Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: self-help

  • Is He Here yet

    Is He Here yet

    Is He Here Yet from clinical psychologist Dr Tony Ortega is a fascinating study in fact, fiction, self-indulgence, healing and spiritualism, that somehow makes sense in the modern world of today, along with the many challenges that come with poor self-esteem, low self-confidence and finding the right partner as an older person.

    Ortega is a Gay man who has struggled with relationships so much so, that he realised he needed help to be able to once again go out into society and have a balanced relationship with other Gay men, after the breakup of his what was then, his recent long lasting relationship of 69 days.

    He had to face reality; there must be something wrong with him; Why was he so desperately needy and what could he do to understand how to move on and develop a good, long lasting relationship. Even though he was a trained and practicing psychologist, he could not help himself.

    This is an interesting side bar to the story as he uses case studies to illustrate the chapters from time to time and in these he is working with the same issues in his clients as he is aware of on a personal level!

    He uses his personal story of his relationship with Fernando and offsets the lessons he learned from that relationship to heal and further understand his emotional journey, to discovering who he really was and that is was perfectly all right to be who he was: single and loving it.

    Although written for the Gay man the underlying theme of self-destructive patterns is one to which most people can relate. How he has gone about healing, becoming a life coach and discovering a way through life’s tricky relationship situations, is also something to which everyone can relate.

    After trying many, many destructive pathways he finally came across ‘A Course in Miracles” a unique self-study program designed to gain awareness and healing through spirituality and the understanding of a high power, or God.

    Each chapter has Miracle Moments which are informative along with a Makeover Moments in which questions are posed for the reader to answer. There are also a number of affirmations to use, which Ortega has found make a difference to understanding why “Making your relationships the higher power’ in your life is or can be so destructive.

    The Appendix is also of great assistance as it sets out some practical steps to take in your self-care routine, all of which should be used by everyone to promote a sense of wellbeing and relaxation.

    Well worth reading if you are struggling with relationship issues, self-doubt or suffer from lack of self-care, Is He Here Yet could also be considered as a dating manual of do’s and don’ts for the modern world.

  • There Has To Be More: The Essential Guide to Personal Growth

    There Has To Be More: The Essential Guide to Personal Growth

    If you have ever felt that there is more to life, you are not alone. Thousands of smart, capable, and amazing people have has this exact same sensation. After experiencing burn out and deep depression, Rachel Service came to the conclusion that her life drastically needed to change. With the help of friends, family, councilors, and others she put her life back on track.  She is now CEO of her own company Happiness Concierge.

     Her book “There Has to Be More: The essential Guide to Personal Growth” is a handbook, which provides the readers with direction and a set of tools to bring a positive change their life; to experience more joy and success in their everyday interactions. 

    “There Has to be More” firstly explores how the reader may have come to the conclusion that change was imperative, by encouraging self-reflection. Once establishing this desire for change the author provides a step-by-step guide to the Growth Cycle. By sharing her own experiences and those of her clients to illustrate these steps, she emphasises the importance of prioritizing what is important and regularly recording success.

    As the transition to a new and better life does not come without its frustrations, Rachel Service has included a ‘survival guide’, which encourages the use of professional coaching, boundaries and confident communication to create a helpful defense mechanism. In addition, the ‘references and further reading’ section at the end of the book provides the reader with a comprehensive list of resources to further enhance life.

    If you are looking for change in your life and don’t know where to start, look no further than this easy to read, comprehensive, workbook book.

  • Innate Independence: Repositioning through the Mind of Resilience

    Innate Independence: Repositioning through the Mind of Resilience

    Resilience is something that is an inbuilt component of each and every one, but in the madness that is today’s world it is something that has been ignored or overlooked in the rush to find a quick fix to just about every emotional disorder such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, lack of self-confidence and self- esteem.

    As Peta Collett discovered after spending many, many years in the company of all of the above, her ability to use her natural resilience began her pathway to a full, healthy and happier life. A lightbulb moment saw her begin to reassess just what it was that she could do to makes some serious changes in her life.

    Beginning with very small steps she realised as time went on, she was beginning to feel physically better and eventually emotionally more stable, without realising she has done anything at all, other than carry out a regime of riding her bicycle, walking, enjoying music and learning to understand how her mind worked amongst other concepts.

    Many long conversations with herself opened up fresh new pathways to help manage change, challenges and coping with the simple everyday tasks in life. Self- healing was working on a holistic basis, whereas the more commercial aspects of medication, psychology and counselling, while helping on a temporary basis, failed long term. Eventually, becoming fascinated with how the mind and emotions work, she studied counselling, which helped her understand the she had been practicing self-sealing and building on the body and minds natural resilience, for more years that she realised.

    Now a confident woman in charge of her life and business, Peta Collett shares her pathway to practical healing and health in Innate Independence,  – repositioning through the mind of resilience, which is a must read for anyone seeking a new pathway towards to acceptance, resilience, being a calmer more in control person, letting go of old emotional ties and moving on to a fresh, new outlook and future.

