Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway: How to Turn Your Fear and Indecision into Confidence and Action Unknown Binding – 4 Jan. 2007

We all hear that phrase: ''A book that will change your life'' - well, Susan Jeffers' book really will do that, or at least help you enormously.I have suffered badly from social anxiety and depression for over a year, and although I'm still not one hundred percent better, reading 'Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway' has helped me so much. I can honestly say that I have come on leaps and boundaries since taking on board what Susan has written.It was recommended to me by my counselor, and it was such a comfort in itself to have a book like this on hand to refer to whenever I was experiencing my lowest moods. Although a lot of the advice here is basic common sense, my mind was in such a bad place that I wasn't thinking logically anymore, so it was great for me to finally be able to see the bigger picture again. The techniques are simple, but you have to do your own work. it is challenging at first but by practicing and taking little steps, and actually doing things for yourself - I have managed to overcome lots of different things.This really is an excellent book, packed with wonderful techniques, it's very easy to read, with a good mix of understanding and humour. There is a big emphasis in training your mind to think positively about yourself, the situations you are in and what you may encounter, this is very important, you must believe in yourself, that's the bottom line. It was also great to read stories of other people who have conquered their fears and changed their lives around, it's very inspiring, and a good reminder that you're not the only one who has gone through it.I am slowly recovering from my anxiety (brought on mainly by letting people get to me, but I certainly won't be allowing anyone to do that again), and it is largely due to this book. If your going through a difficult time at the moment, I can highly recommend 'Feel the Fear', because it really did give me the confidence to get up and say to myself: 'right, it's time to move on, time to change my life, and I CAN do it'.All that's left to say is a very big thank you to Susan Jeffers for writing such a useful self-help book. I will have a copy of it for life.

An excellent book filled with straightforward advice and exercises which are easy to apply to everyday life.

I;m not sure it's accurate to say that I actually like this book, but I certainly found it helpful. The central message - that you've got to do out and do things to overcome your (irrational) fears, and develop as a person, is very well set out and justified.That said, if you follow the author's mantras uncritically, especially in a British context, you might regret it: if I plaster my bedroom with positive messages, cold-shoudler any old friend going through a moany patch or play rah-rah positivity lectures on CDs in my car, I'm not sure how long my marriage would last.Personally, I found the simplistic pop psychology of the author very tiresome, for example:- everything is either 'choice, energy and action' (if you listen to your 'higher self') or helplessness, depression and paralysis (if you listen to the 'chatterbox'). It's all very black and white with nothing in between.- the instructions to repeat positive affirmations of 'I spread warmth and love everywhere i go' or 'I am becoming more confident each day' in front of the mirror 10 times. I don't think this stuff helps one bit. It rather reminds me of Steve Coogan's salesman character Gareth Cheeseman staring at himself in the mirror repeating "I am a Tiger" over & again.- The chapter "Pollyanna Rides Again", which advocates a mindless, child-like, eternal optimism had me reaching for the sick bucket.It's also quite repetitive, it could be edited down by at least 30% without any loss of content.That said, it challenges the reader to do things about problems in life rather than get bogged down in endless self-analysis and offers a lot of positive suggestions. My advice is to read with your critical faculties turned on and sort out the wheat from the chaff.

I read this 12 years ago and as a result, really did change my life. I just re-bought it to lend to people. A couple of things made all the difference to my thinking 1. What is the worst thing that could happen to you personally, if you dared to change your life.? For me that was loose my job ( which I hated ) loose my home ( which came with so many strings ) and live in a camper van or in the shed on my plot. Both those things seemed appealing; maybe exciting.! ! First realisation ! 2. Make a clear plan with dates; I made a 1000 day plan. A long time, but I wanted to build my business before I gave up my income. Straight after reading the book I took 3 months unpaid leave from work and went off with my husband and young son to the Canaries, in a camper van to experience life that didn't revolve around work and Mortgage and responsibilities and routine. Space to think and plan. . . .It was the best experience of my life. It actually took 1040 days for me to actually leave my job. By then, I had put lots of things into place to become self employed. From reading this book my life has turned round in a totally positive way.All led by me. My business is successful. I have autonomy over every aspect of my life. I left my marriage and now live wonderfully independently. I have a great home and a great income, great relationships with my kids. Read the book then go for it !