Chasing the Wrong Things - A Journey Back to What Really Matters

by Shibu Thomas Mathew

What if everything you’ve been chasing (success, validation, approval) was never meant to fulfill you?
In a world obsessed with achievement and distraction, Chasing the Wrong Things is a powerful, soul-searching guide to slowing down and coming home to what truly matters.

Author Mathew Thomas Shibu invites you on a heartfelt journey through the noise of modern life where burnout, comparison, and misplaced ambition often cloud the path to peace. Through vulnerable storytelling, spiritual insights, and practical reflections, this book helps when you’re chasing the wrong goalsLet go of perfectionism, performance, and people-pleasingReconnect with your core values and inner voiceEmbrace stillness, simplicity, and spiritual alignmentFind the courage to begin again, grounded in truth, not trends
Whether you’re stuck in a cycle of overachievement or questioning the direction of your life, this book is a gentle nudge toward clarity, freedom, and intentional living.

It’s not too late to rewrite your story.

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2025

Reviews

[Kajol Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Wrong Things is one of those rare self-help books that quietly shift something inside you. It doesn’t shout its message, it speaks gently, through heartfelt reflections and relatable life lessons that make you pause and think about what truly matters.

In a world obsessed with achievements, validation and endless comparison, this book feels like a breath of fresh air. Shibu Thomas Mathew invites readers to slow down, to stop measuring life through others’ lenses and instead, realign with their own sense of peace and purpose. Through real-life experiences and simple yet profound insights, he reminds us that success means nothing if it costs our contentment.

What stood out most to me was how universal the message feels. Whether you’re a student trying to figure out your path, a professional caught in the rat race or someone simply trying to find balance, the reflections in this book speak to you personally. The exercises and thought prompts are practical and easy to apply—they encourage self-awareness without ever feeling heavy-handed.

The writing style is honest, uncomplicated and full of warmth. Each page feels like a conversation with a wise friend who has seen life’s highs and lows and wants to share what truly endures. The lessons on gratitude, acceptance and inner peace left a lasting mark on me.

Ultimately, Chasing the Wrong Things is more than a self-help guide, it’s a mirror that gently shows how often we trade real happiness for illusions of success. It reminds us that it’s never too late to pause, reset and choose differently.

[Margie Parreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply immersive, thought-provoking and truly a page-turner.

From the first page, I found myself drawn into Sir Shibu's refreshingly honest storytelling. The chosen words don’t just inform—they invite. Invites to reflect. To let the reader ask the hard questions most of us avoid. It isn’t just a book—it’s a mirror.

This book is a surprising page-turner. Each chapter unfolds like a quiet revelation, pulling you deeper into the author’s journey while unexpectedly making you look at your own. You don’t just read this book passively—it invokes self assessment.

What makes it truly immersive is the way Sir Shibu shared his personal experiences. His reflections feel like the thoughts we’ve had, but never said out loud.

The writing is warm, conversational and fluid.

Congratulations Sir Shibu and Thank You for this beautiful book.

#chasingthewrongthings
#shibuthomasmathew

[Readbymansi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Chasing the Wrong Things” is a heart-touching and honest book that makes you stop and think about what truly matters in life. 💭 In a world where everyone is running after success, fame, and validation, this book feels like a calm pause and a reminder to slow down and breathe. 🌸

Shibu Thomas Mathew shares his real-life experiences with so much honesty and warmth. His words teach us to let go of comparison, listen to our inner voice, and find happiness in the small, simple moments of life. 🌿 Each chapter feels relatable and full of wisdom that gently guides you back to peace and purpose.

This book is for everyone who feels tired, lost, or confused about what they are chasing. It reminds you that true success is not about having more but about choosing what really makes your heart full. 💖

[Y.Khafaja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Wrong Things: A Journey Back to What Really Matters really made me stop and think about my life. It shows how easy it is to get caught up chasing success, recognition, or material things, only to realize they don’t actually bring lasting happiness.

What I loved most is that it’s full of real-life stories and practical lessons. Shibu Mathew encourages you to take a step back and ask yourself: What really matters? The book touches on priorities, relationships, values, balance, and purpose, and each chapter gently makes you reconsider your choices and focus on what truly gives life meaning.

