Transforming Your Dragons: How to Turn Fear Patterns into Personal Power (Paperback)

~ José Stevens Ph.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

How can personality fear patterns translate into success stories? Consult a strong title which identifies personal 'dragons' of greed, stubbornness, etc. , then translates them into empowering, energy-giving patterns of behavior. This provides direct correlations between the strengths of negative behavior patterns and success stories involving change. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Description

Dr. Stevens describes the core source of human fear--inner dragons that consume power through greed, self-deprecation, arrogance, impatience, martyrdom, self-destruction, and just plain stubbornness.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Bear & Company (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879181177
• ISBN-13: 978-1879181175
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #354,886 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resources filled with practical help., March 4, 2000

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Psychotherapist Jose Stevens, Ph.D. has more than twenty years experience helping people overcome the fears that can cripple them. He maintains an active private practice as well as lecturing nationally and internationally. Transforming Your Dragons: How To Turn Fear Patterns Into Personal Power is his seventh book. Dr. Stevens says "you as an individual cannot transform yourself unless you personally face your own fears. Facing fear often means looking at the dark, shadowy side of yourself--not to feel guilty or shameful or to punish yourself, but to release the potential vitality locked up therein." He describes the major fears as "dragons" and his book is a guide to confronting those dragons and transforming their power into personal energy. He names the dragons "arrogance, self-deprecation, impatience, martyrdom, self-destruction, greed, and stubbornness." These dragons are "the cause of all human-created suffering." The dragons, and the harm they cause, are first discussed in general terms. Dr. Stevens explains the interrelationships between them and how they function. Each dragon has a positive, as well as negative, aspect. For example, the worst of the impatience dragon is intolerance, while the best of it leads to daring. Each dragon is then given a section of its own. Dr. Stevens describes how each dragon can manifest itself, including the differences between outer and inner manifestations. He explains how the dragons develop and gain their power (almost always in childhood), and how they impact adults. He then provides detailed instructions on how to "slay" each dragon. Numerous case studies reinforce his concepts. Readers wanting to regain their energy and know the power that comes from inner peace will find Transforming Your Dragons an excellent resource that's full of practical help.

Sandra I. Smith, Reviewer

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Imaginative approach - great insights!, July 24, 1997

By A Customer

The book outlines a unique, imaginative approach that helps you recognize personal traits, understand root causes (your dragons), and work towards overcoming them.

Your specific dragons (and their counter-intuitive combinations) may indeed surprise you. For once, you cannot retort - "Tell me something I don't know!"

And it's definitely for EVERYONE - don't let the title suggest that it is for those with a definite "fear pattern" - if you desire more "Personal Power", go for it NOW!

The approach also makes it hard to be ambiguous about one's self-assessment - in fact it's quite straight-forward and swift - leading to an insightful assessment that is a critical starting point for any self-improvement endeavor.

Good job, Jose! and Good luck, fellow readers!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars really interesting, easy-to-digest approach, January 29, 2001

By	J. K. Kelley "literary mercenary" (Eastern WA, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was required to read this book for a class, so my outlook on it was more skeptical than normal. It went on to surprise and please me with its practical accessibility and good sense.

In brief, the premise is that our weaknesses--the ways in which we defeat ourselves--can be broadly categorized. In so doing, we can work to defeat these 'dragons'' grip on our personalities. It includes an exam to help identify your dragon(s) and stage of maturity, an in-depth discussion of each dragon, a section on how they work together, and a generous list of ideas for self-guided therapy to regain the particular dragon's virtue without suffering its failings.

Easy to read, well organized, makes intuitive sense, practical: a refreshing list of qualities. Recommended whether one simply seeks to better understand oneself and others, or is seriously intending to undertake personal transformation.