Nataly Kogan - The Awesome Human Project : Break Free from Daily Burnout, Struggle Less, and Thrive More in Work and Life

Praise for The Awesome Human Project

Abounds with simple, practical tools to build emotional fitness, learn to embrace ourselves (and our awesomeness) wholeheartedly, and to leave the shoulds behind so we can joyously revel in the coulds.

Melissa Bernstein cofounder and chief creative officer, Melissa & Doug

An inspiring blueprint sharing Natalys compelling personal journey and tactical ways to redirect your mind towards meaning, purpose, and fulfillment.

Tiffany Shlain Emmy-nominated filmmaker, founder of the Webby Awards, and bestselling author of 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week

Just like practice in sports, The Awesome Human Project is hard work but rewarding. And Nataly is there like an awesome coach, dusting us off when we stumble, giving us encouragement and motivation, and supporting us on our next attempt.

Jonathan Becher president, San Jose Sharks

Weve somehow been convinced that a life of busyness and struggle is the only way to live. Through self-care and self-compassion, The Awesome Human Project shows us another way is possible.

Jen Fisher chief well-being officer, Deloitte

Part self-help, part science, and part workbook, The Awesome Human Project offers the perfect combination of tools to help any busy professional step away from the overwhelm of everyday life and chart their way out of the chaos.

Stacey Hoin chief human resources officer, Guardian Life Insurance

The Awesome Human Project is a generous and practical guide to letting go of struggle and being your best selffrom someone who truly understands what it means to build a happy life from the ground up.

Ingrid Fetell Lee author of Joyful and founder of The Aesthetics of Joy

Is it possible to recommend a book to all humans? Because if so, I would absolutely recommend The Awesome Human Project to any human who interacts with other humans and the world around them. The lessons and practices in The Awesome Human Project will help me on my journey to becoming a better leader, colleague, professional, wife, mother, sister, friend, and person.

Kerri Palamara McGrath, MD primary care physician and director of The Center for Physician Well-being at Massachusetts General Hospital

We are in the middle of a human revolution. There has been a much-needed shift, particularly in the workplace, toward embracing the importance of being fully human and taking care of ones mental health and well-being. Nataly provides a blueprint on how to train your mind and be the best version of yourself. Human connection, kindness, and gratitude are not just nice-to-haves. They are fundamentally important on the path toward greater meaning, purpose, happiness, and a better you.

Eric Mosley CEO of Workhuman

Each time I read Natalys work or hear her speak, I am reminded of the power of mindset. The Awesome Human Project is no exception. Readers will find themselves both championed and challenged by the author, who calls us to examine and retrain our thinking. Grounded in real experiences and key neuroscientific insights, it is a pragmatic and thought-provoking guide to achieve what most find illusivegreater joy.

Noelle Eder global chief information officer, Cigna

You cant give what you dont have has become my new mantra thanks to Nataly Kogan. It has never been more important for us, as leaders, to model self-care. Thats where this book comes in, distilling Natalys engaging and effective teaching so that we can build happier, more sustainable lives. If youve gritted your teeth through the past year and wondered how long your stamina can hold out, please read this book!

Peggy Northrop CEO, Watermark

This is the book our world needs right now. Like a supportive friend, but one who knows when you need some tough love, Nataly guides you on a meaningful journey to embrace your full awesome self so you can work and live with more joy and purpose. The Awesome Human Project is one youll want to roll up your sleeves and DO, not just read.

Fran Hauser startup investor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl

What could be better than being an awesome human? Obviously, nothing! Whats a close second? The book youre holding. Nataly Kogan gives overworked, disaffected readers hopeand a roadmap for turning optimism into action.

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, PhD author of Rest and Shorter

This book will help you make better choices about where to invest your energy and stop shoulding yourselfat work and outside of work.

Alicia Davis director of Global Finance Learning and Development, Dell

Nataly Kogan

Sounds True

Boulder, CO 80306

2022 Nataly Kogan

Sounds True is a trademark of Sounds True, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author(s) and publisher.

Published 2022

Cover design by Jennifer Miles

Book design by Linsey Dodaro

BK06211

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kogan, Nataly, author.

Title: The awesome human project : how to break free from daily burnout, struggle less, and thrive more in work and life / by Nataly Kogan. Description: Boulder, CO : Sounds True, 2022. | Based on the science-backed Happier Method--Title page.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021022119 (print) | LCCN 2021022120 (ebook) | ISBN 9781683647850 (hardback) | ISBN 9781683647867 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Happiness. | Self-actualization (Psychology) Classification: LCC BF575.H27 K63 2022 (print) | LCC BF575.H27 (ebook) | DDC 158--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021022119 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021022120

For my Mia (still).

I love you more,

always.

Taking care of your emotional, mental, and physical energy is not a luxury but your responsibility to yourself, your work, and the people you care about.

You can struggle less through lifes inevitable ups and downs by creating a more supportive relationship with yourself, your thoughts and emotionsand other people.

Emotional fitness is a skill you can improve through practice and it will help you struggle less and thrive more, no matter where you begin.

When your brain offers you unhelpful thoughts that cause you to struggle, tap into your courage to talk back to your brain and edit your thoughts.