The Art of Extreme Self-Care: Transform Your Life One Month at a Time (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: absolute yes, Extreme Self-Care

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This life-changing handbook by best-selling author Cheryl Richardson offers you 12 strategies to transform your life one month at a time. Designed as a practical, action-oriented program, each chapter challenges you to alter one behavior that keeps getting you in trouble.

The book is filled with personal stories of how Cheryl and others have learned to make the practice of Extreme Self-Care their new standard for living. With chapters such as “End the Legacy of Deprivation,” “Take Your Hands off the Wheel,” “The Absolute No List,” and “Does That Anger Taste Good?” you will stop the endless cycle of self-betrayal and neglect that stems from daily violations of self-care. 

      Each chapter includes a relevant resource section that offers books, Websites, audio programs, podcasts, and more should you want to explore a particular topic further.

  

The Art of Extreme Self-Care is a sane and sensible program that gives you the permission you need to dramatically upgrade your life!

About the Author

Cheryl Richardson is the author of many bestselling books. Her work has been covered widely on national television, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, and Good Morning America.  She is also featured in many top newspapers and magazines, that include: The New York Times and Good Housekeeping.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Hay House (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140191828X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401918286
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,128 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly inspirational guide to self-care, December 14, 2008

By	Kara D. Lane "Author, Wake Up to Powerful Living" (Carmel, IN USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Cheryl Richardson has written a beautiful and uplifting book on the power of self-care. Not only do her words inspire, but so do the wonderful pictures of the ocean throughout the book.

Some people may think "extreme self-care" sounds like a selfish concept; but as Cheryl explains, when we learn to care for ourselves deeply, we naturally begin to care for others in a healthier and more effective way. In fact, if we always put others first out of guilt or obligation, it can lead to resentment which doesn't benefit us or those we love.

Throughout the book, she shows us through personal stories what obstacles stand in the way of self-care. For instance, she notes she used to be an "automatic yes machine" when people asked for help because she wanted people to like her and she didn't want anyone to disapprove of her. She learned the hard way why that doesn't work and offers tips on how to respond to requests for help through a 3-step process of (1) buying some time, (2) doing a gut check, and (3) telling the truth directly with grace and love if it is necessary to say no.

This is a short and wonderful book that provides 12 ways to practice self-care, gives examples of each, issues a 30-day challenge for each principle and offers additional resources at the end of each chapter. It would make a great gift for yourself or someone you love.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem, February 9, 2009

By	Norma Lehmeierhartie (New York, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I first became acquainted with Cheryl when I worked at Wainwright House and took one of her classes there. The warmth and energy that she exuded as a teacher is found in her new book. The Art of Extreme Self-Care: Transform Your Life One Month at a Time, by Cheryl Richardson is a short book--just over 100 pages--but it is just packed with great information. Just as she has de-cluttered her home, Richardson has presented a thoughtful book without any fluff, just substance.

In 1994, Richardson saw a coach, Thomas Leonard, who introduced her to the concept of Extreme Self-Care. Extreme self-care is for women like Richardson once was; women who took on the role of caretaker to their detriment. She writes: "I was a good girl, and it was sucking the life out of me."

The following are some of the concepts of Extreme Self-Care:

* Surround yourself with people who give and take
* Eliminate clutter
* Create a soul-nourishing work and home environment
* Get finances in order
* Don't make commitments based on guilt or obligation
* Make pleasure a priority

There are 12 chapters and Richardson encourages the reader to tackle one chapter a month.

Each chapter is filled with her personal stories. It is obvious Richardson has worked through each chapter herself. She even presents her own list of things she will never do, for example.

She wrote about her experience on Oprah with Louise Hay and others on the subject of the Law of Attraction. Hay recommended looking in the mirror and saying "I love you" to yourself every day. Richardson liked the advice and writes about her experience doing that in the book.

As an interior designer who knows how important the environment is on the well-being of the occupants, I really enjoyed her chapter on this subject. She writes about creating a soul-loving space: "The power of being in a space that feels fully aligned with our soul is sorely underrated." Amen!

Richardson spends most of the chapter discussing how to get rid of clutter--even going as far as saying remove 50% of it. She suggests de-cluttering one often-used room first to experience the difference it makes on how you feel. Excellent advice.

Each chapter concludes with resources for further reading, all good choices.

By the author of the award winning book, HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT: BEAUTIFY, DETOXIFY & ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOME & YOUR PLANET.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Divine, December 8, 2008

By	Dave Carpenter "Peak Performance Scholar" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Cheryl Richardson and her publisher, Hay House, have created a beautiful book, filled with exceptional wisdom, and perfectly timed.

Because I had listened to the audio summary which was released before the book, I knew I would love Cheryl Richardson's latest book. I had so thoroughly enjoyed the audio CD set (see my separate review). But, my high expectations were surpassed when the book arrived and I experienced the physical beauty of this book. This book has the look of a coffee table style book with wisdom that exceeds the norm for such books. As such, this will make a wonderful holiday gift (and a bargain at that).

Far more important than the beautiful packaging is Cheryl's wonderful message that is perfectly timed to arrive at a moment when so many people are stressed by the economic meltdown and all of its consequences. I can't imagine a more thoughtful antidote to these tough times.

Cheryl has skillfully woven twelve elements into a divinely inspired mosaic of the notion of extreme self-care. She appropriately credits Thomas Leonard, who many consider the father of the coaching profession as we know it today, with introducing her to the concept of extreme self-care. She then introduces us to her own twelve elements, comprising extreme self-care, so as to create the potential for a yearlong program of self-improvement (for those who want to implement one improvement per month).

This book is typical of the excellence with which Cheryl creates new material. The concepts are practical, well explained, and delightfully supported by a story from Cheryl's own life to illustrate the concept. As I said in reviewing her last book, Cheryl has moved from being a traditional teacher to a wonderful conversationalist who teaches by openly sharing experiences from her own life. So many self-help authors use stories involving others to make their points. Not so with Cheryl! It's as if she opened up her home and invited you to watch as she (occasionally) bumps through life. Her gracious humanity is one of her many personal strengths.

So many of her stories brought a smile to my heart, as I pictured Cheryl having the experience and as I related to my own experiences with some of the very same bumps of life. "Hands off the Wheel" brought me back to the time when my business experienced significant growth when I finally let go of controlling every decision of my colleagues. Other sections, e.g., "The Absolute No List," provide me with opportunities for new personal performance gains as they are lessons I have yet to master.

Cheryl's timing in releasing this material (the book and the audio) is so perfect. I believe we are headed for some very challenging times...times where self-care will be especially critical for all. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful guide, for such an important activity, during such turbulent times.

PS I am confident that this book, like Cheryl's previous, will quickly become a well deserved best seller. I know that Cheryl's many female fans will treasure her best book yet. My one hope for the book, and for humanity, is that an equal number of males will open up their minds and hearts to Cheryl's profound wisdom. Judging by what I have observed by attending some of Cheryl's seminars, our male specie has been relatively slow in catching on to how much her wisdom could help. Hope springs eternal that this too will change.