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Life Strategies Book review

Life Strategies written by Dr. Phil McGraw

Do what works

Do what matters

My dad used to say, ‘You wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought about you if you knew how seldom they did. Phil McGraw

REVIEW

(Disclaimer – this is a personal independent review of the above book by me. I am not a Psychologist nor do I claim to be.)

Why this book?

If you are struggling with life, yourself, decisions, people, choices and if you are stuck in a rut, then above all. this book is even more a must read.

About the book: Life Strategies

First of all, Life strategies was written by Dr. Phil and published in 1999. The book is in paperback and consist of 282 pages and falls under Self help.

Extra:

These are the 10 life laws that Dr. Phil delves into and he throws out a lifeline to you and it is therefore up to you if you want to take it or not. You can probably and certainly choose to skip this read but then again: What do you have to loose?

Life Law #1: You either get it, or you don’t.

Strategy: Become one of those who gets it.

Life Law #2: You create your own experience.

Strategy: Acknowledge and accept accountability for your life.

Life Law #3: People do what works.

Strategy: Identify the payoffs that drive your behavior and that of others.

Life Law #4: You cannot change what you do not acknowledge.

Strategy: Get real with yourself about your life and everybody in it.

Life Law #5: Life rewards action.

Strategy: Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger.

Life Law #6: There is no reality; only perception.

Strategy: Identify the filters through which you view the world.

Life Law #7: Life is managed; it is not cured.

Strategy: Learn to take charge of your life.

Life Law #8: We teach people how to treat us.

Strategy: Own, rather than complain about, how people treat you.

Life Law #9: There is power in forgiveness.

Strategy: Open your eyes to what anger and resentment are doing to you.

Life Law #10: You have to name it before you can claim it.

Strategy: Get clear about what you want and take your turn.

How long did it take me to work through Life Strategies?

Due to a bad habit of mine I would buy books and not read them immediately so yet again I purchased the book from my local bookstore in the early 2000’s and only started working through it in 2017. I finally completed it in 2019. I would do an exercise over a week or two and then leave it for a few weeks before doing another exercise.

Did I complete every single exercise and read every word?

Yes, yes, yes. I did not skip any chapter, word or exercise no matter how time consuming, emotional and physical exhausting it some times became. You can only benefit from the book if you do what it takes.

My overall view of the book

This book is well written and to the point. It forces you to take a deep look into yourself and your way of thinking, doing and saying things. I learned so much about myself while doing the exercises and although some of the exercises brought raw emotions to the front, I kept going and worked through it.

This book is timeless, whether you read it now or 50 years from now. It is worth every cent I paid for it.

How are you doing after working through the book?

I’m doing very well thank you. I have learned to understand myself better, to put boundaries up and to understand and make better decisions for me and not to always put others needs in front of my own.

Is the change in you visible to others and how did they react?

Yes it is visible – people say I changed and many don’t understand and prefer the old Amanda who where always so easy to understand and to manipulate.

Would I recommend this book to others?

This book is almost like sitting opposite Dr. Phil in a one on one counseling. He writes in easy to read and understand English and if you are willing to do everything in the book and beyond, you will surely reap the benefits and become a better person from the inside out.

Sometimes you just got to give yourself what you wish someone else would give you. Phil McGraw

See you in the sunlight with your face to the sky!