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Pat St. Germain examines books to help you help yourself.
Journey to Joy: The Transformation of a Life … 21 Days at a Time Christalee Froese Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing
Trying to be a perfect mom, friend, wife and allround citizen of the world is exhausting work. Worse yet, it doesn’t pay.
Christalee Froese knows that from experience. Locked in dual struggles with depression and a relentlessly judgmental inner critic, Froese felt she had to shoulder the weight of the world until she suffered an emotional breakdown at age 43.
A successful freelance writer blessed with a loving husband, son, friends and family, Froese knew she had every reason to be happy, especially after the arrival of her adopted daughter, a Chinese orphan she named Journey. So, she embarked on a campaign to claim the joy that had so far eluded her.
Knowing that it takes at least 21 days for a habit to take root, she challenged herself to focus on adopting a new outlook. Over 18 months, she took on a series of 21-day improvement projects to bring peace, creativity, music, travel, fitness and food, gratitude and, finally, joy into her life.
Froese’s path is not for everyone, but the book is an invitation to start your own journey, wherever it might take you.
Take Control of Your Life: Rescue Yourself and Live the Life You Deserve J. Paul Nadeau HarperCollins
Former cop and hostage negotiator Nadeau supplies motivational exercises aimed at putting negative self-talk on lockdown. Nadeau discovered the power of positive thinking at an early age. Accustomed to living down to the low expectations of his teachers and alcoholic father, he had an epiphany after he successfully challenged himself to pass an exam.
The concepts he advances are simple: If a terrorist takes you hostage, you’re basically screwed.
If you’re held hostage by your own nagging inner voice, you hold the key to escape.
Not all his examples translate so easily, but Nadeau’s law-enforcement background provides a novel approach to this well-worn genre.