The Pathway: Follow the Road to Health and Happiness

I wrote the review below "Older Book May Be Better for Some" three years ago. What a three years it has been! I went on to complete Solution Training as described in The Pathway with a person that Laurel had personally trained in the method. I cannot tell you how much this work has changed my life for the better. I regret writing the earlier review, and reading it now is strange - I am no longer the person who wrote it. It was an accurate account of my reaction at the time, but I am so grateful that I did not heed my own advice. I have the Solution in my life that she promised, and the world is truly a different place - a much warmer, friendlier, more intimate and more spiritual place. I no longer need to overeat compulsively, distance myself from others, hide my authentic self from the world, or drag others into my personal melodramas. Most importantly, I never feel completely lost - I always have my connection with myself, as near at hand as a moment to breathe and check in. Just as Laurel's thinking and methods evolved between The Solution and The Pathway, Laurel has continued to evolve the work, as neuroscience has continued to advance, confirming many of her theories about how people can deeply change. I hope that she will release an updated version that shows these connections. I am still concerned about the cost of the work, which only begins when you purchase this book. However, Laurel Mellin now has a cadre of mentors who have completed the training, and who are leading small groups to bring this method to more people. In the end, the cost ($300 or so for the Solution Kits that she mentions, plus about another $2,000 in professional support, spread over three years) seems like a bargain. The Solution Kits come with membership in a free web support community, and I found my own ways to keep the costs down while getting the support that I needed in the difficult parts of the work. In short, I now heartily recommend this book and this work to anyone.

I have read the author's other book, The Solution, so I had interest to read this book as well. It was an eye opener to me!This book offers a roadmap for how to get to the ROOT CAUSE not the SYMPTOM of why people go to excesses in their lives to deal with their emotions. As a child I did not learn the skills of self-nurturing and setting limits for myself. I have found external ways to comfort myself by overeating, and overworking. I put up walls and spent so much time over-thinking everything in my life. This book has offered me an Amazing Grace - Roadmap to learn the skills of nurturing and setting limits so I can develop a sanctuarity within myself. My over excesses are literally slowly killing me. I have tried so many things that have dealt with the SYMPTOMS not the ROOTS. This is not a quick fix but a teachable method that when practiced diligently does create permanent change over time. If you can identify with my comments, I strongly recommend you read this book.

I've been struggeling with food and people pleasing my entire life. "The Pathway" is a gift. It is not just another book but THE book on how to learn the skills to finally stop overeating and have balance. It's not about having the good metabolism or deciding between proteins or carbohydrates. "The Pathway" teaches me that I have the skills! Now I'm making healthy lifestyle changes and seeing results. I'm loosing weight and my mom wants to read the book to help her with smoking. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

I've been using the method described in this book for several years in my own life and with my clients. What a difference it has made! I know of no other technique that so simply and profoundly helps people balance emotions, change unhealthy patterns of thinking and beliefs, and curb unwanted behaviors like stress eating, shopping or drinking. I strongly recommend that you try this book and this method if you're looking for tools and support to make changes in your life.