I also appreciated how relatable it feels—the lessons come from real experiences, not just theory. It doesn’t feel like a lecture; it feels like advice from someone who’s been there.

I’d recommend this book to anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unsure about their path. It’s a simple but powerful guide that helps you find clarity and purpose.

[Avinash Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Life is unpredictable, and you have to be prepared to fail. No matter how well you plan, things won’t always unfold the way you expect. You will stumble, fall short, and hit walls you never saw coming. And that’s okay. What matters is making sure you don’t end up chasing the wrong things.

✨Chasing the Wrong Things is a deeply human exploration of where we choose to invest our time, energy, and attention. Through resonant personal stories like quietly tending a rubber plantation the author shows how genuine, long-term success is built on persistent, unseen effort. The core idea revolves around recognizing life’s subtle signals and preparing ourselves before circumstances force us into action. This steady groundwork, the book suggests, is what truly shapes character and future readiness.

✨One of the book’s greatest strengths is its gentle challenge to society’s rigid definitions of success. From the disappointment of a long-awaited mango tree to witnessing the retirement of a powerful CEO, the narrative reveals how pain often comes from expectations that don’t align with reality. It argues that external validation—whether through wealth, fame, or influence—is temporary and circumstantial. True fulfillment lies in internal values such as purposeful living, inner stillness, and steady gratitude.

✨The book also stands out for its exploration of the inner traps that limit our potential. It encourages readers to embrace authenticity, reminding us that true impact often unfolds quietly. Greatness, it suggests, comes from accepting who we are rather than bending ourselves to fit external narratives. With practical tools for self-awareness, the author urges us to question the stories we tell ourselves and stop assuming others’ intentions based on fear.

✨All in all, this book serves as a thoughtful guide for realigning life’s priorities. It inspires readers to focus on consistent growth, embrace uncertainty, and trust their own inner compass turning an ordinary life into something deeply meaningful.

[Annesha Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reflects the obstacles and the wrong paths one has to chase and follow in order to achieve the right thing in life. Serving as a platform, the lessons in the book address the current issues of human discontentment and assist in how to manage expectations when they don't meet with reality. Failure is a stepping stone toward success, and not enough people have the capacity to get along with failure.

The strength of the book lies in the blend of real-life reflections, relatable anecdotes, and practical wisdom. The author tries to teach us how to deal with new challenges and the unexpected circumstances in life. Through the insightful tools to transform life, this book serves as a clean mirror that reflects the misplaced priorities of modern life and its consequences. The author drives the wheel to inspire readers to recalibrate their goals, reconnect with their inner and authentic selves, and pursue a life filled with purpose rather than superficial achievements and showoffs. The importance of gratitude has been elaborately described, and practicing gratitude strengthens the immune system of humans and takes them into the world of peace.

The writing style is simple yet caused a profound impact on the reader's mind by creating a space where success and happiness can coexist if they learn to define them correctly. Therefore, this book serves as a poignant reminder for humans that true success lies in living meaningfully and discovering contentment in a heart free from grudges.

[Megha Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the noise of deadlines, dreams, and digital validation, we forget the rhythm of our own heartbeat. This book gently brings you back to it, helping you rediscover peace in a world that never stops running.

The author’s words feel less like advice and more like quiet conversations with yourself. Through heartfelt reflections and relatable life stories, the author reminds us that success means little if it costs our peace. The book doesn’t lecture; it whispers. Every chapter feels like a pause, a chance to breathe, reflect, and realign with what truly matters.

What stands out most is how personal yet universal the message feels. Whether you’re a student trying to figure out your direction, a professional caught in constant comparison, or someone simply searching for meaning, these pages speak directly to you. The reflective exercises are simple yet powerful, guiding you toward self-awareness without judgment.

The author’s writing is unpretentious, warm, and deeply human. The author doesn’t try to impress you; he tries to reach you, and that’s what makes this book special. The author’s thoughts on gratitude, balance, and redefining success linger long after you’ve turned the last page.

This book is more than a self-help; it’s a mirror that quietly shows how often we trade real joy for temporary applause. A soulful, grounding, and beautifully written reminder to slow down, breathe, and chase what truly fills your heart.

