The Joy Strategist - Book Review

Title: The Joy Strategist; Your Path to Inner Change

Author: Grace Harry

Publisher: ‎ Andscape Books

Publication Date: October 17, 2023
 
Length: 224 Pages

About the Author
Grace Harry is an artist, entrepreneur, creative muse, pleasure instigator, and speaker. After a 30-year career in entertainment, Grace, “The Joy Strategist,” found her calling leading what she calls “the Revolution of JOY.” Through her popular playdate community “Play with Grace,” she helps everyday people welcome joy back into their lives.

A Toolbox for Joy
This book is a mix of memoir, self-help exercises, and cultural commentary on joy.
The author shares tips, tools, and exercises to help you cultivate your joy, embrace a more fulfilling life, and overcome obstacles.

My Thoughts 
I love the title of this book. 
This book is upbeat and inspiring. Ms. Harry shares experiences from her own life and explains how she has changed her life for the better by implementing JOY into her mindset.

The book is designed to be interactive and practical. The author suggests deep breathing exercises, journaling, playfulness, creativity, and nurturing the soul. Self-love is a strong thread that runs throughout this book. The author reflects on her past failures and disappointments; multiple husbands, affairs, bankruptcy, and a lack of self-love and respect. She asks the question, "Were all these botched relationships just reflecting how I felt about myself?" 

The author shares advice on picking a partner. The first thing to do is make a detailed list of all the qualities you are looking for in the person. And then ... go through the list and become what you want to attract. Start with yourself and become the partner that you would like to find. Great advice!

This book was a JOY to read. It is worth reading and rereading.

MY RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

Thank you to NetGalley for an excellent reading experience.

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Clever and Humorous Little Book for Dealing With Anxiety

 

Title: It's Hard To Be A Person; Defeating Anxiety, Surviving The World and Having More Fun.

Author: Brett Newski

Publisher: Ramshackle Press

Publication Date: June 21, 2021

About the Author
When a couple of doodles he’d posted to social media making light of his struggle with anxiety and depression garnered a surprising and overwhelming response, Brett Newski decided to make his relatable coping mechanism of drawings into a series. Now, Newski presents three years' worth of drawings in his book.

Humorous Thoughts for Dealing With Life
The author uses doodles and simple line drawings to shed light on anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. This is a comic book for teens and adults that offers some light-hearted advice for dealing with life's challenges.

My Thoughts
This is both an art/comic book and a self-help book rolled into one great package. The doodles and drawings are so much fun! I have read this book several times and enjoy it more each time I experience it.

The author faces the challenges of life with a healthy sense of humor. Each new page brings smiles and even laughter. There is serious advice mixed in with the humorous drawings and doodles.

"When you're down and out, It's normal to feel like you'll be stuck there forever. Please note, EVERYTHING is temporary."

If you could use some positivity in your life, this book is for you!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital review copy of this book from NetGalley. 

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What Game Are You Playing? - A Book Review

What Game Are You Playing?: A Framework for Redefining Success and Achieving What Matters Most

Author: Robin Moriarty, PhD

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press

Publication Date: September 10, 2019

Length: 171 Pages








About The Author
Robin Moriarty, PhD, is a global business executive, professor, and writer who has lived on four continents and traveled to more than 60 countries. 

It's All A Game
Life is full of choices. This book challenges the reader to redefine success in your own terms.

Dr. Moriarty believes that life is a game and it's important to play your own game...not the game that other people are playing or the game that they want you to play, but the game you want to play.

It is both exhausting and frustrating to compare yourself to other people and live by others' rules.

"Why would I want it all? Why wouldn't I just want what I want and not what everyone else says I should want?"

This book explains how to discover your own definition of success and then make the necessary changes in your life to achieve your new goals, ambitions, and dreams.

My Thoughts
I think we are influenced a great deal by the expectations of our childhood family and peers. I came from a family of school teachers and I was gently (or maybe not so gently) nudged in that direction when it was time to choose a career. (Actually, being a school librarian was a good fit for me.)  

