[.ca] Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (ISBN 0380810336)

The world as seen from within...:
What I find highly fascinating about cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is how similar it is to classical mysticism. Here in the self-pitying, shallow, materialistic West, people often are heard characterizing someone something with some explicative when said person or thing doesn't live up to their expectations whether at home, work or the freeway Why? In an age of instant gratification with road rage due to over population; psychological issues at home, work or the nightclub, most if not all of us, at least here in the West, seem to have been covertly indoctrinated into a philosophy of learned helplessness, happiness comes from without, and self-entitlement. Although calling it a philosophy however is not fair, for philosophy implies a well though-out process. In this case it's more of a mindless knee-jerk reaction. Why do so many react that way? Commercials tell us that we cannot ever be happy unless we have the biggest house, the biggest SUV, the hottest date and the fattest bank account. Unless you buy such and such beauty products, smoke this cigarette, wear the most expensive designer cloths...you're not worthy. Being yourself isn't good enough-that's what they want you to believe. Why? Simple: A satisfied person with high self-esteem is a person who doesn't spend an endless fortune on the latest and greatest icons of conspicuous consumption. But these things don't fill the void within so as consumers we spend another fortune on self-help seminars, allopathic healthcare, endless psychotherapy and superficial beauty products for people with superficial values. That's what the manufactures and advertisers want. Why? Simple, via the imposed attitudes of learned helplessness, "happiness comes from without" and self-entitlement, you've just become a perpetual customer for life. "Happiness comes from within." How many times have you heard that one or read it on a plaque in a store somewhere? Yet how many times do our actions reveal our opposite, truer and much darker true philosophy? Was so and so really a jerk just because they wouldn't date us? Do you go around sermonizing with your single friends that your perfect mate better be this and this and that or else? Have you ever once stopped to consider what YOU might give, do and be to be worthy enough to be with someone so perfect? If you haven't then chances are you've never deserved such a perfect person or indeed life. And yet if you've unconsciously assimilated and accepted the covert philosophies of self-entitlement and happiness as an external-only source then your behavior is perfectly logical. Why? If one is brain washed into thinking that you cannot help yourself, only other people/things can give you happiness, and that anyone who denies you those people/things deserves your very worst, then isn't it logical that they will be angry, resentful and perhaps even violent. And if that doesn't work they'll sink into depression, for the only logical conclusion left to learned helplessness is that they have no power over their lives, and some may even commit suicide because of it. Sound familiar? Take a look at this book then. Pay particular attention to the sections on guilt, anger and irrational self-entitlement attitudes if any of the above resonates with you. But be sure to read the first section first so you know what they're talking about. And pass it on if it reminds you of anyone. I am getting tired of all the rude drivers out, self-righteous singles on the talk shows and the cheap corporate manipulation on television.

The world as seen from within...:
What I find highly fascinating about cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is how similar it is to classical mysticism. Here in the self-pitying, shallow, materialistic West people often are heard characterizing someone or something with some explicative when said person or thing doesn't live up to their expectations whether at home, work or on the freeway. Why? In an age of seemingly endless psychological issues at home, work or the nightclub, most if not all of us, at least here in the West, seem to have been covertly indoctrinated into a philosophy of learned helplessness, happiness comes from without, and self-entitlement. Although calling it a philosophy however is not fair, for philosophy implies a well though-out process. In this case it's seems a mindless knee-jerk reaction. Why do so many react that way? Commercials tell us that we cannot ever be happy unless we have the biggest house, the biggest SUV, the hottest date and the fattest bank account. Unless you buy such and such beauty products, smoke this cigarette, wear this cologne, have the most recent Windows operating system, wear the most expensive designer cloths...you're not worthy. Being yourself isn't good enough--that's what providers of these goods and services want you to believe. Why? Simple: A satisfied person with high self-esteem is a person who doesn't irrationally spend an endless fortune on the latest and greatest icons of conspicuous consumption. But these things don't fill the void within so as consumers consequently we spend another fortune on self-help seminars, allopathic healthcare, endless psychotherapy and superficial beauty products for people with superficial values. That's what the manufactures and advertisers want. Why? Simple, via the imposed attitudes of learned helplessness, "happiness comes from without" and self-entitlement, you've just become a perpetual customer for life. "Happiness comes from within." How many times have you heard that one or read it on a plaque in a store somewhere? Yet how many times do our actions reveal our opposite, truer and much darker philosophy? Was so and so really a jerk just because they wouldn't date us? Was that person who cut you off worthy of such hatred? Do you go around sermonizing with your single friends that your perfect mate better be this and this and that or else? Have you ever once stopped to consider what YOU might give, do and be to be worthy enough to be with someone so perfect? If you haven't ever even considered such a possibility then chances are you've never deserved such a perfect person or indeed life. And yet if you've unconsciously assimilated and accepted the covert philosophies of self-entitlement and happiness as an external-only source then your behavior is perfectly logical. Why? If one is brain washed into thinking that they cannot help themsevles, that only other people/things can give them happiness, and that anyone who denies them those people/things deserves their very worst, then isn't it totally logical that they will be frustrated, angry, resentful and perhaps even violent? And if all that doesn't work they may sink into depression, for the only logical conclusion left to learned helplessness is that nothing they do makes any difference, and some may even commit suicide because of it. Sound familiar? Take a look at this book then. Pay particular attention to the sections on guilt, anger and irrational self-entitlement attitudes if any of the above resonates with you. But be sure to read the first sections first though so you know what they're talking about. And pass it on if this book on if reminds you of anyone as I am getting tired of all the rude drivers, self-righteous singles on the talk shows and all the nauseating conspicuous consumption while other human beings are starving and living in boxes in our very own country. If you're also not into learned helplessness in areas of religions or heatlh care I encourage you to investigate the many alternative options that exist out there in our more tolerant age. Insofar as alternative religions, just be sure to check them out at rickross.com first so you don't get sucked into something that may make your life even worse...

