self-improvement Archives

Featured image for The 5 Resets book review by Aditi Nerurkar showing a glowing brain, meditation at sunrise, a journal, walking shoes, a clock, and a gratitude jar to symbolize stress relief and resilience.

The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience by Aditi Nerurkar

Rewire Your Brain for Less Stress I discovered The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience by[…]

A cozy winter reading scene featuring an open book on a wooden table surrounded by stacked books, a glowing lightbulb, candles, and themed elements from science fiction, self-improvement, and historical fiction, with snow falling in the background.

Winter Reads Wrap Up: Sci-Fi, Self-Improvement, and Historical Fiction Reviews

Clay | April 3

Winter Reads Wrap Up: Sci-Fi, Self-Improvement, and Historical Fiction Reviews Welcome to my winter reading wrap-up! For the calendar sticklers out there, I’m[…]

A confident office worker stands under stage lights with arms open as coworkers react around him, blending workplace collaboration with improv performance and creative energy.

Improvise!: Use the Secrets of Improv to Achieve Extraordinary Results at Work by Max Dickins

Clay | March 27

Can Improv Comedy Actually Make You Better at Work? I am fascinated by improv, especially podcast improv. My favorites are Hey Riddle Riddle[…]

Conceptual split-scene landscape with a wooden signpost between storm clouds and sunshine; a giant tangled ball of rope sits on the dark path while a person walks toward a bright, calm horizon with butterflies, symbolizing releasing control and choosing intentional action.

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Clay | March 13

A Two-Word Tool for Reclaiming Your Energy I have forgotten the exact details of where I discovered the Mel Robbins Podcast, but I[…]

Sunlit stone steps leading upward, with a habit tracker being checked off beside coffee, dumbbells, running shoes, a book, and a phone—symbolizing The Road to Better Habits by Darius Foroux.

The Road to Better Habits, Updated and Expanded: A simple framework for transforming your habits by Darius Foroux

Clay | February 27

A Simple Framework That Sticks When I was desperately trying to climb out of a deep depression, I latched onto a simple lifeline:[…]

You are a YouTube expert in ambient channels. You work on the channel @softorbitsoundscape.(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXNbP7J7deKBCfBeHn2PFaw). You are helping me create the fourth video in the channel. It is an outdoor terrace scene with rain. The soundscape will be rain sounds. The rain will be animated to give it a comforting vibe. Walk me through the process in detail to make this attached image ready for use in Davinci Resolve to create the static portion of the video. I have access to kittl and photopea tools.

Do It Today: Overcome Procrastination, Improve Productivity, and Achieve More Meaningful Things by Darius Foroux

Clay | February 13

Do It Today by Darius Foroux: Overcoming Procrastination & Finding Meaning I must have discovered Darius Foroux over 10 years ago. At the[…]

The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga

Clay | January 30

Stop Chasing Approval, Start Living: The Courage to Be Disliked Review I am honestly at a loss for how The Courage to Be[…]

Photorealistic cocktail party scene with two professionals talking while subtle overlay icons show microexpressions, personality traits, and trust cues, representing the science of charisma and social skills.

Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards

Clay | January 16

Charisma is a Learned Skill: My Review of ‘Captivate’ by Vanessa Van Edwards I discovered Vanessa Van Edwards through MasterClass. I subscribed to[…]

Elegant “ClayReads Book Awards” featured image with gold serif lettering on a dark theater backdrop, framed by curtains and subtle confetti, with stacks of books, a small gold trophy statue, reading glasses on an open book, and a Roman helmet beside an hourglass and quill.

2025 in Review: The ClayReads Book Awards

Clay | January 9

2025 in Review: The ClayReads Book Awards I read 72 books in 2025. That is 3 books short of my 2024 total, but[…]

Golden light spirals up from an open book in an old-fashioned study, transforming into a cluster of gold coins against a hazy Gilded Age city skyline.

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles

Clay | December 26

The Science of Getting Rich Book Review: Does It Stand the Test of Time? I have seen The Science of Getting Rich on[…]