How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Dale Carnegie argues that instead of resisting events that are out of our control, we should accept them with this approach to setbacks. Acceptance minimizes internal conflict and leaves us better placed to improve our circumstances.

Reiterating the advice of Sir William Osler, Carnegie recommends living in “day-tight compartments.” This technique involves narrowing one’s focus to the tasks and opportunities of the present day, without worrying about the past or the future. The concept ties in with the book’s theme of Focusing on the Present.

Carnegie shares an anecdote from Benjamin Franklin’s life to illustrate the concept of “giving too much for the whistle.” As a boy, Franklin was delighted with a toy whistle he bought until his siblings revealed he had paid over the market price for it. The author applies this idea to situations where individuals expend mental energy on negative emotions such as resentment, hatred, and anger. He asserts that this tendency causes mental and physical harm.