Inquisitive.me

I’m not into New Year’s resolutions. If I want to change something—a habit, a mindset, or take a leap—I just go for it. No need to wait for January.

Still, I’ve started giving myself a personal challenge at the beginning of each year—something that pushes me a little, helps me grow, and keeps me focused. This year, the goal was simple: read one book a week. That’s 52 books in a year.

I didn’t finish a book every single week, but I did finish 53 in total. So, challenge completed—and then some.

At first, I planned to stick to self-help books, but that wasn’t realistic. Between work, building my practice, fitness, friends, and my dog, I knew I needed balance. Plus, fantasy is my favorite genre, and you can learn just as much from fiction—especially the 400+ page kind.

I won’t list every book. Instead, here are the ten lessons that stayed with me—ideas and insights that shaped the way I think, work, and live.

1. Luck Isn’t Magic—It’s Mindset 🍀

Our expectations have a powerful effect on the way in which we think, feel and act.

The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman

For a long time, I saw myself as an unlucky person. Had I read The Luck Factor a few years ago, it would’ve completely shattered that belief. Well, it still did—but this time, the lesson landed differently because I had already started experiencing the shift myself.

According to Richard Wiseman, luck isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you do. “Lucky” people act differently:

1. They create and notice more opportunities. The more people you meet, the more chances you have to positively influence your life. Lucky people are more open to new experiences, they smile more often, make more eye contact, and are generally more approachable—people magnets.
2. They trust their intuition. We all have that gut feeling telling us whether something is right or wrong. But too often, we let our logical brain override it. Lucky people not only trust their intuition more—they also train it, through practices like meditation and self-reflection.
3. They expect good things to happen. Even after failure, they keep going. Why? Because they believe the odds will eventually shift in their favor. They expect their luck to return—and that belief keeps them in motion.
4. They reframe setbacks as stepping stones. Instead of spiraling into self-pity, they choose a better perspective. Think of the bronze medalist vs. the silver medalist effect (which I’ve written about here). Rather than drowning in their misfortune, lucky people take the steps to bounce back—and that bounce makes all the difference.

In other words, feeling lucky has less to do with fortune and more to do with focus. Change your outlook, and you might start spotting the opportunities you never even noticed before.

🍀 Key Takeaway:
Luck isn’t random—it’s a mindset you practice. The more open you are to possibility, the luckier you become.

2. Growth Starts with Awareness 🌱

I don’t divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and the failures. . . . I divide the world into the learners and nonlearners.

Benjamin Barber

Mindset by Dr. Carol S. Dweck fundamentally changed the way I think. I never understood the belief that some people are just born with special talents or skills. We know nothing when we enter this world—we have to learn everything from scratch after leaving the comfort of the womb.

Sure, I’m familiar with epigenetics, and you can see it clearly in dogs—some are wired to protect, others to herd. It’s in their genome. But still, how can we say some humans are simply “talented” while others aren’t? The truth is, we can’t. Some kids may be born with physical traits that make them great swimmers, and others might grow up in environments that push them early. But what really shapes how we approach life comes down to one key thing:

Are we in a fixed mindset—or a growth mindset?

People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are set in stone. You’re either smart or you’re not. Talented or not. That’s the message many of us hear growing up—and it sticks. The danger? It leads to avoiding challenges, because failure feels like proof that you’re just not good enough.

People with a growth mindset, on the other hand, see challenges as opportunities. They believe effort leads to improvement—and they’re willing to put in the work. They fail and they learn. That’s how we should approach life. And it’s how we should raise and educate our children.

Sadly, we often do the opposite—without meaning to. Praising someone (especially a child) for being “smart” can backfire. It teaches them their worth lies in what they are, not what they do. Over time, that makes them afraid to take risks—because failing would mean they’re no longer “smart.”

Here’s the part that really stuck with me: we don’t just have one mindset. You might have a growth mindset in your career, but a fixed one when it comes to love, learning a language, or doing something creative. The key is awareness—because once you see where you’re stuck, you can finally start to grow.

