Customer Reviews

The Life Strategies Workbook: Exercises and Self-Tests to Help You Change Your Life

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I strongly urge you to get, use, and refer often to this workbook! The exercises in Life Strategies are the greatest strength of that book. The exercises in this workbook are much more numerous and more beneficial than the sum of the ones in Life Strategies.

Life Strategies is one of the most valuable books on how to accomplish more in your life that has ever been written. This workbook will more than triple the benefit you will get from reading Life Strategies by focusing you on doing many more exercises to identify your limiting beliefs, and organizing action for self-improvement. As much as I like these two books, I find them deficient in the area of helping you identify your values and life's mission. Values and mission do precede strategy. For that reason, I suggest that you start with Hyman Smith's, What Matters Most, then read Life Strategies, and follow those two books with this workbook. The three build on each other nicely, as though they were written to be combined although I believe that only the latter two were coordinated in this way.

Before telling you more about the workbook, let me note that none of these books is appropriate for helping those with severe psychological issues. You should get professional help. Some of this material might simply make you feel worse than you can handle, before building you toward a set of solutions.

The big complaint that many people have about Life Strategies was that it had too much material in it about Oprah. Well, you'll be glad to know that the workbook is virtually an Oprah-free zone.

Here is how the workbook is organized:

Part I focuses on how you can find out and face the truth about yourself, and parallels the material in chapter one of Life Strategies. There are 10 exercises here including a quick self-check, writing the story of your life, looking at times when you wonder what in the world you could have been thinking, considering your family legacy, outlining emotions that trap you, considering the consequences of your behaviors, thinking about what you want to change, identifying what you want, noticing what's working, and listing the excuses you give yourself for not taking action.

Part II is for learning the Ten Life Laws from Life Strategies. There is a section on each one, with each law having at least four exercises associated with it. Some have as many as six exercises. The laws are: (1) You either get it, or you don't (basic psychology of human motivation) (2) You create your own experience (by the choices you make) (3) People do what works (even bad habits serve some purpose) (4) You can't change what you don't acknowledge (Don't stick your head in the sand about your issues) (5) Life rewards action (6) There is no reality, only perception (Your interpretation of what is happening is malleable, and can be made more useful to you) (7) Life is managed, not cured (you have to deal with the hand you are dealt, even if you don't like it) (8) We teach people how to treat us (by the way we act around them) (9) There is power in forgiveness (Get over it!) (10) You have to name it to claim it (Goals focus us).

Part III looks at getting ready to change and parallels the material in chapter 12 of Life Strategies, involving a diagnosis of your current situation. This was one of the most useful sections in Life Strategies to me.

Part IV is on goal-setting and taking action. This parallels chapters 13 and 14 in Life Strategies.

Because Life Strategies and the workbook have the same subject matters, many will perceive them as being identical. That perception is true in one way, and false in another way. In terms of the key concepts, there is no difference. In terms of the exercises, there are major differences. The workbook has about three times as many exercises and assignments as Life Strategies does. Only about 20 percent repeat Life Strategies. The exercises are designed to deepen and strengthen your improved understanding of yourself before you start changing. Many of the exercises here will peel away levels of complacent thinking that you would probably not remove in any other way. I put in the detail of the exercises above on the chapter one material to help you see the differences. Chapter one in Life Strategies has only two assignments while the workbook has ten!

After you have finished reading and using these three valuable books, I encourage you to find someone who wants to improve their own life and to help them learn these materials, as well. This will deepen and broaden your understanding, while helping them.

If that person is your spouse or significant other, I suggest that you also read Relationship Rescue and the workbook for that book, as well, before following my suggestion.

Add yourself and others to the growing network of caring heroes who help others!

If you can only afford to invest in one workbook that will set you on the path to positive change in your life, invest in this top-of-the-line workbook. The exercises contained in this one will cause the reader to do some very serious soul searching which ultimately opens the door to self-discovery. Some of the exercises are quite in-depth; this is definitely not a book one can pick up and complete in a short length of time; the reader should be prepared to make the time to complete each exercise slowly and carefully, giving each one considerable thought and honesty.

