From the category archives:

Book Reviews

Without a Doubt, The Next Book You Should Read Is…

by joi on August 23, 2010

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth should absolutely be the next book you read. In fact, if you read only one (non-human-authored) book this year, I encourage you to choose The Instant Millionaire by Mark Fisher.

(Of course, then I’d encourage you to read the rest of the books I recommend on Self Help Daily – one by one. After all, books can encourage, motivate, enlighten, and inspire. Who wants to miss out on any of that?)

My great love of books and my eagerness to publish book reviews – recommending the best of the best to my friends (that would be you) – often creates a bit of a quandary for me. I read so many great books that sometimes I fear that truly outstanding ones (such as The Instant Millionaire) will get lost in the masses. There are times I wonder if each book I recommend will be able to stand on its own two brilliant feet.

However, I saw something the other day that alleviated this book worm’s fears: A Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. They’ve given out gazillions of these honors – the total surpasses even the number of books I’ve read… this year, anyway. Yet each one of their recommendations more than stands on its own two feet, it stands tall.

Which is my fervent hopes for the books I recommend. As I often remind you, I don’t recommend each book I read. Remember the song by Salt & Pepa, Push It. The great voice at the first of the song says, “Now wait a minute, y’all. This dance ain’t for everybody. Only the sexy people. So all you fly mothers, get out there and dance. Dance I say.”

In an equally dramatic voice, that’s what I say to my very, very favorite books – aka the ones that blow my socks off. So here is my review for one such book. A fly mother, to be sure.

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth by Mark Fisher is a highly unique book. It is exactly as the title suggests: A tale. A fictional story – as in colorful characters, a plot, unexpected twists, drama, humor, and the whole shebang. However, the lessons to be taken away from the entertaining story are more than worth the time and money you invest in them. You’re apt to learn as much, or more, from this book than any book you’ve read in a very long time.

This book has the potential to change your life in ways you never imagined. One of the main reasons is that it reminds you just how important your thoughts are. Your thoughts build your world or they tear it down. In this remarkable little talk, Mark Fisher does a beautiful job of illustrating the difference between constructive thoughts and destructive thoughts.

Below are the 3 main reasons I’m so excited about The Instant Millionaire. These, added to the fact that the book reads fast (although I promise you that you’ll want to read it through several times) AND meets my much-ballyhooed “Treadmill Criteria,” meaning I was able to hold the book and read it as I worked out on the treadmill. You know the drill, bonus points are awarded to books that allow me this luxury.

The Instant Millionaire opens up a door that leads to a new way of thinking. Not only are you challenged to look at the world and everything in it in a different light when it comes to money, you’re challenged to do so in other areas as well. In reality, everything in life is a matter of attitude.
The Instant Millionaire opens up a gate that leads to a new view of life. You will realize that the world, as you know it, was created by YOU. Your every thought has led to your every action, which ultimately have led you to the world that you currently know. When your mind wraps itself firmly around this truth… look out! You’ll learn how to harness your thoughts and make them work for you.
The Instant Millionaire opens up a world where you’re only limited by the limits you set yourself. Everything that happens to us is a product of our thoughts. Positive affirmations spring from this powerful reality. Life is, to a very real extent, exactly how you see it. What’s more, we tend to get from life what we expect from it.

Are you as struck by that truth as I am? We tend to get from life what we expect from it. What do you say, is it time to raise the bar high or what?! I promise you this: The Instant Millionaire is the first step in raising this bar, higher than you ever dared to before.

“All the events in your life are a mirror image of your thoughts.” - The Instant Millionaire, Page 46

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth contains the single most profound example of the power of words I’ve ever read. It’s something that happens to the main character in Chapter 8 – something that makes you stop and truly think. You’re along for the ride with him and you FEEL what he’s going through. Suffice to say it’s more than an AHA moment, it’s an Oh Wow moment. I won’t give it away here because…

I want you to read the entire book.
It’ll have more of an impact if you meet it head on.

It’s not an overstatement to say that it’s one of the most powerful illustrations regarding the power of words I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty much THE illustration that all of us who are huge believers in positive affirmations have been looking for our entire lives. It’s proof, positive, that words (whether they’re the ones we say to ourselves or words others say to us) carry far more weight that we give them credit for.

In most cases reasoning and logic become roadblocks in the way of great achievement, because great things are created only by those who have faith in the powers of the mind. – The Instant Millionaire

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth will show you how you have been getting in your own way and, more importantly, it’ll show you how to get out of the way. I read a GREAT DEAL of books that relate to self help, self improvement, mental fitness, positive affirmations, attracting success, and so forth. Let’s be honest, I swim in the ocean of these books daily.

Okay. Hourly.

However, this particular little book has stopped me in my tracks and has caused me to dig deep into my own cellar of thoughts. I honestly wish I could put a copy of this book into everyone’s hands – I feel that it’s that important.

