Ten Commitments to Mental Fitness

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (12/06) "Ten Commitments to Mental Fitness" is a powerful little book. It is especially important to us because we are in a time when people are more focused on being physically fit than emotionally fit. It teaches us to put ourselves first, to take responsibility for our feelings, to set priorities and to be honest with ourselves. We learn to increase our awareness of common behaviors and the consequences of maintaining them. It was written so that, "...it will empower readers to have the courage to examine their mental fitness, learn how to identify and keep behaviors that make sense and let go of behaviors that do not." The first step that we need to take to be on the path to being mentally fit is to make a commitment to put ourselves first, to identify our needs and to realize that we count. The second step involves taking responsibility for our feelings. If we learn to deal with them as them come up, that we can avoid negative addictive behaviors. It is also important to set priorities and to make short term goals so that these commitments are obtainable. By setting priorities we give our lives a sense of purpose. Having healthy relationships is also important. These involve sharing respect and setting healthy boundaries. We also need to work on growing spiritually. This involves being aware of where we are in the moment, not just looking for a higher power. Dr. Berkus wrote "Ten Commitments to Mental Fitness" in a concise, no nonsense manner. She lays out the tools that you need to make a commitment to achieving mental fitness. She explains everything in a manner that is easy to understand and has compassion interwoven into it. She provides you with exercises so that you can gain more meaning and insight for the steps involved. I am so glad that I got to read this book before the start of the New Year. I hope to incorporate these changes into my life now as part of my New Year's Resolution. If you are seeking to make positive changes in your life, "Ten Commitments to Mental Fitness" will give you everything you need to make those changes

In "Ten Commitments to Metal Fitness, Vicki Berkus provides the reader with answers that will empower them to examine their mental fitness, learn how to identify and keep healthy behaviors and let go of those that are detrimental to their well being. Dr. Berkeus asks the reader to take a daily psychological inventory which includes four important questions. Throughout the text Berkus provides exercises to help you implement interventions which you can take to help you focus and set priorities on behavioral patterns you want to change. To enhance the readers understanding of each of the ten commitments the author uses examples and illustrations from her experiences as a therapist. I personally found the exercise on listing the five priorities of my life enlightening and helpful, especially the suggestion to think through on the pros and cons of those priorities. I plan to review the results of this discovery regularly and often as I continue to declare the "Ten Affirmations for Mental Fitness." Vicki Berkus, M.D, Ph.D., CEDS has all the credentials and more to author a book of this magnitude. She is recognized for her contributions to "Connections", the publication for the organization IAEDP. She is board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and has headed an in-patient eating disorders program for eight years. Dr. Berkus is in private practice in Tucson, Arizona. This is a timely book about the importance of raising your "Mental Fitness" program to the levels of "Physical Fitness" in your pursuit for well being and fullness in your life. Make these your "Ten Commitments to Mental Fitness."