Feel the fear and do it anyway – Susan Jeffers

A lot of my friends and family have suffered with depression at various times and in varying degrees of severity. This book has some fantastic tools for mindfulness and it really gives you some home truths that others will not give when you are a little fragile anyway.

One section in particular is about not being a victim. Such a powerful part for me because when we do get low, I think we all adopt a victim mentality. “Why is this happening to me”, “Why doesn’t it happen to them”, “Whatever I do I cannot change this” and on it goes.

What the author does is deliver a massive slap around the face and says “man up” basically. Change the things you don’t like and stop waiting for them to change.

When people are down they also adopt a little voice in their head (to be honest I believe it’s always there). Their whole world becomes granular and inwardly analytical. Not listening to this voice is actually one of my life quests and there are other books I will post about later that address this in greater depth. The author describes this voice as the chatter box and says it basically only has one mission and that is to make you feel shit.

Another aspect which she covers nicely is that without growth the mind will attack its self or look inwardly and she suggests of tools such audio books in the car to advance yourself. I really believe if we aren’t learning we are dying or not existing.

And then there is the invaluable “9 box chart” for life, again I have expanded my research of this methodology but it is about making sure all aspects of your life are nourished. Not seen your Grandma for a bit and feeling bad about it? Put it the box! Feeling bad, no matter how small will fester and this will be multiplied with other feelings of guilt for other neglected areas in your life.

All in all a fantastic read for anyone who has lost the will to live :-)