I urge you to go immediately to Amazon (by clicking the following link) and order your copy of this outstanding book. It’s only 121 pages and, as I’ve said, it reads very fast. I believe most people could read this book in the time it takes them to read the newspaper. However, when you put the newspaper down, you aren’t any better off for having read it. When you put The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth down, you will have taken the first giant step to raising the bar higher. What’s more you’ll have the tools, keys, affirmations, and knowledge you’ll need to sail right over the bar with room to spare.

So all you fly mothers, get out there and soar. Soar I say.

The Skinny on Time Management by Jim Randel: Another Must Read Skinny Book

by joi on July 12, 2010

As I’ve said before on Self Help Daily and Out of Bounds, I’m hooked on The Skinny On books by Jim Randel. They’re extremely fun to read, they look colorful and wickedly handsome on your desk and shelves, the illustrations leave you smiling inside-out, and they’re absolutely packed with great information, advice and tips.

The most recent Skinny book I’ve read is The Skinny on Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift.

“Time Management.”

The phrase, alone, conjures up a host of reactions, doesn’t it? From “Time Management? Is there really such a beast?” to “Time management? Where do I get me some of that?!” - and every reaction in between, one thing’s for sure, you hardly ever hear anyone say,”I’m an expert at time management. In fact, I think there are too many hours in the day…”

If anyone ever did say that, I’d be tempted to kick them in the shin. The warning has been issued.

The Skinny on Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift by Jim Randel is presented in a way that can actually be read in one hour. There’s little doubt in my mind that this is true. I, however, am not a good example. I enjoyed my advance copy (sent to review on Self Help Daily) in the front yard one evening – between a bird feeding station and flower garden. I kept taking time to reflect on what I’d read by staring at butterflies, hummingbirds, golden finches, and the like.

When I read, I like to mentally digest each nugget of information and each Jim Randel book is packed with golden nuggets. I also keep a notebook and pen nearby to jot down notes or ideas as they come to me. A few times I was so furiously taking notes that the butterflies and birds were watching me.

The hurrier I go, the more I fall behind. – Anonymous

As I always state in my book reviews, it’s especially hard to give a book review for a book (or series of books) that blow me straight away. If I”m lukewarm on a book or simply like it, it’s easy – I just say so. I give the link, I pull out a quote or two and that’s that. If I don’t like the book, it’s even easier – I pretend the whole thing never happened and forget that the book and I ever met…. as in zero review. Zero mention.

Well, you can’t mention something that never happened.

However, when it’s a book that I’d dearly love to see all of you read, it’s a bit of a dilemma. How can I stress upon you the magnificence of a book without giving away key points, ideas, and advice from the book? I’ve read some book reviews that pretty much give away the entire heart of a book – to me, as a book lover extraordinaire, that’s almost a criminal act. The true beauty of a book lies in the nuggets that are experienced, first-hand, by the reader.

Someone once suggested that I pluck out one key element and present it. While I use this approach most of the time, I do so with hesitation – after all, what if every book reviewer plucked out a different element? Then the precious book would be all but given away online!

Nothing worse than a worry-wart-book-worm.

Time is the coin of life. Only you can determine how it will be spent. – Carl Sandburg

If time management is a concern for you, your solution is one click away. In The Skinny on Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift, Jim Randel has done all of the work for us. He has researched the topic at great length – reading the giants in the field of time management. He then brilliantly presents what he has uncovered in an entertaining yet highly informative presentation.

You’ll find tips, advice, quotes, recommendations, and simple ideas to help you get the most from your 24 hours.

I was delighted to read that Jim Randel is an advocate of to do lists – I live by my to do lists! However, the author takes to do lists to a whole new level of productivity with a few simple tactics that make all the difference. I’ve already implemented a few of the tips I picked up from The Skinny on Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift and I’ve been extremely impressed.

I have, as you may know, many blogs and websites. With all the other hats I wear offline (mother, wife, avid cook, bird watcher, baseball fanatic… come on Cardinals…. movie addict, gardener…), this leaves me without a lot of leeway in the amount of time I have to work with each day. Time management has always been a huge issue with me.

In fact, when the e-mail came through, asking if I’d be interested in an advance copy of this book to review, I was having one of “those” days and couldn’t help laughing at the irony. A lot of us laugh when we’re about to completely crack.

I have been using the tactics and ideas from The Skinny on Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift for nearly a week and am blown away with the impact it has had.

I have found myself able to accomplish more – and one of the main reasons can be attributed to what Jim Randel advises to do with one’s to do list…. a little classification tweak that has made a world of difference for me.

And I believe it will for you as well.

For less than what you’d pay to eat out, you can buy a book that can lead you to being able to afford more meals out.

