Breaking the Pattern: The 5 Principles You Need to Remodel Your Life

The first step is buy the book. We all have negative patterns....it's recognizing them, isolating them, and making the conscience effort to CHANGE them that is the challenge. The first reward can be knowing that you are moving possitively in the direction you visualize that you want to be in - your life, health, and relationships. The next reward is seeing those goals come into fruition. The last is true self-acceptance (which I am still working on) but I see that reward as being immeasurable. I could really identify with his case studies - I felt there was a bit of me in all of them. I also liked his approach to goal setting and how to break it down on a daily/weekly basis so it is more managable. The bottom line: if you are looking for some real ephonies in your own life, this is a great tool to get you there.

"I can assure you that the successful people in your life who you admire apply many, or all, of the techniques described in this book. Success is no accident, nor is it unconscious. People who achieve their goals are almost always acutely aware of what directions they take in reaching their destinations." ~Charles Stuart Platkin If you are tired of spinning in the same circular conversations, walking the same paths to the same unfulfilling destinations or can't seem to implement strategies to reach your goals, "Breaking the Pattern" might encourage you to remodel your life. Charles Stuart Platkin has discovered five basic principles you can apply to your life in order to make changes, reach your dreams and finally live the ideal life of your choosing. He used the principles in this book to change his own life. What started as a letter to a friend turned into self-reflection and through writing, Charles started to think more clearly. Through further interviews and discussions with friends and professionals the author started to find real answers: 1. What's a Pattern and How Do I Know What Mine Are? - A study of self-sabotaging and self-paralyzing behavior. Are you choosing the easy path of substance abuse, short cuts or just making bad choices and finding someone else to blame? What are your triggers? 2. Self-Evaluation and Reflection Workshop - A variety of exercises where you answer questions and then analyze the answers. One of the most important sections in this chapter is "Asking the Right Questions." 3. Failure Is an Asset Waiting to Be Discovered - Successful people seem to see rejection and failure as a reminder that they are still on the path towards their goals. Sometimes just having the goal and continuing towards that goal, no matter what, is a formula for success. The author explains how you can overcome fear and move beyond failure. 4. Taking Responsibility Leads to Freedom - An interesting look at blame, being a victim, making excuses, avoiding responsibility and being the martyr. A discussion of why many people surrender their responsibility to a higher power. 5. What Makes a Goal a Goal? - An interesting section on intrinsic rewards. 6. If You Can See It,It Can Happen - Do you have the discipline it takes to reach your goals? Ideas on how to set realistic goals and overcome obstacles in your way. There is a place to write down your ideas for short and long-term goals. 7. Making Change Happen and Transforming Your Life -What are your values? Are you open to possibility? How do you find the positive patterns? 8. Tactics and Strategies for Changing Your Life -In the final chapter, the author explains how our "internal commentary" can change our lives. I loved all the inspirational quotes and stories, the positive and healing environment this book provides, and the idea that short-term failure is no excuse not to achieve long-term success. Do you feel imprisoned by the past? Do you desire a more fulfilling futu

Breaking the Pattern held an added surprise in the sense that while I was prepared for improvements in my approach to professional and personal issues, I was not as prepared for a realization. By applying the exercises in Breaking the Pattern to my professional life and personal life, the similarities that emerged were significant. The lasting effect beyond the book's positive exercises was the ongoing connections I now see between my work life and personal life.Also, while I am not usually a fan of "workbooks," the exercises in Breaking the Pattern were well constructed and communicated in a way that made it possible for me to get the full benefit from them.In general, Breaking the Pattern surpassed my expectations and gave me a stronger foothold in my professional life and personal life.

"Breaking The Pattern" is a brilliant new book about an age-old issue: how to stop repeating behavior that is self-destructive. Be it in love, career or even in friendships, this book is very useful for everyone who wants to improve their lives. I found the book both entertaining and incredibly useful, because it made me think about aspects of my life that warrant some introspection. Like many others, I know that even when things are going well, we can all use some helpful hints to get even better. "Breaking The Pattern" is worth reading (and then re-reading six months later) because each time you peruse its easy-to-use instructions, new insights come to mind. Buy it foryourself, give it to a friend and keep a few more in stock because your family and friends will thank you for getting it for them.--Tom Allon

I just finished reading "Breaking the Pattern" by Charles Stuart Platkin, and I immediately felt the need to write about it. Lately, I've been feeling really down. I've had a little bad luck when it comes to relationships-- okay, so my boyfriend dumped me for our campus paper's sex columnist. In addition to that, I haven't gotten into any of the grad schools I've wanted to because I get nervous in interviews, and my parents just announced to me that they were moving to New Zealand to be alone and would appreciate it if I only visited them on holidays. So, as you can see, it hasn't been an easy year for me. When I was in kindergarten, I was always told that I could do or be anything, and somewhere in between high school and college, everyone told me it was time to start getting real, and I lost the belief that my life could be everything I want it to be. I began to think I just should settle for what I could get. Well, Platkin taught me to get S.M.A.R.T. After reading this book, I began to believe again that I could have the life I dreamed of...and not only did it make me believe it. It taught me how to actually achieve it. Also, despite all the bad things that happened to me this year, Platkin gave me a new perspective on them. This book helped me find a little piece of me that I thought died a long time ago-- the piece of me that believed in me and knew I could do anything I put my heart to. I know I'm going to get past all these setbacks from this past year and move on now thanks to Platkin. Before this book, I just wanted to sit around and eat and feel sorry for myself. After reading this book, I think I'm finally ready to get back up, dust myself off, and take on the world.