We all start off the New Year thinking about ways we can continue to grow and change, to improve with the coming year and the clean slate that is offered. I face each January feeling that I have a new chance, a fresh start to achieve my goals.
Welcome to Your Next Big Thing – a new book and a Blog Hop that will hopefully change your life. I was invited to participate, along with several other bloggers, in a book review of the new book YOUR NEXT BIG THING By Dr. Ben Michaelis, and join in a blog hop to discuss how we are all working to make real change in our lives in 2013.
As I opened the bright orange cover, I wondered whether this book would be different from so many other self-discovery books I had read over the years. And then I turned the page and read “Amanda was running in place because she couldn’t move out of a repetitive pattern of behavior; it didn’t feel right to her, but she couldn’t stop.” It was as if someone was standing there holding a mirror and saying “yes, this book is for you.”
Dr. Michaelis has a practice in Manhattan, and has been working in private practice for over almost a decade, helping countless patients to get unstuck and move forward through his three essential elements: play, purpose, and work. Play time gives us a chance to use our imagination and to envision what we want to be, what we want to do. Purpose is spelling out who you are, what you believe in, and how you will get there. Work is putting in the effort, making the changes necessary to reach your purpose and your goals. Throughout, Dr. Michaelis provides exercises, quizzes, and summary points for each step of your journey, including the obstacles you face inside and outside of yourself.
As my readers know, I have been working hard to find a better path toward physical and emotional health, and Dr. Michaelis’ book is a great tool to have in my backpack on this journey. Dr. Michaelis believes that a true commitment to changing your life requires three things:
1. Vision: It’s wonderful if you know exactly what you’d like the New You to look like, but it’s not necessary. All you need is to be open to imagining yourself and your life as different from what they are now. You can explore the particulars along the way.
2. Promise: When you commit to change you implicitly make a promise. The promise is not to your husband, your sister, or even your kids. The promise you make is to yourself. Putting yourself first as a mom is a very hard thing to do for most of us, but how can we truly be living to our full potential without making ourselves promises as well.
3. Energy: Energy and work mean purpose. When you truly believe in something, when you are moving with purpose, you are throwing your energy at something you believe in to make a change and to make it the way you want it to be.
Dr. Michaelis believes that commitment is key for making and sustaining real change in your emotional life. And today I am committing to My Next Big Thing: taking better physical care of myself and making positive, healthy lifestyle changes for myself.
Here is how I plan to use Vision, Promise, and Energy for my own real change:
1. Vision (Play). I can see myself being strong and healthy. I imagine a day when I can run and play with my kids for hours without tiring. I don’t know if I will be running races, or biking for 30 miles, but I can see that I want and need to be healthier.
2. Promise (Purpose). I promise to do this for me. To stop hiding myself under multiple layers and wraps. I will be confident in myself, and ready to hike, bike, and play with my children and encourage them to lead a life of activity. I will do this for myself.
3. Energy (Work). I have begun with specific meal planning, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Every day. I have created calendars for myself with workouts laid out that I have to do in order to earn a shiny star sticker of accomplishment. I am setting very small goals for myself – 5 lbs at a time. I am moving as much as I can during the day even when I’m busy and stuck at my desk all day. I don’t have to plan for a half marathon in 6 months to prove I’m trying. I have to make small changes each and every day.
I hope you will join me and link up to my post and the other bloggers and take part in Your Next Big Thing Blog Hop:
You can purchase Dr. Ben Michaelis’ book on Amazon(also available in Kindle edition), Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound. If you’d like to learn more about Ben Michaelis, visit his Huffington Post contributor’s page or his website today.
*I received a free copy of this book to review, but the content of the review and my opinions are all mine.
Great post! I am impressed at how you were able to commit to your changes!!
I love when the universe puts things out there specifically designed for me! You have no idea how appropriate this post is right now and how excited I am to go get this book. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your commitments to Play, Purpose and Work!
Right? I didn’t even realize I was so ready for this book. Perfect timing!!
Sounds Like great book! Thanks for sharing!
I always appreciate your posts. You speak from the heart, and it means so much. I can’t wait to read this book!
Small, doable goals are the best way to make lasting changes. It sounds like your goals are exactly that!
Awesome! I can’t wait to read more of your posts from the bloghop!
So glad you enjoyed the book and hope it helps you create an action plan to make your goals a reality
Sounds like a truly wonderful book! I agree with making small changes!
Thanks for all of your kind words about my book! I sincerely hope that it helps you unlock your passion and purpose and gets you to YOUR NEXT BIG THING!
Warm regards!
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