The Skinny on Time Management:

Learn how to improve your memory with 10 outstanding tips.
Learn how improving your memory will improve your time management.
Learn the importance of To Do lists.
Learn how to make your To Do list work for you like never before.
Using your hours to maximum effectiveness.
What INERTIA is and the evil role it plays.
Organization tips and strategies.
A link to a fun, online self-assessment test to determine how well you manage your time.
How to determine how you are budgeting your time currently.
Habits, quadrants, and sequences… oh my!
Techniques for time management.
You’ll learn how to Live on 24 Hours a Day.

You simply will not find more delightful books than those written by Jim Randel in The Skinny On series. Come on, you know me! I’m the person book worms look up to. I read a great deal of books and am familiar with what’s out there. The Skinny On books can’t be topped.

I strongly urge you to grab a copy of The Skinny On Time Management today. Then, I further urge you to grab copies of the rest in the Skinny On series.

I resolve to live with all my might while I do live. I resolve never to lose one moment of time and to improve my use of time in the most profitable way I possibly can. I resolve never to do anything I wouldn’t do, if it were the last hour of my life. – Jonathan Edwards

To order your copy today, go to The Skinny on Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift – it’ll rank up there with being one of the smartest things you did this year.

More quotes about Time and Time Management.

Father’s Day Gift Idea: The Modern Dad’s Dilemma

by joi on June 7, 2010

Can you believe that Father’s Day is just around the proverbial corner?! It seems like I just took down our Christmas tree.

If a father in your life enjoys reading, I have a book to tell you about – one that would make a wonderfully thoughtful gift for Fathers Day: The Modern Dad’s Dilemma: How to Stay Connected with Your Kids in a Rapidly Changing World.

This very timely book helps dad connect (or re-connect) with their children. Written by an author who is, himself, a dad, The Modern Dad’s Dilemma recognizes and addresses the unique challenges facing today’s fathers.

Parents face situations in 2010 that parents in previous years could not have even imagined. Today, peer pressure can lead to far more disastrous circumstances and negative outside influences can, literally, wreck a child. Add in the competition parents face with technology (television, music, games, the internet, cell phones..) and it’s easy to see why the home can, at times, feel like a battleground.

The Modern Dad’s Dilemma: How to Stay Connected with Your Kids in a Rapidly Changing World provides hands-on advice, tips, insight, and even exercises that can help a father break through all of the chaos and develop the sort of relationship that will benefit his children the most.

The author, John Badalament, EdM, is an author, filmmaker, and Harvard-trained educator. He is an internationally recognized speaker on parenting and is the director of the acclaimed PBS documentary All Men are Sons: Exploring the Legacy of Fatherhood. He consults with schools, parent groups, and organizations throughout the world and his private world is shared with his wife and two children in Massachusetts.

The Modern Dad’s Dilemma

More is expected of dads today than ever before. Drawing on his experience working with thousands of dads and families, John Badalament delivers a hands-on approach to meeting the everyday challenges of modern fatherhood.

Told through the stories of a diverse group of fifteen real dads who have attended John Badalament’s pioneering workshops, The Modern Dad’s Dilemma is filled with practical information, road-tested activities, and key skills dads can put to use right away.

Learn to:
* Balance family time with work demands
* Build open communication with your kids, no matter how old they are
* Model a healthy relationship with your children’s mother
* Sort through your own father’s legacy

Whether you’re adding to your Father’s Day gift bag or looking for a great book to read, head over to Amazon and grab a copy of The Modern Dad’s Dilemma: How to Stay Connected with Your Kids in a Rapidly Changing World. You’ll be very glad you did.

8 Attributes of Great Achievers

by joi on May 18, 2010

If you read even half as much as I do, you fully understand what it’s like to have favorite authors. Those men and women who simply speak to you on a level that others can’t seem to reach. I have quite a few favorite authors:

Max Lucado
Cameron C. Taylor
Dean Koontz
Stephen R. Covey
Agatha Christie
John Grisham

The list goes on – including other authors (fiction, non-fiction, inspirational, cookbooks, etc.), all falling in line behind God, Himself, of course. Even the greatest authors in the world have peace with that positioning.

One of the books that can always be found in my home office is Cameron C. Taylor’s Does Your Bag Have Holes? Click the link for my review of this very special book. When I heard that Cameron had a new book out, 8 Attributes of Great Achievers, I was all kinds of anxious to get my hands on it. Fortunately, I was sent a copy and devoured it like it was covered in chocolate.

I, like a lot of people, love to read about successful men and women. Not only are biographical profiles and stories more fascinating than anything even the wildest mind could make up (with a respectful nod toward Mr. Koontz), I realize that if you listen to what successful people have to say – - – really listen – - – you’ll learn from them. Within their achievements are valuable lessons you’ll never find anywhere else.

Cameron C. Tayor, in 8 Attributes of Great Achievers, has taken some of the most fascinating and successful people to ever live and has given us wonderful insight into what made each one special. Each of these individuals possessed special qualities, habits, and character traits that set each on his path to success.