🌱 Key Takeaway:
You don’t have just one mindset—growth starts with noticing where you’re stuck, so you can choose to grow. But most importantly: Praise the effort, not the label.

3. The Best Insights Aren’t Always Measured by Page Count. 🤏🏻

Some books take 400 pages to make a point. Others do it in four.

Derek Sivers is a master of the latter. Sharp, short, and full of quiet wisdom. In just a few pages, he manages to deliver a world of insight, unpopular opinions, and sharp clarity.

In Hell Yeah or No, he challenges conventional thinking. In Anything You Want, he offers practical advice for entrepreneurs. And in How to Live, he presents 27 completely different—and sometimes contradictory—ways to live a good life. The takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all path to happiness.

Each of these little books packs a punch. I won’t even try to summarize them all—because honestly, they’re better experienced than explained. But to give you a glimpse of the kind of wisdom they offer, here are three quotes that stayed with me:

Learning without doing is wasted.

from Hell Yeah or No

You’ll be ahead of the rest, because you actually started, while others are waiting for the finish line to magically appear at the starting line.

from Anything You Want

If you do what most people do, you get what most people get. Don‘t be normal.

from How to Live

Sometimes, less really is more.

🤏🏻 Key Takeaway:
You don’t need 500 pages to change your thinking. A short book at the right time can hit harder than a long one.

4. The Stories That Stay With You 🧸

What we do when no one is watching determines who we are.

The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

As a teenager, I absolutely loved watching Avatar: The Last Airbender (the cartoon version). Let’s be honest—Zuko’s redemption arc might just be the best in TV history. The show blends humor, depth, drama, and unforgettable quotes (shoutout to Uncle Iroh, best man!).

Earlier this year, I rewatched every single episode, and it reminded me why I fell in love with this world in the first place. That led me to F.C. Yee’s novels about the Avatars before Aang: The Rise of Kyoshi and The Shadow of Kyoshi. These weren’t just fun fantasy reads—they carried more truth than many so-called “serious” books.

Here’s what I took away:

1. You don’t have to be who the world expects you to be. In The Rise of Kyoshi, the main character isn’t a perfect hero. She’s messy, conflicted, and unsure—but when it matters, she steps up. Sometimes the person the world wants you to be isn’t who the world needs you to be. That difference matters more than perfection.
2. Some decisions will cost you—and that’s okay. The Shadow of Kyoshi taught me that protecting the people you love often requires tough choices. Doing the right thing doesn’t always feel good. But those are the moments that reveal your values—especially when no one’s watching.
3. There’s power in childlike wonder. This year, I also returned—once again—to Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince). It’s a simple book, but it holds so much truth. Beneath the whimsy is a reminder we often forget as adults: to truly see, we need to look with our hearts, not just our eyes (you know the quote 🦊).

None of these books were labeled “self-help.” But that doesn’t mean they didn’t help. Sometimes the most powerful lessons come from stories—if you’re open enough to hear them.

🧸 Key Takeaway:
You don’t need a self-help label to grow. Fiction can teach you integrity, love, and purpose—if you’re willing to listen between the lines.

5. When Profit Comes Before People 💊

The lie had worked like a virus—small and silent at first, until it spread everywhere.

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

The most eye-opening book I read this year was Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe. It fundamentally changed the way I view medicine, especially the pharmaceutical industry. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not anti-medication. Medicine saves lives. But this book made me stop and really question what happens when profit is placed above people’s well-being.

If you’re not from the U.S., you might not realize the full extent of their healthcare crisis, but this book lays it bare—how a single family’s greed fueled an opioid epidemic, and how the system let it happen. It’s disturbing. And honestly, it makes you look at broader issues of power, responsibility, and public health with new eyes.

As a physiotherapist, it shook me. I’ve always been cautious about over-reliance on medication, but this book subtly reshaped how I practice. I now approach the topic with even more care and curiosity. Not out of paranoia—but with a sense of duty. We live in a society that’s become far too dependent on quick fixes, while an industry profits from keeping people unwell.