[dewscribes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing the Wrong Things, written by Shibu Thomas Mathew, is a reflective and intimate invitation for someone who feels lost in the pursuit of success and validation. In today’s society where external comparison is a normal part of living, the author encourages the reader to pause, breathe, and return home to what is valuable. Through authentic story telling and elements of spirituality, Mathew takes us along the journey from pursuing validation and perfection to peace, purpose and authenticity.

The book has the merit of being easy to follow and sincere. There is no preachy undertone here, but they’re inviting you rather than telling you. Each chapter feels like a relaxed conversation with a wise friend, who has struggled with burnout and self-doubt themselves. The practical reflection after each section, allow the reader space to reflect with either self-awareness or mindful living, while gently re-aligning back to their values.

Ultimately, Chasing the Wrong Things is about embracing joy in stillness and meaning in simplicity. In a fast paced life that we are accustomed to thinking that achievements are what leads to meaning (inner fulfillment), to remind ourselves that fulfillment lies in simply being present and true to ourselves. A lovely, well written, and calming read for those who want to slow down and seek their way back home again.

[Shweta · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world that demands hustle, achievement and validation, Chasing the Wrong Things by Shibu Thomas Mathew is one such book that shows you that its not success or goals your soul truly craves for or the goals you are constantly chasing were never yours to run after. It helps you see what truly matters pulling down the curtain of our unnecessary chaos.

Our lives are running on autopilot and reading this book can feel like a much needed pause. The author has unraveled for us the truth behind our empty achievements through heartwarming storytelling and spiritual wisdom.

The author doesnt judge us, he highlights not only the problem but its solution as well by helping us reflect on stillness and simplicity by letting go of
perfectionism. He reminds us that peace is a home to return to and not a goal to achieve.

The writing is relatable, raw and honest blending personal insights with spiritual depth. This makes the book a guide or a companion instead of a self-help book only.

Chasing the Wrong Things leaves can give you with a refreshing perception on clarity, real fulfillment and priorities.This book is best is for the days when you are feeling burnt out, stuck, or overall restless.

[Manoj · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Chasing the Wrong Things: A Pathway Back to What Matters Most
by Shibu Thomas Mathew

Chasing the Wrong Things is special, one of those rare self-help books that quietly change something in you. It is not shouting any message it speaks softly, through deeply-impressive thoughts and relatable personal stories that make you stop and reflect on what matters to you.

In a world that is crazy obsessed with achievement, validation, and continuous comparisons, frankly it needs its message - it feels that fresh to breathe in. Shibu Thomas Mathew invites the reader to slow down, to stop assessing your life through their paradigm for your own, and to return to your own lesson of peace and purposefulness. With a combination of personal anecdotes, and simple poignant deep reflections, it helps to remind us that absent our own happy, success means nothing.

This is genuine writing, and you can feel the warmth of honesty shift on each page, like conversation with an older wise friend who also seems to have been through all the ups, downs and turning points. Even the lessons around acceptance, gratitude, and inner peace linger in both mind and body well beyond completion of the book.

✨ A soul-full reminder, it is never too late to pause, reset and choose what matters most.

[Sakshi Patle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Wrong Things isn’t a book that preaches it’s one that gently sits with you, like a quiet friend who understands your tired heart. Shibu Thomas Mathew’s writing carries a soft sincerity, the kind that comes from someone who has witnessed life’s noise and consciously chosen a slower, more meaningful path. His words glow like tiny lanterns, illuminating the corners within us we often overlook.

The book blends stories, reflections, and lived wisdom, effortlessly showing how easily we drift toward achievement, toward validation, toward expectations that aren’t always ours. Its power lies in its simplicity. It doesn’t demand change; it encourages awareness. It doesn’t push; it guides.

Every chapter feels like a mindful pause a breath you didn’t know you needed. The themes of self-worth, inner peace, resilience, and intentional living are expressed with tenderness and clarity. 💯
By the final pages, the book stops feeling like a guide and instead becomes a companion steady, calming, and reassuring. It reminds you that you can always return to yourself, no matter how far you’ve wandered.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, misplaced, or simply disconnected, this book is a gentle invitation to slow down and come back home to what matters.😊

[Mansi Ramwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Have you ever hit all the milestones you thought would make you happy… only to feel empty? 😔

That’s exactly what Chasing the Wrong Things by Shibu Thomas Mathew dives into—and honestly, it’s the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and breathe. 🌿

In today’s hustle culture 🚀 where we’re constantly chasing success, likes, and validation, this book is like a soft but powerful wake-up call. 📖💡

Mathew’s storytelling is heartfelt and vulnerable, and his reflections are full of wisdom that makes you rethink what you’re really living for.