What you learn may surprise you. As a counsellor with experience in behavioral psychology, I can assure the reader that the process of self-discovery can be complex and sometimes painful. For anyone experiencing severe trauma or emotional turmoil, this book will probably not remedy the situation - that generally takes professional counselling. However, for those who merely want to improve their outlook and effectiveness, the insight gained in this book should provide helpful information.

One might compare the process of self-discovery to standing naked in front of the mirror. In self-discovery, all the layers are peeled away until one gets to the core of the self. Like the image in the mirror, often one does not like the reflection, but it is only through acceptance and understanding of how we came to be as we are, that we can change the path of the future. The reader will come to understand one is only limited by self-imposed restrictions. This is an excellent workbook and certainly deserving of more than five stars. However, like all other self-help books, the effectiveness is only as good as the long-term commitment of the reader to change, and the dedication one has to achieving positive results.

I guess I picked up this book as a last resort. I was feeling hopeless--that I could never overcome the darkness and fears of the past, that I was trapped in confusion as to why my life was the way it was, and feeling like there was no escape--no way out. I opened this book and the very first page I saw began to give me hope. I read more and more and am now committing portions of this book to memory. What he says makes sense--its real and honest and though it puts the responsibility for the problems of your life on you--it isn't accusing, it is, in actuality, putting your life back into your own hands--which is where you want it and feel it is not---right?

Great book, the beginning of a new journey and new understanding. The book addresses all sorts of problems for those of us who have been "victims" to those of us who are overachievers and overworked, to those who are the opposite. I recommend this book--even for teenagers.

This workbook for LIFE STRATEGIES by Phil McGraw was also very helpful! Life Strategies was a Great Book and this helped me a get some deeper connections about what he was saying and how it applied to me! It had some good results that translated into more effectiveness for me. It also help me get some insight on how to get out of some unproductive habits I had. I also feel like I can take on more challenges than I could before. I really like his no nonsense approach to things.

Other books I love and highly recommend are:

* "Habits of Highly Effective People" by Covey

* "Working On Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel & Shya Kane

I especially loved "Working On Yourself Doesn't Work" by the Kanes. It is a great book, simple yet with gems of insight. These are all great books I recommend to readers seeking solid, practical yet profound advice on how to be happier, more effective, and more fulfilled in life!

A journal writer since grade school, I am very comfortable with self-reflection and documentation. However, this book requires a very high level of discipline to properly complete.

The accompanying book and the questions within this workbook are not intimidating or overly focused on self-phsycho-analysis, but the user has to be willing and diligent in their efforts to complete the work requested. If successful in these efforts, it does provide a worthwhile look at oneself and one's life.

I relate to what most of the reviewers say about this book. I grew up with a negative mother who did not encourage us to excel in anything (I was the only one of out 7 who graduated from high school). I just wasn't taught life strategies (i.e. how to be successful in life) - I was just being thrown around in the waves trying to figure it out. I just turned 40 and am taking a sabbatical from my job and figuring it out so the next 40 will be years of progress - not struggle. I feel this book is an answer to prayer. Yes, Dr. Phil may be arrogant but thank God he has the confidence to live his dreams of helping those of us who haven't gotten it but are getting it now with his help! I watch his show and to his critics I ask - how many people have you helped? GO DR. P!

An absolutely great book. Dr. Phil's strategies work and the exercises walk you through the whole process of waking you up and making you smell the coffee.

But YOU still have to actually do the work. If you are willing, then you can't lose. But if you aren't ready for basic training, this book will be taking up space.

Go ahead, be brave and go for it.

Not a typical "self-help" book, but a life prep course unfortunately not offered in schools. Read it, do it and learn to live it. Expand your control of your own life - but you have to do the work - it isn't a quick fix book - it is a book that will actually do what it says if you follow through.

Good luck and best to all who follow this path!

This workbook makes you look at your whole innerself and remember things good and bad that have made you who you are today. If you want to make a positive change in your life you can do it on your own with this excellent workbook.

this is a fabulous book for times when you are down, or clueless. have read it over a dozen times and everytime it has something new to offer me. i recommend it wholeheartedly!