Customer Reviews

Living Like You Mean It: Use the Wisdom and Power of Your Emotions to Get the Life You Really Want

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As a licensed psychologist, I read many self-help books so I can make informed recommendations to my clients. LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT stands out from the crowd and is one I'll definitely be recommending. Dr. Frederick has done a wonderful job of integrating sound, cutting-edge science with real life examples to clearly illustrate how our own discomfort with our emotions, what he refers to as "feelings phobia", keeps us from having the life we really want. His four-step approach to overcoming fear and learning how to open up to and make good use of our emotions is clearly articulated and easy to follow. Practical exercises are amply provided throughout to help guide the reader along their way and readily apply the strategies to their own lives. It's easy to see how one can readily increase their emotional mindfulness and begin to use their feelings as a guide to making good life and relationship choices. I especially appreciated the summarization provided at the end of each chapter making it easy to review the wealth of material covered therein. Well done!

"Living Like You Mean It" is a phenomenal book that recognizes the power and centrality of our emotions in shaping our behavior and thus our lives. Drawing from the latest research in neuroscience and emotion theory the author explains why our emotions are so powerful and how avoidance of our feelings cuts us off from our authentic selves and leads to symptoms such as depression and anxiety. Ron Frederick is a warm and wise guide - teaching through stories, he also offers practical tools and techniques with which we may learn to work skillfully with our feelings. This book is an important resource and I highly recommend it.

This is a terrific book! As a non-therapist I felt the book was accessible, easy to understand, fun to read and full of great examples and practical advice that I could immediately apply to my life. Dr. Frederick's personal stories helped me understand how I can face my own fears and live a more fulfilling life. I recommend this book!

Have you ever sat around thinking, "My life is great. Things seem to be going well for me!" Only, on the inside you're sad, anxious or depressed? I didn't realize I was doing this until after reading Dr. Ronald J. Frederick's new book, LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT. As the cover states, he shows us how to use the wisdom and power of our emotions to get the lives we really want. He has an uncanny way of encouraging us to look deep within ourselves to see the truth behind our actions. This makes LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT a powerful and compelling read.

LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT really seems designed to connect with any level of reader. Dr. Frederick takes what could be a very complex topic - battling with ourselves to change beliefs that we have held since childhood - and put them in an easy to understand and easy to use format. Part One deals with preparation. Dr. Frederick allows us to use self discovery to observe our actions and break them down into parts we can analyze. He explains the basis for certain emotions and why we as a culture tend to push our emotions down, choosing to smother them rather than releasing them. Using recent research on the brain and body, Dr. Frederick shows us how emotions are tied to our thoughts and can greatly influence our lives.

After getting some great background info, both about emotional mindfulness and our own personal emotions, Dr. Frederick takes us into the action phase of reorganizing our emotions. Part Two shows us how to increase our emotional awareness and determine where our defenses come from. Now that we can recognize our feeling phobias he shows us how to tamp that fear down and allow ourselves to ride the waves of our emotions from beginning to the peak and finally to their release.

If you had asked me weeks ago if I bottled up my emotions or if I let them control my life, I would have told you, "Absolutely not!" I am the master of me...aren't I? I found myself perusing the pages of LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT, gradually flipping faster and faster as Dr. Frederick's words struck a chord in my heart. His examples and tell tale signs of working against one's emotions instead of with them actually rang true with me! I'm not ashamed to admit that I discovered a lot about myself between the covers of LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT. For a book, a simple collection of dried plant fibers, that really says something.

One of the most useful aspects of the book, aside from the great layout and formatting, was the way Dr. Frederick included stories from composites of actual patients. Each story was about a different individual and his or her challenge to learn that their emotions were not a force to be reckoned with, but rather a helping hand, guiding them through life. I think it is safe to say that there is at least one story, one real life example in LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT that everyone can relate to. I myself know that at least two of the stories reflect events in my life to a T.

