It's Your Little Red Wagon... 6 Core Strengths For Navigating Your Path To The Good Life: Embrace The Power Of Positive Psychology And Live Your Dreams! [Paperback]

Sharon S. Esonis Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 27, 2007

Yes, it's your little red wagon or, simply stated, it's your life, and only you can decide what to do with your little red wagon: you can push it, pull it or just stand and look at it! The little red wagon is a metaphor for that exciting, vibrant vehicle that transports our hopes, dreams, promise and passion. In other words, life as we would wish it to be. But to ensure that this vehicle of possibilities stays on course, we each must take responsibility for its progress and maintain control of its direction. This book is all about attitude, beliefs, expectations, thinking and behavior. It's about the power of Positive Psychology and the skills that promote optimal human functioning. And it's about developing the core strengths you need to navigate your little red wagon along the path to the good life. As Carlos Castaneda tells us, "We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sharon Esonis has spent the better part of three decades helping individuals live their dreams through her work as a licensed psychologist, life coach and author. An expert in human behavior and motivation, Dr. Esonis specializes in the burgeoning field of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of optimal human functioning and the core strengths that can lead to the achievement of personally-defined goals - what we call the good life. Dr. Esonis earned her bachelor and masters degrees at Ohio University and her doctoral degree at Boston College. While at BC, she studied under a preeminent psychologist who was renowned in the field of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and was an early proponent of the Positive Psychology movement. Dr. Esonis is licensed in psychology in Arizona and Massachusetts, and in addition to her many years of private practice as a clinician and coach, she supervised masters and doctoral students in their clinical work at Arizona State University. She has served as a hospital staff psychologist and has lectured on topics ranging from stress management, meditation and relaxation training to assertiveness and sleep management. Today, her private practice in San Diego is dedicated exclusively to personal and professional coaching. This book is her contribution to the field of Positive Psychology, presenting proven success factors and strength-building techniques that can lead individuals to a life of purpose, motivation and personally-defined happiness. Dr. Esonis is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapy (ABCT), the San Diego Professionals Coaches Alliance (SDPCA) and is a Founding Member of the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP).

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Positive Path Publishing (November 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097994970X
• ISBN-13: 978-0979949708
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,050,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sharon Esonis has spent the better part of three decades helping individuals live their dreams through her work as a licensed psychologist, life coach and author. An expert in human behavior and motivation, Dr. Esonis specializes in the burgeoning field of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of optimal human functioning and the core strengths that can lead to the achievement of personally-defined goals - what we call the good life. Dr. Esonis earned her bachelor and masters degrees at Ohio University and her doctoral degree at Boston College. While at BC, she studied under a preeminent psychologist who was renowned in the field of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and was an early proponent of the Positive Psychology movement. Dr. Esonis is licensed in psychology in Arizona and Massachusetts, and in addition to her many years of private practice as a clinician and coach, she supervised masters and doctoral students in their clinical work at Arizona State University. She has served as a hospital staff psychologist and has lectured on topics ranging from stress management, meditation and relaxation training to assertiveness and sleep management. Today, her private practice in San Diego is dedicated exclusively to personal and professional coaching. This book is her contribution to the field of Positive Psychology, presenting proven success factors and strength-building techniques that can lead individuals to a life of purpose, motivation and personally-defined happiness. Dr. Esonis is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapy (ABCT), the San Diego Professionals Coaches Alliance (SDPCA) and is a Founding Member of the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably accessible, essential skills for personal growth, January 25, 2008

By 

Dr. Patricia M. Tahan (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's Your Little Red Wagon... 6 Core Strengths For Navigating Your Path To The Good Life: Embrace The Power Of Positive Psychology And Live Your Dreams! (Paperback)

"It's Your Little Red Wagon" is an absolute must-have for anyone's self-help collection. As a psychologist in clinical practice, I am frequently asked to recommend books to complement the work being done in therapy. Rarely does a book come along that satisfies the needs of both the professional and the lay personal alike. Dr Sharon Esonis has supplied a first-rate addition to my cache. Not only does this easily read and understood book provide straight-forward strategies for empowering individuals to reach their own, unique goals, but it does so in a way that is clear, concise, and in plain language.

"It's Your Little Red Wagon" outlines six distinct, core strengths (optimism, courage, persistence, enthusiasm, living in the present, and resilience), each highlighted in its own chapter so that the reader can focus on one or more strength in an effort to promote growth in any of his or her chosen areas. The book does not have to be read cover to cover or front to back to be helpful. As a clinician, I am pleased to be able to encourage my clients who are reluctant to read an entire work the opportunity to focus on one core strength at a time. The descriptions and accessible examples in each chapter lay out a practical and manageable path for forward momentum. Dr. Esonis writes with such enthusiasm that the reader cannot help but begin to experience her contagious hope and power to push forward no matter how discouraged or stuck one may have felt at the start.

The burgeoning field of Positive Psychology has found a champion in Dr. Esonis. In this can-do book, she prescribes just the right dose of the tried and true, research-based strategies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She mixes in a touch of humor, a liberal measure of famous quotes and poems, popular movie references to supplement the learning process, and some written homework for good balance. As a whole, "It's Your Little Red Wagon" provides those essential building blocks for developing a strong sense of self that is mindful, confident, and positive.

Bravo to Dr. Esonis for "It's Your Little Red Wagon." I have already recommended this excellent book to my clients and to my colleagues. In truth, we can all benefit from the lessons in this fine work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Your Little Red Wagon, February 10, 2008

By 

Debra Rock "LCSW, Debra Rock Counseling" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's Your Little Red Wagon... 6 Core Strengths For Navigating Your Path To The Good Life: Embrace The Power Of Positive Psychology And Live Your Dreams! (Paperback)

"Having a plan" and "working a plan" are major keys to mastering success in our lives. Dr. Sharon's book combines the psychological and biological, with motivating "wisdom of the ages".

Graced with humor and a common sense approach, I found this an enlightening read and great reference manual. With easy to use tools and techniques, this book has the potential to help you in creating that successful life - starting immediately!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical, Useful Tools, December 23, 2007

By 

P. Baize (Mesa, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's Your Little Red Wagon... 6 Core Strengths For Navigating Your Path To The Good Life: Embrace The Power Of Positive Psychology And Live Your Dreams! (Paperback)

I have read two chapters of It's Your Little Red Wagon (so far) and enthusiastically recommend it. It is a quick, easy read, which is not to suggest it is simplistic, but written in a style that is very readable. The author provides multiple tools including relaxation techniques, self-assessment guides, motivational quotes, and resources for additional study. The wide variety of suggestions allows any reader to find the appropriate solution to suit their individual style and need. Similarly, the division of the book into specific "core strengths" allows the reader to prioritize and choose the sequence with which they prefer to read...so useful, versatile, and practical. Dr. Esonis has definitely created a valuable guide to "navigating your path to the good life."