Soundtracks. By Jon Acuff

I learned that from Jon Acuff. By now, you probably have caught on that I’ve read a few of Jon Acuff’s books. They are fun books. Plain and simple. I always enjoy reading his work. 

I’ve been wanting to pick up Soundtracks again, and this time did not disappoint.

Do you ever wonder if reliving a memory will cause the memory to lose it’s magic? There are times that I wish I could go back and relive living in a charter bus for weeks during the summer of my Junior year, but I know that those memories are way better remembered than relived.

I definitely don’t want to go and do that again.

And sometimes, re-reading a book can feel like that. “I’ve already read that book.” You might say. I don’t want to ruin the memory of how it helped me when I read it the first time. Almost like it’s too precious a memory, and if I try to touch it, it will shatter into a million pieces.

Don’t worry, you can reread Soundtracks over and over and over again. (Get what I did there.)

First of all, Jon Acuff’s writing is fun to read. I know already said that, but seriously, he’s so much fun. As I’m learning how to write, and getting my hands on the keyboard every morning, I’m inspired by his conversational tone. He makes me laugh out loud, and so much so my kids ask what I’m reading.

My son is 9. He’s really not interested in most books I read, but this one, he was like, Dad, what is it that’s so funny, and sat down next to me as I retold the story.

I love it.

And the book is so much more than comedic stories and laugh out loud moments. It’s a Swiss army knife for overthinking. And he keeps it really simple. It’s about overthinking.

That’s it. And how to overcome it.

He keeps the book relatively short, keeps it simple so the reader remembers at the end of the book what it’s all about—overcoming overthinking.

And it’s one book that inspired me to create this content. It’s when Jon Acuff shared about this book at a virtual conference I attended in 2020 that my life was changed. When I read the book, I had the practical tools to address the thoughts that hindered me from stepping into trying something new.

For so long I’d listened to the words of defeat, fear, and criticism, that I no longer realized they weren’t true, helpful or kind. I wasn’t addressing the thoughts in my mind, and so I was slowly getting caught up in the downward spiral of overthinking—and never starting.

But writers write.

There’s a part in the book where Jon Acuff shares about writing a book that no one will ever read. It’s a book about squirrels, coffee shops, and biker dudes who never wear their shirt. Why did he write it?

Because writers write.

Last year I launched this website to create a space where I could share what I’d been learning. But I was terrified of starting it. I knew I’d learned a lot and I could share a lot, but I just didn’t do it.

Then I learned, writers write. I want to be a writer. If I want to be a writer, then I have to write.

So tonight, I write. And tomorrow morning, I’ll wake up and write again.

Because writers write.

What are you overthinking? Is there a soundtrack you’re listening to that’s keeping you from stepping into the fullness of who you were made to be?

You probably are.

Could you get a different job? Yes. Yes you can. Could you be healthy and get fit? Yes, yes you can.

It’s not about just positive affirmations, it’s what Tom Ziglar (the son of Zig Ziglar) shared, “We don’t teach fake it till you make it. Dad believed in ‘Tell the truth in advance.’”

“The affirmations are true. Let’s say you’re a hundred pounds overweight and your goal is to lost hat. Some people would say a positive affirmation like, ‘I’m fit and trim and living life to the fullest.’ But you’re not and your brain knows that. It’s not true and that creates cognitive dissonance [stress that occurs when your brain tries to believe multiple things that disagree with each other at the same time]. Instead, it’s better to say what my friend Steyn Rossouw says: ‘I’m getting fitter and fitter every day in every way.’ That’s true. Those words are an aspiration of where you are going.” – Tom Ziglar

You’re not faking it. You’re challenging the untrue, unkind, and unhelpful—so that you can step into accomplishing something you never thought possible.

Because it is possible.

I never thought I’d keep up with writing content for this site. But, writers write. And this is my 40th entry. My goal this year was 52.

When I started I wasn’t a writer. But I wanted to be a writer.

I’m a writer, who writes. And this book helped define what I wanted to pursue—what I am pursuing now.

You won’t be disappointed by reading this book, and then putting it on repeat.

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