Beyond the Doors of Chaos — A step up from Rock Bottom by Ghafeetho Abrahams

This is not just another self-help book that you will read and remember, but a book that you will be able to relate to. Here is where lies the beauty of Ghafeetho Abrahams’ book?Beyond the Doors of Chaos?— A Step up from Rock Bottom. Her voice is one with which you can identify. This nonfiction read is a book of realization, guidance, enlightenment, and a journey that you will take for yourself.

There are days, when all of?us, at some point or another, feel like we have hit rock bottom. Hope is lost, and the zeal for life fades. Even the simplest things of life seem complicated. Ghafeetho helps you identify what you feel, how to deal with it, and why you shouldn’t give up.

How to use this book

Ghafeetho guides you throughout the book. All you have to do is start from the very beginning. Whether you read it in one go or read it over a course of time is up to you, but this is a journey that you must take one step at a time. Each chapter is like the next stepping stone. Use the blank spaces to scribble, vent, plan, complain and highlight what you like. Refer back to it as many times as you want. This book challenges you and questions you. Don’t be afraid to be honest and answer without a filter. What you do with this opportunity is entirely up to you. Use a journal or a notebook to complete the activities which will stimulate personal growth in your journey. To use this book well, all you need to know right now is that you are capable.

Why this is a must-read before 2021 ends

2020 and 2021 have been tough years for so many people around the globe due to the pandemic and otherwise. If you feel demotivated and believe that there is no redemption beyond the chaos of your life, this is a must-read for you. This book will assist you in getting back on track. Ghafeetho Abrahams shows you how to be thankful for the simplest of things whilst preparing for what the future has in store for you. By the end of the book, you will experience a new light of love and gratitude that will fill you and will be a great kickstart for 2022. It enables you to be a better version of yourself in the coming years.

The author sheds light on simple things of life in a way that will take you on a path of self-realization and evaluation of your actions and their consequences. Starting from why we as humans make excuses for everything and blame something/someone for the decisions we make, to the feeling of true gratitude and what it means in everyday life, this book covers the most essential spheres of humanity. The actions in this book can be repeated whenever you confront adversity in the future.?Beyond the Doors of Chaos?isn’t just a one-time read. You can always go back and pick this book up when you feel low and just a few pages will get you back on your feet.

Self-Awareness, Gratitude and Action Plans

Ghafeetho’s book clearly states that the first step in the journey of self-awareness is identifying your problems. Lying to yourself can only work for a while. In the long run, it only pulls you down, keeps you at the threshold of every opportunity and makes it impossible for you to take the next step forward. When we are honest to ourselves, our constant habit of making excuses sheds itself. Ghafeetho mentions a few excuses that we all make in our everyday life to avoid conflict and shift blame to someone/something else. Here are a few that you may recognize.

“I am too old.”

“I am too busy.”

“I don’t have the money.”

“I am too tired.”

“I have no clue where to begin.”

“I have no idea what I want.”

“I don’t think I can do it.”

My biggest realisation as I was reading the book was how Ghafeetho gets straight to the point, addresses the problem, and provides insights from an extremely realistic perspective. As you flip the pages, your outlook on simple gestures like saying ‘Thank you’?to express gratitude will undergo introspection. The author believes gratitude changes the perspective. “Intensify your moments of gratitude,” says Ghafeetho in Chapter 3 of the book.

Further ahead in the book, as the author talks about self-doubt and insecurity, she also provides a four-step plan that is easy to follow to start building your self-worth. Most of us read self-help books and then chuck it to the corner of the bookshelf — the wisdom gained, slowly fading with time. But this book is different. After each of these chapters comes an activity that ensures you apply the knowledge you gain from the book and remember it for a lifetime. My favourite activity from the book that I can never forget is ‘Do something Nice for Yourself’?in which Ghafeetho encourages the reader to list a few activities that the individual does just for the pleasure of it and asks them to write a few sentences describing the experiences when they were nice to themselves.

Just Breathe — Ghafeetho’s message to her readers

The book does not end with just how-to paragraphs. Towards the end of the book, Ghafeetho leaves her readers with a choice to make for themselves after they put the book down. She reminds them that this is a journey they have to take, and there will come times one may seem to be failing. What matters is the persistence to work actively on ourselves. The best way to begin again is by taking deep breaths and making positive affirmations to oneself.

This book is a great read if you want to grow and be a better version of yourself. The only question is, are you ready to take this journey?

About Ghafeetho Abrahams

Ghafeetho Abrahams?wants to live in a world where individuals confidently believe in themselves and are empowered enough to pursue their dreams and live up to their greatest potential. Born in Strand in the Western Cape, she is a wife and a mother to two precious girls. She qualified as a teacher, teaching Mathematics for several years to aspiring young learners. Ghafeetho has always had a love for motivating and being motivated. She believes that everyone can live up to their greatest potential. With her colourful zest for life and consistently wanting to grow, her journey of discovering her creative side has been a real adventure. Writing inspirational books has always been on her mind. She wanted to write a book with a familiar voice that so many can relate to.

With her published book,?Two years before 30, it has become a reality. A motivational guide that enables young women to overcome obstacles in their way of achieving great things and to draw them closer to their greatest potential. Ghafeetho is determined to help individuals to change the limiting views of themselves.

About the Blog Writer

Kashish Lewis, Author of?You Me and Love

Currently, in Bangalore, Kashish Lewis is a poet, author and designer. You will find her at a local bookstore, open mics, cafes or simply rummaging through a stack of books on sale. She talks about mental health, modern-day feminism and other social issues on her social media pages. Her love for meeting people and learning from new connections brings her to the world of events. Find her debut poetry book ‘You Me and Love’ on?Amazon?or the?Inkfeathers Bookstore.?You can connect with her on?Linkedin?and?Instagram.