It was a cozy afternoon at the university. I was just tucking myself for a short nap when I got a call that I had received a parcel. In a jiffy, I pulled over my sandals and hurried to the delivery office. I had no idea what to expect nor knew who would have sent me a parcel at this time. But, When I got the parcel and saw what it was, I nearly passed out. It was a copy of Joel Osteen’s then latest book, Breakout: 5 keys to go beyond your Barriers and live an Extraordinary Life. I thought I was in a dream till I realized that it was a surprise gift from my brother.
That was how I got this best seller into my book collection. A great book from the # 1 New York Times bestselling author who gets an overflowing turnout for his speeches and has millions watching his weekly broadcasts.
Joel`s main message through this book is that we should not get stuck in life or let excuses keep us from reaching our fullest potential. He believes that our ‘mind’ is what limits us most of the time. Breakout is a great resource for somebody who wants to break out of their box. Here is a glimpse of his points:
Believe bigger – The core message is that our mind is the limit. If we believe that we will never do anything big or be able to rise to a higher level, we will not be able to do so. So, the first step is to take the limits off in our minds.
Don’t consider the circumstances – Here, Joel urges us to quit your excuses, and to stop analyzing and focusing so much on the circumstances. In fact, he asks us to follow our dreams and take the step instead of weighing down by the reality of the situation. He asks us to be confident in what we have and to know that in spite of how many disappointments and ‘NO’s we have been through, our ‘YES’ is coming.
Keeping the Right perspective – Yes, disappointments are inevitable. The rainy and negative moments come to everyone alike. But, he teaches and encourages us to keep the right perspective even in the midst of the turmoil. The loads of experiences and insights motivate us to stay in the game and keep the right perspective saying, “This too shall pass”.
Don’t settle for good enough – He teaches us to avoid getting stuck in a ‘destination disease’ where we are satisfied with where we are that we don’t want to progress forward. He explains how we need to get over our past failures, and to look forward to a bright future.
Put actions for your success – Joel urges us to do our part of developing our pearls, sharpen our skills and to do what we are supposed to do. He says that when we take up our steps, we will see that the right doors open, the right connections are made and we will be thrust to the life that we were dreaming about.
The book is a great inspirational resource. This is one of the best gifts I have ever got. It has helped me break out of a shell and to take the limits off and to believe the impossible.
But, if you have already read all of Joel`s previous books, you might find some of these anecdotes, incidents and principles repetitive, especially the last couple of chapters. But, it’s a great book if you are reading Joel`s for the first time. It will throw light into areas in your life where you are still in need of a breakout.
Osteen, Joel. Breakout: 5 keys to go beyond your Barriers and live an Extraordinary Life. New York: Hachette Book Group. 2013
Break Out!: 5 Keys to Go Beyond Your Barriers and Live an Extraordinary Life. Buy it on Amazon.