This book isn’t about conspiracy theories—it’s about accountability. And it’s a must-read for anyone in healthcare.

💊 Key Takeaway:
We can’t blindly trust a system that profits off illness. As professionals and patients, we need to stay curious, ask better questions, and never forget: healing should come before profit.

6. One Second Can Change Everything 🏃‍♀️

Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

I started running at 25—just casually, nothing serious. Back then, I never imagined signing up for an actual race. But last year, I did it for the first time—and I’ve already signed up to run my first half-marathon next year. Somewhere along the way, I stumbled on Never Finished by David Goggins (thanks, algorithm)—and soon after, I picked up Can’t Hurt Me. And wow… what an incredibly intense, motivating experience.

I’ve always been curious about the limits of my body. I’ve pushed through some tough runs, like the one I described in a previous post: 21 kilometers over a mountain ridge with no clue how I’d get back into the valley. Goggins’ words hit differently when your legs are screaming and your mind starts whispering, just stop.

Here’s what stuck with me:

1. One second of weakness can undo a day of discipline. But that same second, if used with intention, can save you. Before giving up—on your run, your work, your routine—pause. Take one breath. That’s often all it takes to keep going.
2. Don’t overthink—act first. David Goggins doesn’t sugarcoat anything. This isn’t a self-help book. As he says himself: it’s a get-your-ass-moving book. Stop looking for the perfect plan or waiting for motivation. Make the move. Now. You can reflect later. First: action.

These two books completely reshaped how I approach running—and honestly, how I tackle life. Goggins gave me the tools to stop negotiating with my excuses.

🏃‍♀️ Key Takeaway:
Discipline doesn’t need to feel good. It just needs to happen. One second of grit can change your whole trajectory.

7. Burn Bright—Without Burning Out 🔥

Good givers are great getters; they make everybody better.

Give and Take by Adam Grant

This year, two books helped me understand a lot more about myself—and how to protect my energy: Give and Take by Adam Grant and Quiet by Susan Cain.

In Give and Take, Adam Grant describes three types of people in the way they interact with others:

• Takers prioritize their own gain. They’ll help you, but only if it benefits them.
• Givers help without strings attached. They share knowledge, support, and time—often without expecting anything in return.
• Matchers aim for fairness. They’ll return a favor, but also expect one back.

Surprisingly, Givers are not only the most taken advantage of—they also show up most often at the top of success ladders. Why? Because their generosity builds trust, deep relationships, and strong collaboration.

The difference between thriving and burning out, though, lies in how Givers give. The most successful Givers know how to protect their boundaries. They give in ways that also recharge them—whether that’s through energy, meaning, or mutual respect.

And that’s where Quiet comes in. Susan Cain explores how introverts can thrive in a world that often favors the loudest voices. As an introvert myself, this book felt like a gentle validation: I can show up, speak up, and lead—but I also need space to recharge afterward. Pushing too far into extroverted territory without breaks is a fast track to burnout.

🔥 Key Takeaway:
You can give to others without draining yourself—if you give from a place that also gives something back to you. Honor your limits. Protect your energy. That’s how you stay lit without burning out.

8. Structure + Joy = Sustainable Productivity 🎶

Success doesn’t lead to feeling good. Feeling good leads to success.

Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal

Having a busy life—building a business while maintaining friendships, family, caring for a dog, and keeping up with fitness goals—requires structure. That’s for sure. I started following productivity guru Ali Abdaal on YouTube early in my studies, and as I dove deeper into productivity hacks, I discovered two key factors that boost your output tremendously: a solid system and genuine fun.

Getting Things Done by David Allen is the ultimate productivity guide (alongside Tiago Forte’s Building a Second Brain). These two books offer systems that don’t fail—if you stick to them. Sure, Getting Things Done is long and can feel a bit dry, but it delivers: you’ll actually start getting things done. My biggest takeaway? Focus on the next step. I use this principle constantly as a physiotherapist when patients feel overwhelmed. I ask them, “What’s your next step?” If your goal is to take a walk, that next step isn’t the whole walk—it’s simply standing up.