“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo

Last night my husband and I were watching a baseball game (our beloved St. Louis Cardinals). During a commercial, he handed me a USA Today book review for a book he thought I’d be interested in – you know, the kind you read. I read the review and thought, “Wow, how professionally written. How eloquent.” How nice it’d be to be able to sit down and simply type out exactly what you’d like to say about a book and have it read as professionally as the book, itself did.

Alas, I’m many things but professional isn’t one of them. So, I’ll just have to sum this outstanding book up “Joi style.”

Reading 8 Attributes of Great Achievers was as though Cameron C. Taylor had invited me to a dinner and sat me at the table with himself, Sam Walton, Walt Disney, George Washington, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Orville Wright, Warren Buffett, Mahatma Gandhi, and others. Large table.

He then introduced me to each giant and allowed each to share with me personal stories and words of motivation. I wish you’d been there!

Several times, while reading 8 Attributes of Great Achievers, I closed the book simply to process what I’d just read. After “meeting” Mahatma Gandhi, I closed the book for the entire day. I simply wasn’t ready to meet anyone else yet – I wanted to spend time alone with everything I’d read from the life of this one remarkable man.

Funny how “remarkable” is usually such a sufficient word.

I have always known Mahatma Gandhi’s story – or, at least, I thought I knew his story. However, within mere pages, Cameron C. Taylor showed me a side of Mahatma Gandhi that I’d never really seen before. It, at once, broke my heart and made my hear soar. I was profoundly touched by the words and by Gandhi’s life.

Like I said, “remarkable” is usually so sufficient.

I also saw yet a different side of a man who has always been a personal hero. A man who had a bulldog tenacity and strength that changed history: Winston Churchill.

As you read the words, from and about, these great men you can’t help but step into their shoes and realize how they must have felt as they trudged along life’s path. By taking the journey with them, and retracing the most pivotal steps, I literally basked in the motivation, the inspiration, and the education.

I’ll close with a passage from the book. This is from the Section where the reader spends time with Mahatma Gandhi.

Be the change you want to see in the world. – Gandhi

A mother once brought her child to (Gandhi), asking him to tell the young boy not to eat sugar, because it was not good for his diet or his developing teeth. Gandhi replied, “I cannot tell him that. But you may bring him back in a month.” The mother was frustrated as… she had traveled some distance, and had expected the great leader to support her parenting… Four weeks later she returned, not sure what to expect. The great Gandhi took the small child’s hand into his own, knelt before him, and tenderly cautioned, “Do not eat sugar my child. It is not good for you.” Then he embraced him and returned the boy to his mother. The mother, grateful but perplexed, queried, “Why didn’t you say that a month ago?” “Well,” said Gandhi, “a month ago, I was still eating sugar.” Gandhi knew that to effectively lead others he must first lead himself. Gandhi wrote, “How can I control others if I cannot control myself?” - Page 25

Please head over to Amazon, or Does Your Bag Have Holes.org, to purchase your own copy of this very special book. I absolutely love it and have instructed everyone in my family to read it. As soon as they do, I intend to read it again! I know you’ll love it as much as I do: Order 8 Attributes of Great Achievers and secure your spot at the dinner table with these remarkable men.

Photo Credit: Does Your Bag Have Holes

A Lesson About the Importance of Thoughts From Carol Tuttle

by joi on April 29, 2010

One of the books I was recently sent to read and share with my readers was Remembering Wholeness: A Personal Handbook for Thriving in the 21st Century by Carol Tuttle.

I often like to introduce you to an author and their work simply by sharing a passage from their book with you. What better way to become familiar with an author, right?!

If I were to summarize this book in one paragraph, it would be this: Remembering Wholeness challenges the reader to ask this question, “Am I in control of my life or is my life in control of me?” Carol Tuttle eloquently reminds the reader that we are in control of our own destiny and that we have the power…. and the right… to go after those things we want most.

Since this whole attitude begins in one very important place – our mind – I thought I’d share a passage from the book about thoughts. It’s from Chapter 2: We Choose Every Thought We Think And We Can Create Any Thought We Want.

We think approximately sixty thousand thoughts daily. We are always thinking. Our mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy depending on what we choose to do with it. God has given us a powerful tool that allows us to be creators of our lives. We are completely in charge of our minds. No matter how we are feeling physically or emotionally, we are free mentally to think any thought of our choice.

Our mental body is at a higher vibration than our emotional body, meaning our minds are more powerful than our feelings. We have been trained to listen to our feelings and create thoughts that match our feelings. Therefore, if we are feeling negative feelings, we will think negative thoughts. We believe we cannot start thinking and perceiving ourselves in a positive light until we feel positive feelings. Take charge of you life by taking charge of your thoughts. Change your life by changing your thoughts. – Carol Tuttle: Page 9, Remembering Wholeness: A Personal Handbook for Thriving in the 21st Century.