Dr. Moriarty believes it is never too late to design your own game plan in both your professional and personal life. She has developed the following four-part framework as the organizing principle for your game;

• Your game's objective - What are you pursuing? What do you want?
• How you play the game - How do you spend your time, talents and resources?
• What obstacles must be overcome - What are your challenges?
• How do you keep score so you know you are winning? 

The author provides many examples of how to use this framework to bring change to your life. She suggests that you start with little things that feel good to you and that help others see that there's been a shift in your behavior.

Change is not easy. This author has devoted her entire book to help you discover your own game and then play with passion and courage. It is not too late to change your thinking and take bold steps toward new and different adventures, careers, relationships or goals. 

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI - I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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The Gratitude Prescription by Will Pye

The Gratitude Prescription: Harnessing the Power of Thankfulness for Healing and Happiness

Author: Will Pye

Publisher: Reveal Press

Publication Date: May 1, 2019

Length: 232 Pages








About the Author
Will Pye is an entrepreneur, transformational coach, speaker, and spiritual teacher. In his early twenties, Will embarked on an intense quest exploring human potential and the nature of reality in order to overcome his own suicidal depression. He enjoyed business success while raising millions of dollars for leading charities. A series of awakenings, and then a brain tumor diagnosis in 2011, inspired a new direction. Since then, Will has given talks, meetings, workshops, and retreats—globally sharing the power of presence and gratitude for well-being and awakening.

The Healing Power of Gratitude
What do a bitter and traumatic family breakup, addiction, bouts of suicidal depression, an ever-breaking heart at a world gone mad, grand mal seizures, financial loss, and brain cancer have in common?

The author shares his story and describes how he was able to overcome his problems and challenges through the power of gratitude. This book is about thriving and resilience, not in spite of life's difficulties but because of them.

My Thoughts

Gratitude is defined as "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful". (Dictionary.com)

Mr. Pye has done a great deal of research on the mind/body connection. He shares many of his findings in this book. He believes that thoughts of gratitude and positivity can bring about healing and well-being to the mind, body, and soul. 

The author shares his story about how he used journaling, affirmations, and meditation after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He focused on self-reflection and gratitude during the most difficult days of his treatment.

This book describes specific affirmations and provides meditation prompts that readers can use to improve their own mindsets. The author asks readers to "reflect on how your experience of changing the way you looked at an issue changed how you experienced it."

I found this book inspiring and uplifting. This is the kind of book you will go back and refer to often. The author ended each chapter with a simple "thank you" to express gratitude and appreciation to his readers.

I want to express my appreciation to all who read this review.

Thank you.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review from NetGalley.

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The Power of Positive Words

The Power of Positive Words: What You Say Makes a Difference

Author: Stan Toler

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Publication Date: March 12, 2019

Length: 192 Pages








About the Author
For many years, Stan Toler served as vice president and instructor for INJOY, John C. Maxwell’s Institute for training leaders to make a difference in the world.

Words Play a Role in Our Success or Failure
Our words are more than just what we speak. Rather, our words play a significant role in our outcomes toward success or failure.

Mr. Toler has written a fascinating book about the importance of words and how they have shaped our past and can affect our lives in both positive and negative ways.

The author tells about many famous speakers who have used positive words to communicate with people and make a difference in the world. He also explains the importance of silence and listening. Even though this is a book about positive words, Mr. Toler warns readers about the destructiveness of negative words.

This is not a strongly Christian book, but the author uses the final pages of the book to teach the reader how to have a conversation with Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father.

My Thoughts
I found this book inspiring and informative. Mr. Toler is an excellent and experienced writer and expresses his thoughts in an organized and insightful manner.

I really enjoyed reading one story after another about how the power of words can change situations in a positive or a negative way. I also found the chapter about the importance of silence and listening very interesting. 

We can all benefit from thinking about the words we use. Knowledge and words are powerful. This book will give you a practical background and guide for the use of positive words and how they make a difference.


MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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