Customer Reviews

Emotionally Free : Letting Go of the Past to Live in the Moment

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a dedicated reader of self help books, Emotionally Free letting go of the past to live in the moment has been the best I have ever read on the subject. Discover your weaknesses and how to cure them, remove obstacles that are in your way for happiness, feel more vital, open and loving, confident. Shape the life you want to live. Identify yourself as one of three types, dependent, controllor, competitive. After being beaten down from family deaths and a break up of a long relationship, I found this book extremely helpful, and wish I could thank Dr. Viscott in person. Well worth the price

Read this book once, and you'll return to it again and again. Hits you right between the eyes every time... makes you face your own truth and get over past hurts. Particular sections that are helpful: discovering your personality type (dependant, competitive, controlling); how to get through an argument; symbolically ridding yourself of anger; and more. I loved this book so much that I bought the "Emotional Resilience" and "Meditations" books by the same author.

Wow! I'm so glad I ordered this book. I'd originally found it by looking for a "how do I let go of my past issues" book for my boyfriend, as all the other books seemed to speak in dreamy metaphysical terms that turned him off. But here is a book that explains things in rational, reasonable terms without being preachy or flakey. I LOVE this book! I'm in the middle of it now, and already changes are happening, awareness is heightened and I'm feeling more confident about myself than I have in a long time. Aside from the fact that it's so straightforward, this book offers more than how to "help yourself." Emotionally Free becomes a helpful tool in unraveling the seemingly indiscernible motivations of others. Have you ever found yourself face to face with a friend or co-worker whose reaction over a negative issue was such a marked departure from how they normally might react, that you have been flushed with fear and anxiety? READ THIS BOOK! I can't say how many times I've turned a page, read a few lines, and been brought to a memory of an instance like that and was thrilled to finally gain some understanding of what had actually happened. Amazing! You will not only learn how to deal with your own emotions, but your understanding of others will help ease painful, irritating or downright infuriating confrontations with others. I cannot say enough good things about this book.

I ordered this book because the title caught my eye; did I get an eyefull! Not only is it well written - come on, when was the last time you read a book and enriched your vocabulary at the same time?? - but it makes sense!
I was in the camp of 'oh no, not another book about childhood and psychology' when I started it, but a couple of chapters into it my reticence transformed into curiosity and 5 or so chapters into it I was hooked. What stayed with me well after finishing reading it are the character types, the emotional reactions in all sorts of settings and - yes, at the risk of sounding like an advertisement - how to experience the moment.
I recommed this book to anyone who is a seeker or anyone trying to make sense of the incomprehensible.

of a book by viscott (or any author) that elaborates on viscott's chapter "the skills for working through hurt"? I thought viscott's book was entirely worth while if only for that chapter and his 11 phrases that can be spoken to someone who has just said something hurtful in order to help diffuse the situation before it festers and turns into resentment and anger. These simple expressions have had a significant effect in my work life.

I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I cracked open this book. I only purchased it at the recommendation of a professor who promoted this book in an "Effective Communications" class. I wouldn't label this book as an interpersonal communications book, but rather an INTRApersonal communications book.

For the longest time I've had a very, very short temper. I never realized I had this issue until I was 23 years old. After I realized I had the problem and noticed the stress it was causing me and others around me, I wanted to know why I was this way. Some examples of my bad temper: getting upset or angry at the dumbest, pettiest issues; interpreting things in a negative light instead of a postive light, thus, leading to miscommunication; being at the mercy of my emotions; the words that others speak influence my emotions more than I'm able to influence it--in other words, I couldn't seem to calm myself down when other people said rude things, even though I didn't want to get upset--I guess that's what you'd call an uncontrollable temper.

I just wanted to get rid of the bad habit, but didn't know how. After reading this book, I realize why I felt the way I felt and he gave some methods on how to fix this issue. I don't know if this book is for you, since everybody has different issues, but if you have a bad temper and you want to know why and how to get rid of it, this book will probably help you as it has helped me. I'd pay $100 for this book now that I know what it has done for me!

Found myself sitting on the floor of my bookstore one day about 7 years ago, feeling emotionally numb and yet desiring of knowledge/understanding so that I could come to understand... all that had shaped me.... and how I came to arrive at this place I no longer recognized as... my life. Instinctively, I knew what I needed was no quick-fix read which most of the books/authors offered. I was pretty sure I needed to go back and take a good, authentic, look at it all... it was time to stop running from it... 'it' was not going to go away. With David's assistance of the book, I discovered the path to much needed emotional healing. It was as if I had my own (in home) resident therapist with this material and the funny thing is... I wondered how this author 'knew' me so well when we had never met. This book was my initial step as I stood at the crossroads of my life and indeed I chose the right one. I recommend this for anyone who desires to heal and let go of all that is preventing you from living who you truly are.