Over the coming days, pay close attention to your thoughts. See how many positive, proactive, constructive thoughts you have as opposed to negative, passive, destructive thoughts. Problems you may be experiencing can, more likely than not, be traced directly back to stinkin’ thinkin’ – the good news is that, if this is the case, the cure is completely within your reach.

A Really Cool and Simple Self Help Exercise

by joi on March 26, 2010

I’ve mentioned several times that I’ve fallen in love with a new type of “book feature” – books that allow me to comfortably read them while I’m on the treadmill have a very special place in my heart. When they’re just the right size and pliable, and the font is large enough to read at arm’s length and (come on let’s be honest!) they’re interesting enough to keep me in place for at least 30 mintues, I’ve made a paper friend for life.

I just finished such a book, WOW: A Handbook for Living. I want to share one particularly interesting page from the book that really made me think. I’ve shared it with a few of my daughters and it has tickled their brain cells as well.

The authors, Zen Ohashi and Zono Kurazono, have filled the book with beautiful, random photography as well as outstanding advice and… well, brain cell ticklers. I’ve gotten a lot out of many of them, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t appreciate me giving everything away in one post! I will, however, share one in particular.

If you want to improve your abilities such as listening, love, enthusiasm, expression, rate yourself on a scale of one to ten. – Page 60

Rate the ability on a scale of one to ten, ten being the best you’ve been able to perform up to this point in time, one being the worst you’ve ever done. Do this on a daily basis.
To raise your ability just one point, think of what you have to do to improve.
Try it. – WOW: A Handbook for Living – Page 62

After reading this particular page, I folded the book and placed it on the front of my treadmill – then I just finished my physical exercise as I thought about this mental exercise. This is really excellent advice. Think of the different areas this advice could be utilized in:

Personal. Rate your relationships with the people you love. On a scale of 1-10, how close are you? What could YOU do (don’t worry about them right now) to move UP the scale. Do you criticize or “push” them too hard? If so, laying off and offering more support, praise, and back pats would certainly be good for an upward swing.
Home. Rate your living conditions. Have your closets gotten out of control (Shhh, don’t judge me.), are your bookcases haggard? Do you need more furniture with organization on its mind?! Take an honest assessment and, again, come up with what will get you moving in the right direction.
How about money? How would you currently rate your finances? Do you have as much money in the bank as you want or need? If not, come up with a plan to either make more or spend less.
Your Self Image. Without being unnecessarily cruel or chippy, how do you rate your self image right now? Packing around a few extra pounds that you aren’t terribly thrilled with? Maybe your hairstyle has worn out its welcome. Unhappy with your wardrobe? Whatever your pet peeves are, keeping them as pet peeves isn’t going to do anything for you. Rate the different areas, then come up with a plan to move on up to a happier place on the number line.
Your Self Confidence. Are you comfortable speaking on a number of different subjects? If not, read more. Stretch your mind and stretch your horizons.

Push your limits and push your way up the number line. Don’t stop until you’re rocking a #11 in every category. Think it’s not possible? All I have to say to that is, Gambaru!

In addition to the rating exercise, I highly recommend the following:

Daily exercise! Not only is it the best thing you can do for your physical health, it’s golden for your mental health. You’ll feel so much better if you simply MAKE time to get at least 30 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week. As an added bonus, while you’re walking or working out, you’ll come up with some of your best ideas and will be able to do more creative thinking than ever before. For reasons that a doctor could explain far better than I can, exercising sets the stage for clearer thinking and creative ideas. I’m completely hooked on working out problems and ideas on the treadmill or while walking outdoors (assuming it ever warms up again!)
WOW: A Handbook for Living. This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that will stimulate your thoughts as it inspires and motivates you to live your life out loud. This one’s a real winner, and so are you.

59 Seconds: Think A Little, Change a Lot!

by joi on March 22, 2010

A few pages into 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot, I thought “This is going to be one cool little book.” Halfway through (on about page 189 out of nearly 300 pages), I thought, “This is proving to be one cool little book.”

After finishing the book, I thought, “This little book was even cooler than I thought it was going to be.”

The author, Richard Wiseman, has a writing style that keeps you on your toes and rewards you richly for the effort. 59 Seconds is a “thinking man or woman’s” self help guide. Armed with research and fascinating facts, Richard Wiseman lays out the truth:

We’re in charge of our lives.
If we want to make it happen, the next move (and all the future moves) are up to us.
We can improve our lives, and ourselves, if we go about it the right way.

59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Borzoi Books) is filled with self improvement tips and self growth advice. The thing I love the most is that each one is backed up with research and explained in detail – with each “Why?” answered beautifully.

The tips and techniques used in 59 Seconds are incredibly simple and fast (hence the 59 Seconds title). However, that wouldn’t mean beans if they weren’t powerful and effective. They are both.