The book gently guides you to:
🌸 Recognize when you’re pursuing goals that don’t truly serve you
🌸 Let go of people-pleasing + perfectionism
🌸 Reconnect with your inner voice and values
🌸 Find joy in simplicity and stillness

What I loved most is how relatable it feels—it doesn’t preach, it whispers truths we already know but often ignore. 🌌

It’s the perfect read if you’ve been feeling burnt out, stuck, or just searching for a more intentional life.

Because at the end of the day… maybe it’s not about chasing more. Maybe it’s about choosing better. 💖

[Chithu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chasing the Wrong Things by Shibu Thomas Mathew is a relatable read that subtly make us stop and examine the direction that life is taking. This book is an oasis of stillness in a world of constant noise, comparison and pressure to perform in order to satisfy expectations. The author makes his readers see through his truthful narrations and spiritual reflections how simple it is to lose direction in the quest of validation and success and how liberating it can be to relax and get back to what is really important to us.

My favorite part is that the writing is so touchable and so soothing, as if a friend was telling you life related stuff while you have a cup of tea. The gentle reminders that are found in every page can help to get rid of perfectionism, enjoy simplicity, and be authentic. It is not only a book about transforming your purposes, it is also about regaining peace, appreciation, and purpose in our daily lives. A lovely and motivating book to read when one is stuck, overwhelmed, or just in need of balance.

[Nelly_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fast paced world, we’re all running towards our materialistic desires, success, validation, the next milestone. But what if all this running is pulling us away from what truly matters? Chasing the Wrong Things by Shibu Thomas Mathew is that gentle reminder to stop, breathe, and come home to yourself. What makes this book special isn’t just its message, but the way it’s delivered softly, sincerely and without judgment. Shibu doesn’t preach; he invites. Each chapter feels like a quiet conversation with a friend who’s been through the chaos and found clarity on the other side. His reflections on gratitude, purpose and peace are simple yet profound. What I loved most were the reflective pauses woven between the stories where they make you think, “What am I really chasing?”. If you’ve ever felt lost in the noise of hustle culture or caught comparing your timeline to everyone else’s, this book is your gentle reset. A soulful, grounding, and inspiring read that reminds you that meaning isn’t found in the race ,but in the pause.

[Madhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quiet lantern held up to the restless heart. The author writes with the tenderness of someone who has walked through his own storms and learned to listen to the whispers beneath the noise. His journey becomes a mirror—reflecting our own chase for validation, our tight grip on perfection, and the silent ache of trying to be enough.

The book moves like a gentle river, carrying the reader through seasons of receiving, gathering, and finally giving. Its stories are warm, vulnerable, and disarmingly honest, reminding us that growth rarely happens in the spotlight but in the stillness we often avoid. The author’s reflections on expectations, identity, resilience, kindness, and inner alignment feel like a companion sitting beside you rather than a teacher speaking above you.

Chapter 6, Rewriting the Story, stands out as a turning point—offering practical, heartfelt prompts that made me pause and breathe deeper. This book is not advice; it’s an awakening. A quiet invitation to begin again—with clarity, courage, and truth.

[sahaneeya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Chasing the Wrong Things" by Shibu Thomas Mathew is a nook that encourages us to reconsider the what success and happiness truly mean. The book is a honest examination of how modern life’s hustle culture and external validation leaves us feeling empty, unhappy, and burned out. Through relatable stories, exercises, and reflections, Mathew provides insights and strps that we can apply in daily life to reconnect with their authentic selves and inner peace. Rather than giving us robotic solutions, the writing style is encouraging, making us to pause and choose a more better approach to life problems. The book feels like a conversation with a friend. The book talks about gratitude, acceptance, and embracing simplicity, and that small memories and connections matter more than achievements that do not serve us. The author encourages us to live in the present and not compare ourselves to others. I would recommend this book to those who feel burnt out due to the constant hustle of life.

