A Year to Change Your Mind: Ideas from the Therapy Room to Help You Live Better

Product Information

Savoring moments: Take a moment to appreciate and savor positive experiences to enhance positive emotions.

Calmer more experienced minds will be aware of these techniques but they are in a perfect package for a young person. And while we’re on this point, it can be infuriating to read accounts of extraordinarily cruel animal experiments whose results are so blindingly obvious they hardly merit testing. Perhaps the most comforting – and discomfiting – thing about this book is that it sketches a world of pain and injustice in which it’s nonetheless possible to enjoy life. Side note: I don't understand why this book isn't more popular/talked about/has more ratings on Goodreads?Grove Press An imprint of Grove Atlantic, an American independent publisher, who publish in the UK through Atlantic Books. A Year to Change Your Mind was written during the pandemic and is suffused with an air of staying calm while the world is having a freakout. I don't think I'm a fan of the structure of the chapters, I'd prefer if each chapter was titled after the problem/idea/solution/story/theory/strategy/etc which would make the book easier to navigate as a reference. We keep niggling over mildly aggravating thoughts as if trying to solve a maths problem whose solution seems slightly beyond reach.

Some interesting learnings and cool facts eg (“ruminating” comes from cows chewing grass) in this comforting book, but I wasn’t particularly blown away by anything. This review will break down the main principles outlined in each chapter, offering an actionable checklist to incorporate these recommendations into your daily routine for a happier, healthier mind. January (new beginnings), March (your environment) and November (rest and JOMO - the joy of missing out) really resonated with me, particularly as it was cold outside as I read this.Not only do the book’s modest claims make it likable, but the fact that it isn’t trying to sell you some pumped-up, perfect version of yourself has the effect of making it seem trustworthy too.

Seek professional guidance: If you're experiencing mental health challenges, don't hesitate to reach out to a therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. Those who count themselves among the “worried well” probably already have the odd wise confidant to process ideas and feelings with, and are well versed in the notion that life inevitably has its ups and downs.Cognitive reframing: Whenever you encounter a negative thought, consciously challenge and reframe it into a more positive or balanced perspective.

Celebrate milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, reinforcing your commitment to your purpose. I imagine young people leaving home for uni or heading out into the world of their first job will really benefit from the lessons in this book. By breaking down the main principles into actionable checklists, you can easily incorporate the book's recommendations into your daily routine. It’s a good idea to try to do something about these things, however insignificant your efforts might feel. Gratitude expression: Regularly express gratitude towards your friends and family for their support and kindness.

In A YEAR TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, consultant clinical psychologist Dr Lucy Maddox explains how psychological processes thread through our lives, pinpointing those issues most frequently encountered in each month, and shows us how by reflecting upon past experiences, both joyful and painful, and considering evidence-based ideas from the realm of psychology, we can learn to live a more thoughtful, positive life that better prepares us for the future.