An example of one of the many exercises taught in this book is the writing exercise. The reader is encouraged to write a list of 3 things that he or she is grateful for. The exercise is simplistically brilliant because it gets your mind thinking in an affirmative direction. Even if you’re in the darkest of moods, once you begin thinking of things you’re thankful for, your mind will soon realize that “narrowing it down to 3″ is nearly impossible. Positive, uplifting thoughts and faces will fill your mind and your mood will be lifted to a new height. The truly remarkable thing is that this mood will last for days! When it begins to dip again, make another list.

Simple and brilliant.

There are many outstanding tips for improving your health, weight, and body image as well. Tips that are, again, backed up with wonderful research and common sense. A particularly fascinating section was devoted to a study that highlighted the benefits of knowing how much energy your body was using throughout the day – or how many calories we burn doing various activities. A chart is even included that details how many calories are burned per minute while doing daily activities. The chart includes room for the reader to write in how many minutes they spend, on average, doing this activity and how many calories they’re burning.

The bottom line? None of us are burning anywhere near as many calories as we need to be or even as many as we probably think we are.

This part of the book, like the others, serves as a wonderful self help tool because it shows us…

Why we’re not having the type of success we think we should be having.
What path leads to the type of success we want.
How to jump on the right path!

I’ll close with the following passage from the book because I always love for my reviews of books that I love to give you something other than just a recommendation for a great book. I want you to be able to carry something away from the post – hopefully as you head off to Amazon to purchase the wonderful book! This book is so full of great tips and golden nuggets that I just have to include two. These are two of the many, many, many “59 Seconds” tips…. 59 Seconds to THINK a little and CHANGE a lot.

Act Happy. Research by Peter Borkenau from Bielefeld University and others has revealed that happy people move in a very different way than unhappy people do. You can use this information to increase your sense of happiness by acting like a happy person. Try walking in a more relaxed way, swinging your arms slightly more and putting more of a spring in your step. Also, try making more expressive hand gestures during conversations, nod your head more when others are speaking, wear more colorful clothing, use positively charged emotional words more (especially love, like, and fond), use fewer self-references (me, myself, and I), have a larger variation in the pitch of your voice, speak slightly faster, and have a significantly firmer handshake, incorporating these behaviors into your everyday actions will enhance your happiness. Page 36, 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot
Use More Energy. Think about how you could burn more calories by making small changes to your everyday routine. It might be something as simple as using wax polish rather than a spray during housework (rubbing is a far more energy-consuming activity than spraying), ensuring that you have to use the stairs more often (e.g. not taking the elevator at work or alternating floors when doing housework), or listening to upbeat music to encourage vigorous movement when you are walking or mowing the lawn. – Page 104, 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot

About the Author:
Richard Wiseman is based at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom and has gained an international reputation for research into offbeat areas of psychology, including deception, humor, and luck. He is the author of The Luck Factor, Quirkology, and numerous other books. A passionate advocate for science, Wiseman is well-known for his media appearances, high-profile talks, live demonstrations, and mass-participation studies. Wiseman also regularly acts as a creative consultant for print, broadcast, and new media.

Buy 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot on Amazon today. This one’s a must have, must read.

The World as Viewed by Mother Teresa

by joi on March 3, 2010

“In these times of development, the whole world runs and is hurried. But there are some who fall down on the way and have no strength to go ahead. These are the ones we must care about.” – Mother Teresa

The powerfully beautiful and beautifully powerful quote above is just one of the gems from Mother Teresa found in In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers.

Mother Teresa’s name and image will forever be associated with her kindness, gentleness, and compassion. Her selfless work with the “poorest of the poor” should be an inspiration to all of us. In the Heart of the World, written by Mother Teresa, is filled with her eloquent wisdom, motivation, and inspirational teachings. Below are a few more examples.

Be kind in your actions. Do not think that you are the only one who can do efficient work, work worth showing. This makes you harsh in your judgment of others who may not have the same talents. Do your best and trust that others do their best. And be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength shines.

We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally. To be alone with him – not with our books, thoughts, and memories but completely stripped of everything – to dwell lovingly in his presence, silent, empty, expectant, and motionless. We cannot find agitation.

If we were more willing to see the good and beautiful things that surround us, we would be able to transform our families. From there, we would change our next-door neighbors and then others who live in our neighborhood or city. We would be able to bring peace and love to our world, which hungers so much for these things.

As I read this book, I lost myself in the beauty that was and is Mother Teresa. Reading her words was so incredibly peaceful and relaxing – yet, at the same time, an unrest crept up inside of me and stirred around. I realized that there is far more that I can and should do to help others in the world who are far less fortunate. While on the early pages, I kept thinking, “What the world needs right now is another Mother Teresa.” But, as I approached the final pages, I thought, “What the world needs right now if for more men and women to start caring more about people and less about possessions. It needs more hearts that are broken for the suffering of others. And more people refusing to look the other way.”

