it is more beneficial to take immediate action in various situations instead of pushing them forward in the time schedule. He even mentions various successful figures such as Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln as relevant examples. He even adds Steve Jobs saying that all these individuals experienced challenges in life but they never gave up their actions (Bishop 69).  

Bishop expresses his belief in the relationship between thought and actions. He urges his audience to take the first step in doing the things they keep avoiding. The initial step will lead to another and that to another. Eventually, the person will get used to taking actions instead of just sitting and thinking. Furthermore, just as Bishop says, thoughts are just a bunch of random things running through a person's head, and most of them he or she has no control over.

Analysis

The author seems like an individual who highly appreciates the people who take action instead of sitting around and thinking of taking action. This chapter is a clear reflection of his regard to actions, and he believes that thoughts cannot define a person. This is particularly true since an individual may have many positive ideas but without putting them into action, it all means nothing. Similarly, one may have many negative thoughts but avoiding them and acting accordingly is significantly important and relevant. Apart from that, Bishop appreciates that everyone faces challenges of taking actions at times, but the wise always act accordingly instead of wasting time. This shows that it is better to act instead of wasting time on irrelevant and unhelpful activities such as browsing useless things.

The mentioning of negative thoughts and affirming that they occur in the mind of every human being shows that the author is realistic. Ideally, everyone finds him/herself in a situation where negative thoughts cloud the mind. However, Bishop affirms that thoughts do not define an individual and thus many people manage to act differently from their thoughts. This state of independence is highly significant and important in an individual’s life. Ideally, it helps in the practice of self-control and in doing the right thing. Besides, the writer shares a way of avoiding negative thoughts. This involves being busy doing something productive. Whenever a person is busy, their minds settle in whatever they are doing and it becomes hard for them to have negative thoughts as long as they remain focused.

Gary Bishop also provides the reader with various examples of individuals who made it in life, or ones who achieved success. These individuals are ordinary people who managed to beat all the odds of life by taking the right actions and making sure that their thoughts never defined them. The author is trying to show his audience that normal people always succeed whenever they take the necessary steps instead of sitting back and thinking of taking actions.

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