The Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series have been a guiding light for me throughout my entire life. Growing up, I was highly sensitive and often struggled when things went wrong or when people made hurtful comments to me. The effects would compound on me and I often suffered through seemingly small things. But when I received my first copy of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, I was taught to channel my anxiety into a compassion for others. Instead of fixating on the pain I felt, I was encouraged to see the innocence in others and to even ask, “What are they here to teach me?”

Perhaps those who made hurtful comments only confirmed the disdain I felt for myself and I needed to learn self-acceptance. Or perhaps the things gone wrong in my life revealed how attached I was to certain outcomes. I needed to learn to let go. By asking myself what I could learn from each situation, I allowed myself to be strengthened by life’s obstacles. Being a “victim” only leaves one powerless while choosing to thrive on adversity leaves one a “victor.” This perspective allowed me to retain my own power instead of giving it all away.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff gave me strength to stand up. With compassion and wisdom as its driving force, it helped me see the world through a different lens and to reclaim my own happiness. This book is a jewel for humanity which will transform the lives of all those who journey through it. Thank you for twenty years of helping the world live with greater joy and ease. We are made better because of it!

Shani Chen is a formerly aspiring nun who is now married. She is the author of the up and coming book entitled If Nuns Were Wives. She lives with her husband and two children in Southern California.