We don’t need another Mother Teresa as much as we need to learn from the one we were blessed with.

“I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is no true love in me and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me.” – Mother Teresa

The Mother Teresa quotes are from In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers

Turning Your Upside Down World Right Side Up!

by joi on February 17, 2010

I just finished reading a book by Deb Scott, The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue: Turning your upside down world right side up!. There were so many things I loved about this book – from the author’s infectious positive and fun-to-read style to the catchy title – a title that starts the reader off on a journey to discover what the author has in mind. As an avid book reader who always has more books that she wants to read than time in which to read them, I love something else about this book – something that I’ve started embracing books for having: Large enough text for me to lie the book on the front of my treadmill and read as I trudge along. Big bonus! I actually finished this wonderful book this afternoon while getting in my daily exercise on my treadmill.

There is great power in the now. Give up the hope of a better past, and start focusing your time and energy on a better present moment, right now. – Page 15, The Sky is Green and The Grass is Blue.

I’d categorize this book under the following categories:

Spiritual
Self Help
Self Improvement
Inspirational
Motivational
Recovery
A Book that Makes You Glad to Be Alive!

That last category? Just made it up – Just for this book. When I finish reading a book, I ask myself what my initial opinion of the book is. After the standard, “Like it, love it, or eh -so-so,” I always have a few summarizing thoughts about the book, the author, or the way the book left me feeling. After reading The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue: Turning your upside down world right side up!, I thought, and subsequently wrote down, the following: “This book was like a walk through an inspirational and spiritual garden. There were so many lovely thoughts, quotes, stories, and illustrations along the way – just like beautiful flowers along a garden’s path. I kept stopping to pick one and could see one just ahead – from the first page of the book to the last.”

I share a lot of books with you, my friends who also happen to be my readers. If I got something out of a book, I want at least the same for you. But it can be tricky. I don’t want the article to come across as a book review, per se. My goal for Self Help Daily is for you to truly get something out of every single post – whether it’s a dose of inspiration, a blast of motivation, something to think about over the course of the day, or even a good (loving) kick in the butt (speaking of which, put down that soft drink). All of this means, I like to share something with you from the book that’ll give you food for thought for your day and, hopefully, your life. However, in fairness to the author – I never want to give too much away.

Generally, I just approach it like I do everything else in life – I let my heart be my guide. So, here goes!

As I said, The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue: Turning your upside down world right side up! is filled with insightful, wonderful gems. Some of these are quotes, some are examples, and some are stories. However, the majority of these gems are the author’s own lovely thoughts and views of life. Deb Scott has lived a full life and seen her share of troubles and triumphs. It’s because of this view that she’s able to write such a thought-provoking and inspirational book.

We may not be able to control the direction of the wind, but we can always adjust the direction of our sails. – Deb Scott

It seems to me that this book is written, primarily, with the individual in mind who has been in a battle or who is currently on the battle lines. Even though neither description fits me, personally (for which I thank God profusely), I did get a great, great deal from this author and this book. I can only imagine what someone who has suffered any sort of abuse or addiction would take away from this book. I have an idea that it’d be this: A new life.

I’m not even remotely exaggerating.

Deb Scott has battled a demon (alcohol) that many face but only the strong defeat. She also battled an abusive relationship. I love that she didn’t just find her way out of the darkness… she’s going back for others who haven’t found their way out yet.

The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue: Turning your upside down world right side up! can serve as a beautiful guide and companion to those who are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Make no mistake about it, it’s there and Deb Scott can be your guide.

I want to hasten to add, however, that even those of us who have been ridiculously blessed – having never been mistreated by anyone and who can claim coffee or chocolate as the only addictions they’ve ever had – can, and will, benefit from this book and author.

We magnify what we focus on. - Deb Scott

Here’s an example. Deb Scott points out, beautifully, a truth that I have always felt strongly about: The more we focus on something, the larger we make it. We actually end up magnifying what we want most to diminish! If you keep focusing on a small habit or trait of a loved on… keep thinking about it…. keep talking about it…. keep obsessing over it… it will become so large that you won’t be able to stand being in the same room with it. That’s why it is so important to focus on positive things in life and positive traits in people.

Think about it, our thoughts fill the room that we happen to be in. Do you really want to be filled with negativity, criticisms, and pet peeves? Hadn’t you rather be surrounded by love, laughter, positive thoughts, and positive energy?

The next time you begin to zero in on insignificant, petty little habits or idiosyncrasies of someone, switch your frequency. Think about his sense of humor – how he always makes you laugh. Or think about her sweet nature – how she wouldn’t hurt anything or anyone, even if they struck first.

Instead of thinking about your “small” house, think about how “cozy” it is! Instead of thinking about all the work you have to do, think about how blessed you are to have a job and the health with which to do it. Instead of criticizing yourself for being overweight, focus on how young you look, your beautiful hair, or your eyes that your friends envy so.

