After suffering from severe almost crippling anxiety, I was giving this book to help me cope and it was the best thing that I ever read. It changed my relationship with anxiety, fear and future dreams. If you do the exercises in the book, it helps change your understanding and except the many issues you believe are holding you back.

فصلهای اول پر تبلیغ کتابهای خودش و دوستانشه منتها مطالب مفیدی هم داره که خب اذیت نمیشی اما دوتا فصل آخر به حدی تخیلی هستن که راحت میتونی کل کتاب رو زیر مجموعه ی کتابهای تخیلی در نظر بگیری. از چرندیات کلید اسراری دو فصل آخر سر درد گرفتم

Originally published in 1987, this self-help classic was reissued in a 25th anniversary edition in 2012. I looked over it for a proposed comparison article with n  How to Win Friends and Influence Peoplen (later cancelled, alas) and found this one to be more relevant and readable. Jeffers says that at the base of every fear is a belief that “I can’t handle it.” Our fears are either of things that can happen to us (ageing and natural disasters) or of actions we might take (going back to school or changing jobs). The only way to increase your trust in your ability to handle things is to go out and do it. Everyone is afraid in new situations, but you can choose to hold fear with either pain (leading to paralysis) or power (leading to action). Jeffers recommends reciting affirmations and changing your vocabulary to be less negative. A positive attitude needs constant reinforcement.

This is a very reader-friendly book: the take-home messages are set out in capital letters and each chapter ends with a summary of the main principles and a testimonial letter (in my copy, mostly UK-specific). There are also case studies as well as anecdotes from the author’s own life – she has survived divorce and cancer. The most helpful thing of all to me was the “Whole Life” grid of nine elements: work, relationship, family, friends, hobbies, leisure time, alone time, personal/spiritual growth and giving back (e.g. volunteerism). Give yourself 100% to each one, Jeffers advises, and set goals or to-do list items related to each one.

Save yourself the time; you're much better off with Tony Robbins or Brian Tracy.

I was afraid to leave this review, but I did it anyway. Kidding.

Really, though, this book is probably really important for some people. Women, especially. Women leaving relationships, I'd imagine. The first two chapters are pretty neat. They highlight an important truth that you can't wait for the fear to go away before you do something.

I know that this book influenced a lot of other books I've liked.

The 3 stars instead of 4 or 5 is partially because of sentences like these:
[This] "Higher Self is capable of a high degree of sensitivity and attunement to a harmonious flow within the universe."

I just have a hard time reading sentences like that, sober.

And actually I never finished the last chapter, largely because the above sentence was in the beginning of it, and I have a lot of other things to read. I was afraid to return the book unfinished, but I did it anyway. So, I guess it worked.

Having lived most of my life with debilitating Panic Disorder (google it if you're curious) this book has done more to put me in charge of my life than all the years of medications, therapy, and all the other self-help books I've read combined.
I encountered this book at the worst point in my mental health struggle (being nearly housebound by agoraphobia - again, google if needed) and truly found it to be a sanity saver!
If it has helped me pull myself back from the brink of desolation too deep and dark to put into words, then surely it will do amazing things for those struggling with the typical fears that all of us face on this journey we share.

The first 20% of this book was really good and informative but then once the main point was made, I found myself not being able to take in or focus on the rest. That was just all I need to learn from this book I guess.

It took me a while to get into it but once i'd gotten through half and i started taking on the advice, I felt so much more positive as-well as calm. I definitely underestimated how this book could simply explain basic instructions that drastically reduced my day to day anxiety and depression. Its helped me to learn how to maintain good mental health. I feel more optimistic, more grounded and overall I was pleasantly surprised by how powerful this book was for me. I would certainly recommend this to anybody with an open mind who would like a little insight into building up their skills, confidence and learn better how to enjoy life! :)

No me ha cambiado la vida y habría estado bien que hubiera sido menos panfletario, pero no está mal para recordar ciertas cosas.

Read the Quick Reads version so a quick and easy read. A must for anyone who lets fear hold them back (which is basically everyone!)

The book is practical and offers good advice, however crosses over with many other self-help/motivational literature out there. The whole book could have been condensed into a brochure and summarised in a few words: "You can handle ANYTHING". Considered as one of the classics in the field (first published in the 80's) it seems to have fallen behind the more advanced and contextualised books of recent times. It has a similar language as Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" however lacks the colourful and business-oriented examples. Overall good and easy read, but would not recommend it for those who are further along in their self-exploration journey or are tight for time.

Typical of this genre this book has some very good advice about overcoming fear and working towards larger projects without feeling overwhelmed. The last half of this book really goes into a lot of self-affirmation and positive thinking will win you the day kind of mindset. I just don't find this as actively helpful advice. I agree that we need to maintain positivity but I suppose I am more interested in real-world stories, factual information, and troubleshooting rather than fluffy stuff that could have been said in two sentances.