Book description
In LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT, author Ronald J. Frederick, does a
brilliant job of describing why people are so afraid of their emotions
and how this fear creates a variety of problems in their lives. While
the problems are different, the underlying issue is often the same. At
the core of their distress is what Dr. Frederick refers to as feelings
phobia. Whether it s the experience of love, joy, anger, sadness, or
surprise, our inborn ability to be a fully feeling person has been
hijacked by fear--and it s fear that s keeping us from a better life.
The book begins with a questionnaire-style list that help readers
take an honest look at themselves and recognize whether and how they
are afraid of their feelings. It then moves on to explore the origins
of fear of feeling and introduces a four-part program for overcoming
the fear: (1) Become aware of and learn to recognize feelings--anger,
sadness, joy, love, fear, guilt/shame, surprise, disgust. (2) Master
techniques for taming the fear. (3) Let the feeling work its way all
the way through to its resolution. (4) Open up and put those feelings
into words and communicate them confidently. With wisdom, humor, and
compassion, the book uses stories and examples to help readers see
that overcoming feelings phobia is the key to a better life and more
fulfilling relationships.
Ronald J. Frederick, Ph. D., is a cofounder of the Center for
Courageous Living, which offers innovative therapy, coaching, and
consulting. He is a licensed psychologist and life coach with more
than fifteen years experience helping people get the life they really
want. Frederick is a senior faculty member of the Accelerated
Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy Institute as well as the clinical
supervisor of Park House, an outpatient program of Abbott Northwestern
Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
