In recently reading the book “QBQ” (the “Question Before the Question”, which I discussed a bit here), much of it felt similar to some of the ideas in “The Daily Stoic“. The books come from completely different directions, but end up focusing on one idea — you are responsible for yourself.
QBQ had a few great quotes to help summarize this idea. First is the idea of stress and what can lead to it:
Stress is a choice, because whatever the “trigger event”, we always choose our own response.
I think he might have over-simplified a bit, as some people are literally stuck in jobs with horrible bosses that treat them poorly, but many find ways to shine regardless of the situation.
Next are some of his thoughts on communication:
Communication means not only being understood but also understanding the other person. The QBQ is “How can I better understand you?”
If you’ve ever read “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“, this might sound familiar, as Habit 5 is “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood“. Learning to fully understand the ideas of others will help both parties tremendously.
Taking responsibility for yourself is easy at times, but gets much more difficult when something feels like it’s out of your control. The more you can take ownership of every situation in your life, the more effective you’re likely to be.