If you are lookign to move forward in your life this is a great book to get you going. Learn how to let go of the past and have a great now.

of a book by viscott (or any author) that elaborates on viscott's chapter "the skills for working through hurt"? I thought viscott's book was entirely worth while if only for that chapter and his 11 phrases that can be spoken to someone who has just said something hurtful in order to help diffuse the situation before it festers and turns into resentment and anger. These simple expressions have had a significant effect in my work life.

I read this book some time back and never got the chance to review it. I have practiced his information and had wonderful success with it. It is packed with valuable information and skills to help set you free. I love sharing parts of the books that have given me keys to success....so read on most of my review are Davids own words...

I love this statement made by David on page 14 "Your life is your creation."

Page 1 he discusses.... "Emotional debt which is any accumulation of unresolved feelings that causes you to distort your view of the present."

Page 4 "What a nightmare is worse than living the realization that you're unhappy because you're living the wrong life? The right life is one in which you are free to say and feel what you want and make your contribution to the world."

Page 5 "It is not what name others call you that matters but what name you respond to that determines who you are."
On page 53 He talks about needing others and if you need a relationship to feel complete something is missing for sure...

Page 41 "At the very least the child denied parental love becomes confused. The child is hurt by the rejection but feels inhibited in expressing resentment for fear of appearing even more unlovable and lessening the chances of being cared for."

Chapter 5 discusses The Feeling Cycle...
He talks about anger in great detail, explaining its origin and escalation ability, I have always wondered why people give into anger and allow it to take over and control them. It is such an energy consuming emotion and wipes the life right out of the people adhering to its clutches

Page 98 " The more anger you withhold, the more likely you are to have an explosive outburst and with minimal provocation."
Defenses are activated ... and
Page 101 "The imagined threat is likely a product of emotional debt, originating from both past unresolved feelings and character type.
He discusses the fact that lying is usually misstating reality to avoid pain.

Chapter 6 discusses Understanding Hurt and the Mourning Process

Page124 "You do justice in the present to those you loved in the past not by reliving the pain of their loss but by remembering the joy of their lives.
The purpose of processing emotions in the present is to release old hurt from the defenses that hold it, mourn the loss completely, and end your suffering. If the memory still hurts, the issue has not been fully settled. A remembered pain that has not been resolved feels like a new pain just being experienced."

He teaches skills in which you learn to express feelings in the moment so that no matter who hurts you or when or under what circumstances you can discharge the feelings as they occur.

I have practiced his methods for some time now with much success.

Page 142..."The ultimate moment is the moment of accepting yourself without the need to do anything to prove your worth but merely to be yourself. This moment lasts.

Page 191 There is no point in trying to get even or make things right with a person who betrays you. Such people have a low sense of morality, social justice, or fairness, as well as little sense of self-worth. Appeals to their sense of decency go unheeded, and trying to communicate feelings to them is largely a waste of time because they do not understand these issues, fighting with them just lowers you in their estimation and validates their actions. There is little victory in the conquering of fools. The way to deal with people who betray you is separate from the, as cleanly as possible with as little emotion as they felt in hurting you."

He gives his view on Lies... Being lied to means that someone does not feel you deserve to hear the truth. Love can only function in a truthful relationship. Someone who lies to you is not loving you.
He discusses indifference and how it affects you, it is the opposite of love.

Devaluation
Page 195 "A person who does not care about your feelings does not care about you. People who devalue others are insensitive, jealous or envious, in secure, and afraid they won't make it. They're critics who cannot create or angry people bearing grudges to vent the self-criticism they cannot admit. It's quite possible that they don't value their own feelings and don't love themselves."
David says he cannot think of a higher price to pay than not forgiving someone.
Page 219 "People who don't want to forgive keep their hurt smoldering to keep from feeling guilty over their anger, This is also a good definition of suffering."

Page 247 why people don't forgive,,,, he states.... "Competitive people punish by snubbing , creating bad publicity through gossip or rumor, and creating scenes. They need to forgive so they can drop the facade of indifference, Otherwise, they become bitter."

Page 277 "The right life is the life in which you're doing what you love most of the time."

He ends his book by saying,, "Enjoy the good. Trust yourself. Express your feelings."

Excellent advice and a great book to have around for when you are dealing with difficult people and difficult situations. Do buy and practice his excellent skills, it will enhance your life.