You've
been there, no doubt. The big mistake, the wrong decision that
resulted in a devastating situation. Once you've learned that lesson,
Cloud says, never go back.
It's
one thing to intellectually understand what we should never do again
but it is quite another thing to live out that understanding. Cloud
tackles those two issues in this book: 1) key awakenings that
successful people experience, 2) implementing the life we
intellectually understand.
The
key awakenings are: never go back to what hasn't worked, to doing
something that requires you to be somebody else, to thinking you can
change someone, to trying to please other people, to avoiding
short-term pain when it leads to long-term benefits, to being taken
in by someone or something that looks perfect, to losing the big
picture, to taking the easy path and failing to do due diligence, to
ignoring the part you play in the situation you are in, to forgetting
that your inner life determines your outer life.
Cloud
then helps us in implementing what we know, the many ingredients or
steps that make change happen. First, we must wake up. Then we think
about the end result of what we are doing. We must ask for help and
realize the myth of self-help. Cloud identifies eight essential
ingredients for change that we get from God and other people. He
concludes with principles essential to making change a reality.
I
am impressed with this book. Cloud is very practical in exploring the
reality of our decisions and their consequences. He has included ways
for us to find out if we are doing the wrong behavior and gives
plenty of reasons for changing. He includes some of his own life
stories and those from other people implementing behavior he suggests
(or failing to do so).
This
is not a miracle “get out of my situation” book. Cloud has
identified the behavior that needs to be changed and the reasons for
doing so. He even provides the strategy and essential ingredients
necessary to make the changes. The responsibility still remains with
the individual to follow Cloud's suggestions. As Cloud notes, with
the strength of God, it can be done.
Dr.
Henry Cloud is both a psychologist and a Christian. He has
written or co-written more than twenty books. He has appeared on
numerous radio and television programs. He co-hosts the nationally
syndicated radio program New Life Live, and is featured on
SiriusXM. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters.
You can find out more at www.drcloud.com.
Howard Books, 250 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book from Howard Books for the
purpose of an independent and honest review.
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