The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It (Hardcover)

by Debbie Ford (Author) "Imagine waking up each morning with an excitement and passion that you haven't felt in years..." (more)
Key Phrases: integrity anchors, righteous positions, impeccable integrity (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Debbie Ford's straightforward, heartfelt style makes an old-fashioned idea seem fresh in The Best Year of Your Life. Her concept of "dream it, plan it, live it" is a detailed version of advice we've all heard about the need for clear plans, firm action and a refusal to be sidetracked--but with her gentle voice and step-by-step suggestions, the message comes across in a new way. In particular, her advice on creating mental snapshots of specific memories provides an excellent new technique for the ages-old concept of living in the moment.

Each of the three short sections include writing activities to help track your own process and short, regular affirmations that, if made part of a daily routine, can assist you in staying the course you plan for yourself. She demands plenty of honesty with yourself, and refuses to allow excuses any room on a regular basis. The result is a refreshing mix of support and toughness that lets you set your own pace as you work to map out your life goals and aim towards acting with what Ford describes as "conscious intent".

A number of stories from her own life and clients are included, and provide inspiration for readers at different stages. The examples cover a wide range, from losing a few pounds and keeping it off to making explosive changes in a relationship or career, and the resource guide that finishes the book is a welcome accompaniment if you're looking for more details on a specific technique references in one of the stories. --Jill Lightner

Product Description
"Maybe you have slipped into the pattern of waiting for the day when your fantasy life will arrive. You might be hoping that the day is coming when you will finally have more success, money, love, or happiness. Like so many, you may be waiting for something to happen tomorrow that will make you feel better about your life today. But I ask you, has that tomorrow shown up yet? It's time to break through the illusion that the best year of your life exists somewhere out there, in the future, when the reality is it exists right here and now."
-- from the Introduction

On New Year's Eve we make resolutions that this year will finally be different. We decide that this is the year we will land a new job, get in great shape, find the man of our dreams, quit smoking, or learn Spanish. Our list of wants is as long as all of our dreams strung together. So what happens to this commitment to change? What stops us in our tracks? Why is it that six weeks after making this pledge, our hopes for change vanish, only to reemerge as next year's "what-ifs?"

Number one "New York Times" bestselling author Debbie Ford not only answers these questions but offers a proven, practical blueprint for making today -- "this moment" -- the beginning of the best year of your life. Filled with inspiring guidance, encouraging stories, and life-changing exercises, THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE is a call to action. It's time to stop pretending that the life of your dreams will magically arrive, and instead make a clear and precise plan of action that is guaranteed to deliver the life you've been waiting for.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (December 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060723947
• ISBN-13: 978-0060723941
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,346 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NCZ's and self-discipline, June 22, 2005

By	Karen Beth Martin "book belle" (Oxford, MS, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a self-help book junkie and most of them are just books to read and get what you can from them. Most of them don't actually outline what you need to DO and this one doesn't really either. However, when you get past the normal self-help info in this book (it is in this one too!) you can really glean some good things from it. I was particularly drawn to the NCZ idea (No Cookie Zones) and her line that "Self-discipline is the greatest gift you can give yourself." I love that idea and it really resonated with me. So, while this book does have a lot of the "stuff" that other self-help books have, it also has some really great advice that you can use in everyday life. It is a short easy read and Debbie makes it very enjoyable. Well worth the time and money.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are you ready for change?, January 12, 2005

By	Nicole T - See all my reviews

I really enjoyed Ford's empowering message for motivating action!

I want to "make over" my whole life, including the need to lose weight so for Christmas I asked for Debbie's book along with Deborah Low's, "Quest for Peace, Love and a 24-Inch Waist" and have discovered that both authors support the same thought processes--very motivating and inspirational--answering the question, "how can I stay committed to my dreams and goals?", with practical, inspiring advice.

Since completing them both, I am able to see my life as a creative, ever-changing experience of which I am in complete control. If you need to make overall changes in your life, get Debbie's book but if you need to make peace with your body and lose weight, get Low's. If you can afford both, do it.

62 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book for Both Men and Women, April 17, 2005

By	D. Buxman "A Seeker of Truth" (Pueblo, CO United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Before buying this book, I noticed that there were substantially more reviews submitted by women than men. I would like to note, however, that this book has excellent insights for both sexes and would make a great gift. Although it stands to reason that the basic principles should be universal, some self help books have a decidedly sexist slant. Anyway, I enjoyed this book immensely. The chapters were brief and interesting. After finishing the book, I was able to go back to the end of each chapter for the basic building blocks necessary to start the best year of my life. The steps aren't overwhelming or complicated, but they make good sense.