Customer Reviews

The Power of Self-Coaching: The Five Essential Steps to Creating the Life You Want

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A recent review of this book prompted me to add my two cents. I have read Dr. Luciani's book and feel that his techniques are truly unique and unlike any other self-help book I have read. I would definitely say that Dr. Luciani's approach is cognitive (more similar to Dr. Ahraham Low's seminal work than other CBT authors), however, I have no problem agreeing with the author when he says his insights were more intuitive, growing from his twenty-five years of work with his patients. Dr. Luciani's most significant contribution is his central, orienting thesis of control. From developmental roots of insecurity, there is an impetus to compensate through various controlling strategies (which, overtime become habits such as, worry, perfectionism, etc.). To me, this is truly a novel way of viewing struggle. Using this concept (along with the Self-Talk technique in the book), I have been able to dismantle a lifelong inclination toward worry, rumination, and anxiety. Trying to control life made it impossible for me to trust life or myself...until now!

I don't have depression or anxiety and I swear I will never go to a psychologist or psychiatrist. I rarely even go to regular doctors, but am slightly more convinced of the importance of dentists.

Imagine my surprise when I found myself reading Dr. Luciani's book, realizing that many of the habits of insecurity and control could be found in my own life. I came across Dr. Luciani's philosophy of Self-Talk and his views on the habit-based nature of anxiety and depression on his website. Through reading his thoughtful and empathetic answers to truly troubled individuals seeking comfort and understanding, I was moved to read Dr. Luciani's articles and then to purchase The Power of Self-Coaching.

I still won't go to a doctor, but Dr. Luciani's book made me realize that my lifelong anxiousness and fear of failure are habits that I can break through sustained positive affirmation. Self-Coaching is a great tool for everyone struggling to deal with the stress of modern families and careers, regardless of whether you have a diagnosis of anxiety or depression, or are just feeling nervy all of the time.

I'm pushing sixty. I've been in and out of therapy and have been reading self-help books all my life. I ordered this (the CD version) with little hope. Not much seems new anymore.

Surprise! I was almost immediately engrossed. Luciani is wonderful. Using plain talk and simple analogies, he sums up what all the niche-marketers and long-winded "experts" are currently trying to sell us as "new." There's nothing new here. But Luciani's approach is refreshing, smart, and absolutely sane.

If you want to make a change (or changes) in your life, "The Power Of Self Coaching" will absolutely make a difference in your approach and give you information and activities that will not only show you how to change, but will inspire you to change.

How can anyone not love an author who wants his epitaph to read "I'd Rather Be Reading This"?

Dr. Luciani has written an amazing program that enables the reader to create the life they want.

It is written in a fashion that can be grasped by virtually any reader. What good is a treasure map if one cannot understand the directions?

And I do consider this book a treasure map with X `s throughout. You will find many treasures along this journey of Self-Coaching.

The book progressed in an intelligent and purposeful manner that concluded with the grand prize of understanding `why'.

Why do I do this? Why am I `stuck'? Why can't I succeed? Why? Why? Why?

As I approached each new discovery, it was with a slap on my forehead! Why couldn't I see this before!?

But what matters is what happens from here on out.

Spirituality is not a focus in this program, but I have found personally that it enhances my spiritual experience.

An important element of the program for me, because I don't fit the classic mold of any particular psychological label, but have traces of many, it was important to me that I could tailor his program to fit `me'.

My experience with Self-Coaching has been nothing less than miraculous, and I've had many good, some great (published, and personal) teachers in my life.

In my husband's words "Besides me, Self-Coaching is the best thing that has ever happened in your life". After nearly 28 years with me, he knows of which he speaks because he knows me better than any other living person, and has observed my comings and goings through the maze of `self-help' and `therapy-land'.

Take it from one who has been around the block a few times......GET THE BOOK! You won't be sorry!

Life is too short to miss the real thing!

Harmony

It's odd and mildly annoying that Luciani keeps telling the reader that he'll be teaching us techniques and approaches that will help us with our issues, that we'll be getting to it shortly, that it's coming soon, but the remainder of the book gets thinner and thinner and the techniques take forever to materialize.

That is, the first part of the book is largely filler, which is pretty common these days in self-help books, and the meat takes forever to come around. Lots of surveys and fill-in-the-blank sections to make the book easier to write, naturally.

I wish Luciani had really gotten down to business from the very beginning, and just laid it all out on the table, so to speak, instead of dancing around the topic for so long.

That said, there are some great bits of advice in this book, and overall it was worth the money and the time to read it.

I think this is a helpful book. As self help books go I would say this is one of the better ones. I read the author's first book and then purchased this book. Initially I thought the information would be very similar to his first book but it isn't. In this book, the author offers the 5 step process and there are tips and helps through the first part of the book. It takes awhile to get to the actual 5 steps that are referred to on the cover of the book. Over half of the front part of the book is an analysis of issues, I don't think the author needed to spend that much on that subject for me. However, if this is the first book you are reading from this author then this information and analysis is helpful.

I had about given up on feeling better. It was just not meant for me. So I got this CD set (honestly, who could stand reading?) and listened while I drove to work. Then I listened some more. The things Luciani pointed out were so obvious and so stark from what I had over-analyzed before, it made a difference in my life immediately. It's like lending someone your watch so they can tell you what time it is.

If you're read Dale Carnegie's 'How to Stop Worrying...' and agreed with it in principle but just couldn't make the ideas work (I had this problem), this book is very similar - with one exception. It helps you to see the self-sabotage going on inside you head. I see the two books as being very similar, but Self-Coaching gives you the ammo. It helps you recognize what's going on - when it's happening. And then it gives you the tools to combat it.

This CD is absolutely making a positive impact in my life. I continue to listen time to time to remember nuances or when I need a hand, but things are getting better. I keep working at the very simple ideas and that propels me on. I am glad I took the chance with this CD set. If you've about given up, I suggest you give it a shot.

Joe Luciani's easy-to-follow exercises and his viewpoint on life has made the biggest impact in my life. This is the first book that made absolute sense to me and gave me a roadmap for everyday life. Now I start each day with a sense of purpose and complete happiness. Thank you Joe!

Last year when I read Dr. Luciani's book on Self-Coaching I was convinced that his simple, straightforward method of healing was exactly what I needed. And was I ever right! Take it from me, I've spent years in therapy and never realized the simple truth about healing. As Dr. Luciani says, two words: habit and control. Understanding these concepts has literally turned my life around. I just received my copy of The Power of Self-Coaching and haven't been able to put it down. It is the perfect sequel for taking that next step towards complete happiness. I particularly liked his Self-Talk section, which has been totally revised and updated with more expansive exercises and techniques. I was visiting Dr. Luciani's website (www.self-coaching.net) where I learned about his new book...I can't tell you how much these books have changed my life nor can I tell you how powerful his message is. Buy the book, find out for yourself!

This book uses what some refer to as cognitive therapy to defuse a person's negative self-talk. I found it interesting but wished that the author would have given more tips for how to do this earlier in the book. The first three quarters of the book is basically an analysis of how you think to detect the level of dysfunctional self-talk you might have. The tests were illuminating and overall the book was worth reading.

If you enjoyed this book be sure to check out the phenomenal Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. It has a broader explanation of cognitive therapy.