Great book but often difficult to digest.:
It is a great book that really helps you through tough spots. Every time you read a passage it has new meaning. This book should be read and read again. Every time it is read it helps a little more. My only complaint is that it is a little wordy. I feel that it would be more effective if it was more succinct.

best advice you will ever recieve:
I thought this book was beyond exellent! I have to agree with another reviewer aswell that you can read it over and over again. There is so much information and knowledge in this book that it does take some time to read, to beable to 'soak it all in' and to start applying it into your life, but it WILL change you and your thinking forever. It is one of the best you will ever get your hands on!

The world as seen from within...:
What I find highly fascinating about cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is how similar it is to classical mysticism. Here in the self-pitying, shallow, materialistic West, people often are heard characterizing someone something with some explicative when said person or thing doesn't live up to their expectations whether at home, work or the freeway Why? In an age of instant gratification with road rage due to over population; psychological issues at home, work or the nightclub, most if not all of us, at least here in the West, seem to have been covertly indoctrinated into a philosophy of learned helplessness, happiness comes from without, and self-entitlement. Although calling it a philosophy however is not fair, for philosophy implies a well though-out process. In this case it's more of a mindless knee-jerk reaction. Why do so many react that way? Commercials tell us that we cannot ever be happy unless we have the biggest house, the biggest SUV, the hottest date and the fattest bank account. Unless you buy such and such beauty products, smoke this cigarette, wear the most expensive designer cloths...you're not worthy. Being yourself isn't good enough-that's what they want you to believe. Why? Simple: A satisfied person with high self-esteem is a person who doesn't spend an endless fortune on the latest and greatest icons of conspicuous consumption. But these things don't fill the void within so as consumers we spend another fortune on self-help seminars, allopathic healthcare, endless psychotherapy and superficial beauty products for people with superficial values. That's what the manufactures and advertisers want. Why? Simple, via the imposed attitudes of learned helplessness, "happiness comes from without" and self-entitlement, you've just become a perpetual customer for life. "Happiness comes from within." How many times have you heard that one or read it on a plaque in a store somewhere? Yet how many times do our actions reveal our opposite, truer and much darker true philosophy? Was so and so really a jerk just because they wouldn't date us? Do you go around sermonizing with your single friends that your perfect mate better be this and this and that or else? Have you ever once stopped to consider what YOU might give, do and be to be worthy enough to be with someone so perfect? If you haven't then chances are you've never deserved such a perfect person or indeed life. And yet if you've unconsciously assimilated and accepted the covert philosophies of self-entitlement and happiness as an external-only source then your behavior is perfectly logical. Why? If one is brain washed into thinking that you cannot help yourself, only other people/things can give you happiness, and that anyone who denies you those people/things deserves your very worst, then isn't it logical that they will be angry, resentful and perhaps even violent. And if that doesn't work they'll sink into depression, for the only logical conclusion left to learned helplessness is that they have no power over their lives, and some may even commit suicide because of it. Sound familiar? Take a look at this book then. Pay particular attention to the sections on guilt, anger and irrational self-entitlement attitudes if any of the above resonates with you. But be sure to read the first section first so you know what they're talking about. And pass it on if it reminds you of anyone as I am getting tired of all the rude drivers, self-righteous singles on the talk shows and the cheap corporate manipulation on television.