  • Break Through

    Break Through

    Stereotyping is something that is as old as the hills, and when it comes of women in business this is something that is hard to change as it is as entrenched as ‘the old boys’ network.

    This attitude is slowly but surely changing, thanks to women like Marina Go who set their course then work hard, effectively and efficiently to achieve their target.

    In Marina’s case she was born into a multicultural family of refugees; her mother the daughter of a single parent Italian woman, her father a Chinese’s student escaping a violent and unhappy family life; both people hoping for a chance to make a fresh start in the ‘land of opportunity’.

    The family grew up with hard work as a basis for achievement which has stood Marina in good stead as she has slowly but surely carved a pathway to the very top over the past 30 years.

    As a young girl she has dreams of becoming the editor of Dolly magazine, commencing  her career in media as a cadet reporter with the Daily Mirror in 1987, becoming the editor of Dolly at 23, moving on to become the general manager of the elite glossies, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, and Cosmopolitan.

    She moved on into the emerging market of foodie magazines, establishing Australian Good Taste, followed by digital media and then took on the seriously male dominated NRL to become the first female Chair of the Wests Tigers Club.

    This has not come without hardship; the challenge of combining motherhood and family with a career that is both exciting, challenging and demanding, as well as learning the hard way, how to handle the many and varied ego’s that tend to populate the magazine and print industries, as well as the world of business.

    In this work, she shares many of the tips and pointers that have helped her meet the challenges, carve out a successful career and raise, with the help of her beloved father and husband, two boys.

    Each chapter focuses on one of what she refers to as the 20 most important points in business, all based on her personal experiences and all bringing with them irony, laughter, frustration and learning. Several chapters have dot point highlighting important areas such as Nine pieces of advice I would give my 20-something self, which is something we should all reflect back on, Chapter 10 deals with Act on Your Gut Instinct which is very important component when making  difficult business decisions and as she points out, takes a lot of courage. Her pointers here are invaluable as are her Ten characteristics of a leader.

    Five bits of advice I like to impart to the next generation of female leaders is reflective as well as motivational and should be noted down by any woman heading for the top of her career.

    As a must read, it is both enjoyable and entertaining while imparting years of heard learned wisdom to anyone woman who wants to challenge the stereotypes, become a successful leader and most importantly, enjoy their journey to the top!

  • Coach Yourself: A 7-Step Guide to Personal Happiness

    Coach Yourself: A 7-Step Guide to Personal Happiness

    Muffy Churches reaches out with her wealth of experience as a success coach to encourage you along on onto the roadway toward change. But not change for changes’ sake, but change desired to make a difference within your life; to empower and create rewards that are there for you to accept.

    With a lovely, comfortable way of writing, she takes you through the journey of change in a manner that makes you feel she is speaking with you on a personal level each step of the way on your journey to success.

    She has a very realistic approach to the many barriers that lie along the pathway to making any change, whether it be large or small and openly states that you will step backwards, sometimes as many time as you step forwards, which, when you are embarking on a journey of self-improvement, is important to recognise.

    Addressing the issues of traditional mindset, common anxieties, lack of confidence and that wonderful place called your comfort zone, which we all love to inhabit as, while it may not always be a nice place, it is a place we know all about.

    But whether it be ‘a big dream or a small change’, you wish to undertake, you must always be prepared to begin and, by beginning, take an holistic look at both the big and small picture of what you wish to achieve.

    As a success coach, Muffy Churches has created a seven step guide to personal fulfilment, which is very easy to use as you begin your journey. Many of the hard questions are asked in each of the seven steps, which should be treated as workbooks, complete with assignments, case studies and self- assessments. Each step is presented in such a way that while encouraging you to be honest with yourself, also reinforces the ‘be kind to yourself’ philosophy.

    If you fall by the way from time to time, that’s OK, as by doing so you have learned another thing about yourself and often reinforced the reason you are seeking change.

    Regardless of the reason for seeking change, you are offered the tools to sort out the How, Why, Where, When and What of the changes required in a wonderful, warm and inspiring manner.

    Perhaps it is best to read the book through before you commence your journey, treating it as a presentation to the excitement and pleasure to be found in peeling back the layers, to discovering the person you have always been sure was there, hiding underneath a barrier of learned behaviour.

    ‘Bonne chance’ as you set out on your exciting new discovery of who you really are, as you learn to live your new, fresh, lifestyle in positivity, happiness and well-being.

     

     

  • Transformation: Turning Tragedy into Triumph

    Transformation: Turning Tragedy into Triumph

    There is so much tragedy in the world it is only fair for every individual to experience some in their own lives.  Spike Milligan is thought to have said that and there’s no doubt that learning about others tragedies can help one to manage one’s own experience. We read that ‘pain is inevitable – misery is optional’.

    Dr Tim Sharp gathered together a group of people who have each experienced a life changing tragedy.  They wrote about both what happened to them and then explained their reactions, what they did, how they learnt to absorb the tragedy and to cope with the rest of their lives.   At the end of each chapter Tim Sharp summarises their experience and discusses their various coping mechanisms

     In a number of cases the people involved move from being the victim to being able to assist others – both perpetrators with their actions and victims with their traumas. It’s one thing to live through abuse, rape, murder or other trauma; many of the participants in the book are now authors and speakers who have moved on to help people recognise and deal with their life’s traumas and difficulties.

