Think This, Not That by Josh Axe Summary

Think This, Not That explores how mindset shapes personal and professional success through 12 transformative mindshifts that replace limiting beliefs with empowering perspectives. Dr. Josh Axe combines principles of personal growth, resilience, and self-awareness to guide readers toward unlocking their potential. Key themes include redefining success, embracing purpose, and overcoming fear of failure. The book blends actionable strategies with psychological insights to foster lasting change.

This book is ideal for self-improvement seekers, professionals facing career transitions, and individuals struggling with self-doubt or stagnation. It’s especially relevant for fans of Dr. Axe’s holistic health expertise seeking mindset tools to complement physical well-being. Entrepreneurs, coaches, and anyone aiming to align daily habits with long-term purpose will find actionable frameworks.

Yes—readers praise its practical, structured approach to mindset transformation, calling it a “roadmap to personal growth”. The 12 mindshifts address universal challenges like imposter syndrome and purpose alignment, with exercises to implement changes immediately. Positive reviews highlight its blend of motivational storytelling and evidence-based strategies, making it valuable for both casual readers and personal development enthusiasts.

Core concepts include:

• Redefining success as personal growth rather than external achievements
• Self-awareness to identify limiting beliefs
• Purpose-driven action through “finding your why”
• Fear-to-growth mindset shifts for embracing challenges
  The book’s framework emphasizes iterative progress over perfection, using relatable examples from health, career, and relationships.

Drawing on his clinical nutrition and natural medicine expertise, Dr. Axe integrates holistic health principles into mindset work. His experience founding a functional medicine clinic and authoring bestselling wellness books informs the emphasis on mind-body alignment. This unique angle connects mental patterns to physical vitality, distinguishing it from generic self-help guides.

Absolutely. The “Rewriting Your Role” mindshift teaches readers to view themselves as authors of their professional narratives, not passive participants. Strategies include reframing setbacks as growth opportunities and aligning career choices with core values. Case studies demonstrate how these principles help navigate industries like tech and healthcare during transitions.

“Your beliefs shape your reality”—Dr. Axe argues that swapping fear-driven thoughts for growth-oriented perspectives unlocks untapped potential. For example, replacing “I’m stuck” with “I’m learning” transforms challenges into stepping stones. This principle threads through all 12 mindshifts, offering a systematic way to rebuild self-image and decision-making.

While praised for practicality, some readers note the concepts overlap with established psychology frameworks like CBT. However, Dr. Axe’s health-focused lens adds fresh context. A minority desire more data-backed studies, though the book prioritizes actionable steps over academic theory. Overall, critiques are outweighed by its accessibility for mindset beginners.

• Journaling to track belief patterns
• Reframing language (e.g., “I have to” → “I choose to”)
• Weekly “mindshift audits” to assess growth areas
  Dr. Axe suggests starting with one mindshift monthly, using real-life scenarios like difficult conversations or goal-setting to practice.

While Atomic Habits focuses on behavioral systems, Dr. Axe’s book targets underlying belief systems that drive habits. Both emphasize incremental change, but Think This adds a layer of purpose alignment and identity reframing. The books complement each other—Axe’s mindshifts help sustain habit adoption long-term.

• “Your circumstances don’t define you—your beliefs about them do.”
• “Success isn’t what you achieve, but who you become chasing it.”
  These lines encapsulate the book’s focus on internal transformation over external validation. Dr. Axe uses memorable phrasing to reinforce key mindshifts.

In a post-pandemic era of career volatility and AI disruption, its resilience-building frameworks help navigate uncertainty. The mindshift approach aligns with 2025 trends like “quiet thriving” and values-based work, offering tools to adapt while maintaining mental well-being.