Fill your thoughts and fill your world with positive energy and show negativity the back door. There’s no doubt in my mind that I come across as Mary Poppins sometimes. It’s a fact I don’t just live with, I actually embrace. And it’s something that isn’t reserved for my writings or blogs – I’m this way in the kitchen, in the store, while vacuuming, in the laundry room, working in my yard… and so on. I simply think any time spent generating negative energy is a waste of time and an insult to God. It’s also not fair to people around you – the ones you spew it all over!

My husband and I had a funny talk last night at supper. He was talking about a guy he has golfed with before. He said he wasn’t his favorite golfing buddy because he was so negative. Then he told a story about a guy he likes to golf with. This guy isn’t as good of a golfer as the other guy, but he apparently thinks he’s the next Tiger Woods. He’ll hit a so-so shot or even a bad one, then look at my husband and say, “Wow. I couldn’t have hit that one any better!”

I love this guy!

Remember, we can’t unscramble the scrambled eggs. But we can come up with delightful new recipes to serve and enjoy them. – Deb Scott, Page 39, The Sky is Green and The Grass is Blue

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I promise that you’ll find plenty of beautiful flowers to cut and enjoy along the garden’s path.

Buy The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue: Turning your upside down world right side up! on Amazon today.

Tranquilista by Kimberly Wilson: Celebrate Being a Girl

by joi on February 7, 2010

You may be wondering, “What in the world is a tranquilista?” So glad you asked! A tranquilista is a woman who embraces her many sides: spiritual (she’s a tranquility-seeker), creative (loves style), and entrepreneurial (calls her own shots). She hearts fashion and philanthropy. Parties and prayer. Entertainment and enlightenment. The golden rule and layers of vintage gold bangles. She is you and she is moi. She is full of aspiratioins and always seeking inspiration. Oh, and she sparkles. Literally. – Kimberly Wilson, Introduction of Tranqilista

I recently received a beautiful little book to review called Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play. When I opened the package, I was immediately smitten by the cover. Fun! Girly! Pink! I’m so completely there!

Kimberly Wilson wrote this very, very charming book. She’s also the author of Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life On and Off the Yoga Mat – My secretary (a purple notebook with recycled paper) has been instructed to remind me to order this book off of Amazon today.

A few of the things I’ve taken away from Tranquilista are:

No matter how chaotic life gets, we should take time to enjoy the moments within the hour. We shouldn’t be so worried about squeezing everything from them that we can. We should try to allow the moment to just be and ourselves to just be in the moment.
We should give back to life, not just take from it. We will be better people when we begin caring for others and going out of our way for our neighbors, our community, and our earth.
We need to breathe deeper and more often. Inhale the good, exhale the bad. And repeat.
Our homes, offices, and/or home offices should be filled with things that make us smile – things that make us feel happy to be alive. Whether or not anyone else gets it or not. Near my home office desk, I have two stuffed possums. They make me smile every time I look at them. My husband bought one for me and my oldest daughter bought me the other. I think of them each time I see them as well. They’re both named Margaret, just in case you were wondering.
It’s important to enjoy good food and exercise. Fortunately, the author seems to have almost as big a sweet tooth as I do, so she never told me that chocolate was a no-no. That would’ve been a deal breaker. Because she’s a yoga enthusiast, she has excellent advice about yoga and nutrition.
We should never, ever, ever stop being girls! What’s more we should never apologize for our girliness – just flaunt it.

Kimberly Wilson is an engaging and entertaining author that I know you’ll fall in love with. One of the smartest things you could do this week would be to head over to Amazon and order not just one, but BOTH of her books.

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite passages from the book. Personally, I’m a HUGE believer of the bath. Oh, the healing, soothing properties of a long, warm bubble bath with a hot beverage (coffee, hot tea, hot cocoa….) and your cat nearby. It’s love. This passage is pretty much an ode to this experience. It’s from the chapter called Sustainable Style:

Bathing Rituals

After the glorious art of sleeping, my favorite pastime is partaking in a long, luxurious soak in the (preferably claw-foot) tub. During the colder months, you’ll find me marinating nightly in some yummy concoction of bath salts, bubble bath, or bath bombs. This is more about indulgence than cleaning le corps. You’ve probably seen the commercial “Calgon, take me away.” It may seem silly that the simple act of immersing yourself in water can be touted as producing miraculous results. I’m here to evangelize that water has healing effects; indulging in them is called hydrotherapy. For centuries in European spas, water has been used to release toxins, treat disease, and stimulate blood circulation. Jump right in! – Page 95, Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play by Kimberly Wilson.

To Learn More About the Author:

If you want more information about Kimberly Wilson or books, you’ll find the following links most useful:

Tranquilista: The Official Website

Kimberly Wilson’s Blog

Tranquilista on Twitter

Tranquilista on Facebook

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