Escape from Dark Places: Guideposts to Hope in an Age of Anxiety & Depression by Ambra Watkins

We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War’s a spiritual war… our Great Depression is our lives. Chuck Palahniuk

This is a remarkable and fascinating read. It is fresh perspective on how we can help others heal and overcome anxiety and depression – Escape From Dark Places. Ambra shares her personal experience as she had to learn how to help heal her son who visited a very dark place. Not surprisingly – he is not alone.

It is said that one in four young adults suffer from a mental illness that is diagnosable. The other stats she discovers are also alarming. She realises that even with all the variety of therapies that exist, there still seems a lacking improvement among all people as it relates to anxiety and depression. Why? That is the journey she takes us on within the pages of this book.

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The Gratitude Diaries How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life by Janice Kaplan

What does it take to live with gratitude? Surprising very little, other than a dose of of awareness. Being grateful is not something new and the theory of it has been around, as far as I can tell, for aeons. Great philosophers of the past speak on why being grateful is a divine way to live life with greater fulfilment and happiness.

Janice Kaplan decided one New Years Eve that she was going to dedicate the entire year to being more grateful for everything in her life. Simply becoming more aware of all that she has and expressing gratitude for them. What she learns and discovers she share in her book and New York Times bestseller.

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The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

“Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you only take what is worth having.” George S. Clason

This book is founded on the people of Babylon who were apparently the first people to discover the universal laws of prosperity. The author of this 1926 book discusses the laws that are timeless to this day and are laws that are to assist anyone and everyone in creating, growing and maintaining wealth.

Before I hear you say that people are born into money and others are more fortunate than others, that’s fine and perhaps this than isn’t a book for you nor would be my blog, it may just create some negative and burning emotions within you and that is not my intention.

It is true that from long, long ago man has decided that life was to be lived with a high standard and since we have always continually acted to improve our own prosperity. We have also continually increased quality of living as a race, and more recently we endeavour to improve mother earth.

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Tittle: Subtitle by Author

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Zig Ziglar

This is a must listen to audio book by Zig Ziglar. My first effort to delve into the minds of one of the most revered motivational masters on personal transformation of our time. In this audio Zig shares what it means to have goals and why they are essential in allowing to live life as you so desire.

It is an audio collection of some of Zig’s best talks on goal setting. In runs for about 6 hours but seriously you will churn through it without even knowing time passing. Zig is a master of story telling and uses great humour throughout which allows you to not only be entertained but also absorb his message with greater ease.

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The School of Greatness: A Real-World Guide to Living Bigger, Loving Deeper and Leaving a Legacy by Lewis Howes

“Vision without action is a dream. Action without a vision is a nightmare.” Lewis Howes

Lewis Howes is the host The School of Greatness Podcast. He launched this podcast with attempt to gain from highly successful people what it means to live with success. I have a feeling that his ultimate goal is to live and lead his own legacy – and that he is certainly now doing. A goal worthy for all of us.

Lewis has a great story to share from his own life experiences and for much of which he exposes in this book. Lewis was a professional football player who was struck by a serious injury that put stop to this career.

Like any major life obstacle such occurrences can really put halt to life but also allow you to then ask the bigger questions. “What’s next?” “What’s to become of me now?” “What’s my purpose?” and “How do I discover it?”

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Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised Edition by Robert B. Cialdini

What a great book. I used the audio version and really enjoyed the insights the writer shares as to the psychology behind makes people say ‘yes’.

It shares 6 principles that are, reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, authority, liking and scarcity.

Now for the purpose of my review I have no desire to delve into the 6 principles and any great details but would highly recommend you get your self a copy of this book and have a read, or listen in this case.

So why? Why would this have any relevance to my mission, the hidden why.

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NLP: Your Map to Happiness, Confidence and Success by Neil Shah

“In life you are given a bag of moments. You don’t know how many of those moments you have. Learning NLP is about maximising those moments.” Richard Bandler

Neuro-Linguistic Programming, what the hell is it and how does it work? Well without being an expert here is my simple explanation of what it is. It is basically our ability to use language to affect, change and develop our neurology and in doing so our programming or behaviour. By changing our behaviours we can change our reality.

To me NLP makes sense and is perhaps not as complex as I perceive. Like any subject matter that you are unfamiliar with, it is only through learning and knowledge that improve your familiarity to a point when initial complexities and perceptions are removed and changed.

If wisdom is the ability to have many multiple perspectives on life and reality then your ability to remain open to all learning’s, opinions, beliefs and views within this universe is an important one.

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