Dr. Frederick's stories help the reader to connect with his vision, but it is really the flow of his words that pulls the reader in. This book is not at all written like a dry academic texts or even one of those dry self-help books. No, this is written more like Dr. Frederick is in the room talking with you and only you. As he speaks his words magically appear on the paper. That's really the best way I have to describe it. It really feels like you are curled up in some comfy chair chatting with a good friend. In my opinion, that's one of the best ways to connect with people and I think Dr. Frederick nailed it.

Living Like You Mean It is a wonderful way to not only help you learn to be mindful of what you are feeling but to accept your emotions as well.

Frederick's conversational tone in the book made me feel like he truly wanted to help me work through what I now recognize is a real fear of my emotions.

Never once did I feel like he was preaching at me or talking to the masses. He truly understands how hard it can be for people to deal with their emotions and thus takes things nice and easy with plenty examples from real case studies.

Definitely a must read for anyone who struggles with emotional mindfulness and acceptance.

Great book for clinicians and for people looking to live more full lives by feeling their feelings in order to heal. We are a society who are affect phobic and when we do express feelings, we only discharge them in unhealthy ways. This book, and approach, is excellent for people to learn healthier ways of living more fully by being more in touch with their authentic selves. Great guide!

One thing I like so much about "Living Like You Mean It" is the way Dr. Ron Frederick teaches by example. By sharing his personal stories, Dr. Frederick shows people that they're not alone and that can be very calming. The lessons in this book teach us about how to get to know ourselves and to listen to our inner voice. Dr. Frederick speaks to us from his heart with gentleness and compassion.

As a general rule, I do not like self help books. I have found in the past that they are preachy and never really quite work for me. That has changed after reading Ronald J. Frederick's book "Living Like You Mean It".

Frederick outlines his four step process of dealing with our feelings phobia. He shows the process for getting in touch with our emotional self in a healthy, healing way. All without sounding like a doctor or a self help guru.

It might just be perfect timing but this book spoke to me like no other book of its type has. It is no secret that I have struggles in my life after dealing with years of depression, anger, and anxiety. I have no problem feeling my feelings, I have a problem of what to do with them after I have felt them. I have struggled with relationships and connecting with people at times as well.

Frederick's approach in his book is that of a friend. I feel like I'm sitting down at home on the couch with a friend while explains how I can fix myself. There is no 'preachy' attitude. No vague mystical/spiritual qualities. Simply facts and explanations with examples to back it all up. When Frederick says that he has been there, I believe him.

I've had the book for a few weeks and took my time reading it, absorbing his steps and applying them to my daily life. I can say that in just the last couple of weeks I have noticed a change in how I handle certain situations. I have felt my anxiety slowly melting away as I confront certain things. I have a long way to go but I truly feel with this book, I can do it.

If you are looking for something to point you in the direction of mental, emotional or even spiritual healing, I know this is the book for you. I plan on passing this on to my husband because I know it could help in our relationship. I believe this is a must for anyone that has struggled with depression and/or anger problems as well.

"Living Like You Mean It" is a great read and an awesome tool that I know I will keep handy in the months to come. I highly recommend this one!

If you feel like you are running a low-grade fever of discontent with the satisfaction of your life and can't put your finger on why, then read LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT. It is written clearly and concisely; weaving psychological research, composite character anecdotes and visual diagrams to reinforce the concepts presented in the book. Each chapter has a doable list of action items which offers reflection and direction that will help you incorporate new behaviors into your life that will in time undoubtedly bring you a life of greater joy, peace and satisfaction.
For me a slow, quiet change from within has occurred and I now give my feelings just a moment to be felt by me without rationalizing or dismissing them. And those moments of being aware of my feelings have made all the difference in propelling me towards getting the life I really want. With gratitude I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

This book is a 'must read' for anyone wanting to reclaim their life and have renewed vitality, energy and passion for living. My husband, 15 year old daughter and I have read this book and it is making a tremendous impact on our personal lives, marraige and family relationships.