The second key factor—fun—is what Feel-Good Productivity is all about. I couldn’t wait to dive into this one. Ali Abdaal’s vibe resonates deeply with me. If I need to get something done, I want to enjoy the process. When I was writing my bachelor thesis, for example, I blasted epic movie scores that made it feel like I was preparing for battle. It turned a daunting task into something energizing.

🎶 Key Takeaway:
Structure gets you moving, but joy keeps you going. Build systems that support you—and make the process fun enough that you want to keep showing up.

9. The Right Story at the Right Time 📖

Let your actions, not your words, be your defense.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

As I mentioned earlier, I need a good bedtime read. Fantasy has always been my go-to genre, and for a long time, it was the only one I read. To keep my mind fresh and escape the hustle of modern life, I like to alternate between immersive fantasy worlds and more practical self-help reads.

I discovered Brandon Sanderson a few years ago but hadn’t yet stepped into his Cosmere. Honestly, I think I hesitated because I knew what would happen once I started—there’s no turning back. And I was right. This year, I finally picked up The Stormlight Archive, and wow… I was hooked from the start. (Let’s go, Bridge Crew 4!)

Kaladin’s story hit me hardest. He’s not the smartest, the strongest, or the most naturally gifted—and that’s exactly what makes him so inspiring. What truly moves the needle isn’t individual brilliance, but a leader who sees the potential in others, nurtures it, and brings it to life. Sometimes, what you need most is someone who believes in you before you believe in yourself.

📖 Key Takeaway:
You don’t need to be exceptional to change the world—just be willing to carry the bridge.

10. Turn What Sets You Apart Into What Sets You Ahead 🔍

Your Unfair Advantages can’t easily be copied or bought. Your set of Unfair Advantages is unique to you.

The Unfair Advantage by Ash Ali & Hasan Kubba

The last lesson I learned came indirectly, but it stuck with me—thanks to The Unfair Advantage by Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba. They introduced the MILES Framework, breaking down success factors into five categories: Money, Intelligence & Insight, Location & Luck, Education & Expertise, and Status.

The book’s key idea is simple but powerful: we all have “unfair advantages.” For some, it might be wealthy parents, the right education, or being in the right place at the right time. For others, it’s the grit earned through hardship, the insight gained from failure, or the resilience built from starting with nothing.

Instead of obsessing over your weaknesses, figure out what your unique advantages are—and lean into them. Don’t waste energy trying to become average at something you dislike. Build on your natural strengths.

• You’ll stay more motivated, because growth in areas you enjoy is energizing.
• You’ll carve out a niche that no one else can copy—because it’s built on you.
• And you’ll show up more confidently, because it’s easier to sell what you truly believe in.

🔍 Key Takeaway:
Don’t dilute your strengths chasing balance. Double down on what makes you different—and use it to stand out.

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📚 Honorable Mentions

There were plenty of other great books I loved reading this year, and every single one taught me something valuable. But listing them all would make this post explode (it already kind of does). So here are just a few key messages that stuck with me:

• “Piling up money doesn’t mean earning more—it means spending less.”
  — The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
• “The way you talk to yourself matters. Change the program. Be kind to yourself.”
  — What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Dr. Shad Helmstetter
• “Spend less time on your phone. It’s not worth it.”
  — Irresistible by Adam Alter
• “Divide big goals into 12-week sprints. It’s easier to digest—and you still stay on track.”
  — The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran & Michael Lennington
• “Relate to give others hope. Repeat to shape new habits. Reframe to shift perspective. That’s how real change happens.”
  — Change or Die by Alan Deutschman

And last but not least, the one book everyone should read:

• “We are all junkies in some way.”
  — Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke

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Thanks for spending this time with me. Keep exploring, stay open to new ideas, and remember—growth is a journey, not a destination.

Take care,

Carina 🦊