    This is not an easy book.  Some of the stories are hard to read, let alone to live through and one is left with amazed admiration for the resilience of the participants. The importance of listening to our friends – really listening and being there for them when they need help – is one message I took from one of the stories. Suicide is a scourge in Australia – it has been said that a third of single person car crashes may be suicides. And while the loss of any life in this way is terrible, the effects on the families and friends who are left behind can be an ongoing ordeal.

    This is a useful book to keep close – you will be inspired by the stories and reminded that humans can rebound from even the most appalling travesties; not only recover but move on to help others.

     

  • Karma Zero

    Karma Zero

    Karma Zero is a big title for a small book. What is packed inside this small book is a big amount of information which, if the final page is anything to go by, is written to be passed on, to share with others.

    Essentially it is about one man’s journey into discovering what his purpose is in life; why he was born where he was and the journey he undertook to discover a simple and yet complex fundamental; discovering he was born to serve.

    Sach was born in Nice, a picturesque town in France, moving with his parents to Paris when he was just ten years old. About this time he realised that he was born to travel, that this was to be his mission in life as far as he knew it. That by travelling he would learn all he was required to learn to achieve his destiny.

    His travels as a young man commence in Venezuela where he meets John, a German-Canadian who teaches him about Generosity and Abundance and so it goes as he moves on to each new destination. Each time he meets specific people, learning something significant and influential before he moves on. His final journey proves to be the most significant when he heads back to Europe, finally landing in Italy and moving on to Assisi, to the holy town of St Francis (San Francesco),then on to the monastery of Monte Subasio where he was adopted by Padre Dietmar.

    This proved profound, as this is where he finally discovers his mission on this earth is to Serve!

    Part two expands on this journey giving a deeper insight into life journeys, as his or rather  Milan’s journey still continues on towards a deeper understanding of serving his fellow man. He finally arrives at the conclusion that, ‘in everyday life, actions, decisions and choices always exist (sic). Life carries us along without ever condemning us. We are all in transition’ (sic).

    Deeply introspective, the journey described is enjoyable, informative and inspirational as it allows you to enter a deeper understanding, a deeper refection upon the course of your life; what you do and why you choose to do what you undertake in your daily existence.

    Effectively; everything has a purpose and while you do not always understand this purpose there is one and that will lead you on to completing your ‘moment in eternity’, your life cycle

  • Paradise and Promises

    Paradise and Promises

    That Marlowe Sand has had the courage to write this book with no blame apportioned to anyone who was involved in the story is remarkable. What else is remarkable is that she has been able to come through this devastating experience and rebuild her life; returning to a place of acceptance within that has allowed her to look back and forgive her quest for perfection and the problems both to herself and her loved ones, her quest had created.

    When, as a young mother and wife, Marlowe began to look for another interest in in her life, to fill what she considered a gap, she found she was attracted to a new meditation group forming not far from her home. Attending the first class with a good dose of scepticism, she discovered that what teacher Andrew Cohen was preaching was reaching out to her needs.

    She felt fulfilled, relaxed and in her opinion able to manage the daily stress of family life better.

    Sadly, this was to be the beginning of slow and seductive slide into a lifestyle that was to see her sacrifice all she believed in, all her fundamental values in life, all her passion, love and strength.

    It also caused her to become submissive to a cult, to a self-styled Guru who set out on the right pathway to enlightenment but somehow, along the way become a megalomaniac, demanding total and submissive obedience to his wishes and desires from all his followers.

    Leaving her husband and taking her two young daughters to America was the first step in a serious dedication to Cult lifestyle, to becoming a member of a commune, surviving on the faint hope that what she did would appeal to Guru Andrew Cohen; that he would bless her for her efforts, was to become an essential part of her very existence.

    But she was to eventually discover this guru did indeed have feet of clay, when her desire to fulfil a punishment, along with several other women, almost caused the death of one of the other followers. Some of the punishments meted out certainly destroyed a number of cult members mental and physical health.

    She was also beginning to question the damage she had caused in her daughter lives with her constant obsession with Andre Cohen and the cults incredibly excessive and damaging demands.

    In her final chapter she reflects that the cult, headed by Andrew Cohen, was overall incredibly destructive but that there were ‘also elements of grace and healing that ran simultaneously through his work’.

    This is a work that is a must read for anyone who is thinking of setting out on a pathway to enlightenment with a Guru, in a practice or ‘religion’ that they do not fully understand.

    After standing down as the leader of this cult, Andrew Cohen admitted to one of his ex-students ‘that most of the time he was ‘teaching’ he made a lot of mistakes and had not known what he was doing’ is warning in itself that, although some good can and does come out of this style of ‘cult religion’, a good deal of destruction seems to be more apparent.

    That Marlowe is able to write this book is a tribute to her inner strength as a person, that she has shared her experience with the world in remarkable, that her words of warning should go unheated is unthinkable.