Look In, Look Up, Look Out!: Be the Person You Were Meant to Be

I picked up this book on sale at a discount book store and from the sale price I wasn't expecting too much out of it. Wow, was I wrong. This has become my favorite "self-help" book. Joyce writes what many of us already know but may not have put into practice or put all together. She outlines many problems we face in our lives and illustrates easy-to-follow solutions. I can honestly say it's changed the way I think and approach my life. Thanks Joyce!

This is a wonderful book for anyone who needs an uplifting friend who will show you how to make the most of your life. The book is sectioned into 8 "keys" or chapters some of which cover self-esteem, self-motivation, power of your will and being able to do things alone and be happy about it. I have read SO many self help books over the years but I really enjoyed this one as it is not filled with so much of the "psycho babble" that you find in so many other books. It is just straight forward advice. For me, there was only one drawback to this book and the reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I agree with another reviewer who said that the religious aspect of this book turned her off. I read the reviews before reading this book, so I knew what to expect going in. I am not a religious person, so I merely skipped over the one or two sentences where reference to the bible was made as well as the last chapter in the book that she devotes to Spirituality and prayer. However, I did not find her religious references obnoxious. If you are considering this book and are not crazy about the religious aspect, dont let that stop you from a wonderful self-help book that is packed with great advice!

I own several of Joyce Vedral exercise books and have always appreciated her direct approach to weight training. I bought this book expecting to be less than enthralled at reading what amounts to a self-help psych book by a woman best known for her exercise books with a Ph.D. in English lit., NOT psychology! Well, I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself feeling quite inspired and uplifted after reading this book! Joyce gives her readers steps to take that you would not really expect to bolster self-esteem (such as frequently looking up words in a dictionary) but these steps truly do put you on a path of transformation. I went through this book with highlighter marker in hand, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible. I am sure this is a book that I will read again and again.

I especially appreciated Joyce's style of relating personal experiences to her faith in God and pointing us toward our spiritual higher power. I found it very encouraging and it has boosted me out of complacency to a new level of interest in pursuing my own goals. This is a great tape to listen to while walking!!