[Anita_in_Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌌 Chasing the Wrong Things – Shibu Thomas Mathew

We spend our lives sprinting toward success 🏃‍♂️💨, collecting milestones like trophies 🏆, and chasing applause 👏… but what if, at the finish line, it still feels empty?

That’s the heartbeat of this book. 💖 Instead of shouting advice, Mathew quietly guides you back home—to yourself. 🪷

✨ Inside, you’ll discover how to:
🔎 Recognize goals that drain rather than fulfill you
🚫 Release people-pleasing & perfection masks
🎶 Hear your own inner voice again
🌿 Rediscover the joy of stillness & simplicity

What makes it different? 🌈
It feels like a friend sitting beside you, whispering truths you’ve always known but forgot to honor. 💌

If you’re exhausted 😮‍💨, lost 🌀, or craving meaning 🌟—this book doesn’t just inspire, it realigns.

Because happiness isn’t about chasing more…
🌹 It’s about choosing what truly matters.

[Solo_leveling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Wrong Things is a sweet, emotional book that makes one stop and take a look inside. Shibu Thomas Mathew is candid, warm and immensely knowledgeable on contemporary plight. His lyrics make us remember how simple it is to lose ourselves in success, acceptance, and pressure and why it is necessary to come back to ourselves. The narratives and thoughts are so real and reassuring, as though your friend, who directs you out of the muddiness into the light. The book will make you slow, take a breath and remember the values, peace and purpose. It demonstrates that it is not too late to turn the tide and live simply, intentionally and meaningfully. A gorgeous manual to all who feel all lost.

[Kanak Tiwari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Wrong Things by Shibu Thomas Mathew feels less like a book and more like a quiet wake-up call. Readers describe it as that gentle tug on your sleeve reminding you that somewhere between goals and routines, you’ve lost sight of what truly matters. The writing is calm, honest, and deeply relatable — it doesn’t tell you to fix your life, it simply nudges you to look at it differently.

What makes it special is how personal it feels. Each chapter echoes the chaos of modern living — the rush, the burnout, the emptiness that follows — yet offers peace without pretending to have all the answers. It’s a book that doesn’t shout to inspire; it whispers, and somehow that’s enough.

[Jenny Writes · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Warnings give us a moment to pause, reflect and adjust before stepping into the unknown."

Helping one understand the value of moments before they turn out to be becomes memories full of regrets, indulge into an enlightening journey that will provoke within you the right insight to having a more fulfilling and nurturing journey called life.

Written out of experiences and observations which will bring within you the urge to fight back what's right and stand with all your might, made this book a commendable read to be elated by.

A wholesome journey penned and compiled for the reader to be benefitted by.

[Arushaa Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are the author to your own tale,so don't let the wrong intentions and understanding fail.
Written in a comprehensive and wholesome manner, this read is here to serve as a guide for you to understand the value and importance and everything and anything that actually is worth sparing your time and energy in.

The book which i randomly got into hands, turned out to bring a clarity within myself and my actions that often don't align with the moment.

In a nutshell,it's moreover a read that will nurture your mind and make you feel overwhelmed by your actions and efforts compiled in the read.

Phenomenally delivered !!!

[Marta Primaveras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Wrong Things is an inspiring and deeply reflective read. Shibu Mathew beautifully reminds us that authenticity is our greatest strength and that true fulfillment lies in chasing what really matters, not material gains or recognition. Through his personal journey from humble beginnings to leadership, he shares wisdom, encouragement, and life lessons that resonate deeply. This book is not just a guide but also a mirror for introspection, urging us to pause, realign, and embrace our uniqueness. A must-read for anyone seeking clarity, purpose, and inspiration

[L♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Chasing the Wrong Things✨ by Shibu Thomas Mathew

This book hit right in the feels. It’s raw, honest, and basically a reminder we all need in a world obsessed with “doing more.” Shibu’s words slow you down and make you breathe, reminding you that success isn’t about hustle, likes, or status, but about peace, gratitude, and choosing what actually makes your heart happy.

Every chapter feels like a deep talk with someone who gets it. The reflective exercises? Super simple yet powerful. The message? 100% universal,no matter where you are in life.

If you’ve ever felt lost, tired, or stuck in comparison mode, this book is like a warm hug telling you to let go, reset, and just be. 🌿

My take:A calming, relatable, and soul-soothing read perfect for anyone trying to find balance in the chaos.