33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Creating a More Fulfilling Life, September 3, 2003
"I can assure you that the successful people in your life who you admire apply many, or all, of the techniques described in this book. Success is no accident, nor is it unconscious. People who achieve their goals are almost always acutely aware of what directions they take in reaching their destinations." ~Charles Stuart Platkin
If you are tired of spinning in the same circular conversations, walking the same paths to the same unfulfilling destinations or can't seem to implement strategies to reach your goals, "Breaking the Pattern" might encourage you to remodel your life.
Charles Stuart Platkin has discovered five basic principles you can apply to your life in order to make changes, reach your dreams and finally live the ideal life of your choosing. He used the principles in this book to change his own life.
What started as a letter to a friend turned into self-reflection and through writing, Charles started to think more clearly. Through further interviews and discussions with friends and professionals the author started to find real answers:
1. What's a Pattern and How Do I Know What Mine Are? - A study of self-sabotaging and self-paralyzing behavior. Are you choosing the easy path of substance abuse, short cuts or just making bad choices and finding someone else to blame? What are your triggers?
2. Self-Evaluation and Reflection Workshop - A variety of exercises where you answer questions and then analyze the answers. One of the most important sections in this chapter is "Asking the Right Questions."
3. Failure Is an Asset Waiting to Be Discovered - Successful people seem to see rejection and failure as a reminder that they are still on the path towards their goals. Sometimes just having the goal and continuing towards that goal, no matter what, is a formula for success. The author explains how you can overcome fear and move beyond failure.
4. Taking Responsibility Leads to Freedom - An interesting look at blame, being a victim, making excuses, avoiding responsibility and being the martyr. A discussion of why many people surrender their responsibility to a higher power.
5. What Makes a Goal a Goal? - An interesting section on intrinsic rewards.
6. If You Can See It,It Can Happen - Do you have the discipline it takes to reach your goals? Ideas on how to set realistic goals and overcome obstacles in your way. There is a place to write down your ideas for short and long-term goals.
7. Making Change Happen and Transforming Your Life -What are your values? Are you open to possibility? How do you find the positive patterns?
8. Tactics and Strategies for Changing Your Life -In the final chapter, the author explains how our "internal commentary" can change our lives.
I loved all the inspirational quotes and stories, the positive and healing environment this book provides, and the idea that short-term failure is no excuse not to achieve long-term success.
Do you feel imprisoned by the past? Do you desire a more fulfilling future? "Breaking the Pattern" will help to set you free from the disappointments of the past so you can reach for a more positive future.
"Breaking the Pattern" is a well-written and well-organized collection of empowering ideas to help you modify your own behavior so you can finally leave failure in the dust. This is a book to help you reach your personal, relationship and career goals. It is perhaps one of the most important books you will ever read if you want to break free from destructive patterns of behavior.
~The Rebecca Review
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85 of 97 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Breaking the Pattern was more than I bargained for..., February 4, 2002
Breaking the Pattern held an added surprise in the sense that while I was prepared for improvements in my approach to professional and personal issues, I was not as prepared for a realization.
By applying the exercises in Breaking the Pattern to my professional life and personal life, the similarities that emerged were significant. The lasting effect beyond the book's positive exercises was the ongoing connections I now see between my work life and personal life.
Also, while I am not usually a fan of "workbooks," the exercises in Breaking the Pattern were well constructed and communicated in a way that made it possible for me to get the full benefit from them.
In general, Breaking the Pattern surpassed my expectations and gave me a stronger foothold in my professional life and personal life.
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why I Loved This Book, January 11, 2002
I just finished reading "Breaking the Pattern" by Charles Stuart Platkin, and I immediately felt the need to write about it. Lately, I've been feeling really down. I've had a little bad luck when it comes to relationships-- okay, so my boyfriend dumped me for our campus paper's sex columnist. In addition to that, I haven't gotten into any of the grad schools I've wanted to because I get nervous in interviews, and my parents just announced to me that they were moving to New Zealand to be alone and would appreciate it if I only visited them on holidays. So, as you can see, it hasn't been an easy year for me.
When I was in kindergarten, I was always told that I could do or be anything, and somewhere in between high school and college, everyone told me it was time to start getting real, and I lost the belief that my life could be everything I want it to be. I began to think I just should settle for what I could get.
Well, Platkin taught me to get S.M.A.R.T. After reading this book, I began to believe again that I could have the life I dreamed of...and not only did it make me believe it. It taught me how to actually achieve it. Also, despite all the bad things that happened to me this year, Platkin gave me a new perspective on them. This book helped me find a little piece of me that I thought died a long time ago-- the piece of me that believed in me and knew I could do anything I put my heart to. I know I'm going to get past all these setbacks from this past year and move on now thanks to Platkin. Before this book, I just wanted to sit around and eat and feel sorry for myself. After reading this book, I think I'm finally ready to get back up, dust myself off, and take on the world.
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