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How to Feel Good in Difficult Times
Self-doubt can creep in at any time, and at times of great stress or grief, our guards can drop even further, making us susceptible to crises of confidence and feelings of inadequacy in all spheres of our lives.
In this practical book from renowned psychotherapist Gael Lindenfield, readers will learn to work through these feelings, reclaim their sense of self-worth and bounce back feeling stronger, positive and even more confident than before. Set out in practical chapters, the book allows readers to identify the root cause of their feelings of self-doubt and offers pragmatic, easily implementable solutions.
Throughout the book Gael explores our knee-jerk response to punish and retreat into ourselves in times of great stress, whether that manifests itself through dietary choices, insomnia and sleep-related issues or more problematic self-destructive behaviour, and equips readers with key tools allowing them to step back and take stock of these behaviours before they embed themselves.
Whatever the cause of your unhappiness and self-doubt – personal, work-related, or a combination of the two – this book gives you all the tools you need to conquer the overwhelm, dust yourself off and regain positivity, whatever life throws at you.
In this practical book from renowned psychotherapist Gael Lindenfield, readers will learn to work through these feelings, reclaim their sense of self-worth and bounce back feeling stronger, positive and even more confident than before. Set out in practical chapters, the book allows readers to identify the root cause of their feelings of self-doubt and offers pragmatic, easily implementable solutions.
Throughout the book Gael explores our knee-jerk response to punish and retreat into ourselves in times of great stress, whether that manifests itself through dietary choices, insomnia and sleep-related issues or more problematic self-destructive behaviour, and equips readers with key tools allowing them to step back and take stock of these behaviours before they embed themselves.
Whatever the cause of your unhappiness and self-doubt – personal, work-related, or a combination of the two – this book gives you all the tools you need to conquer the overwhelm, dust yourself off and regain positivity, whatever life throws at you.
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About the author
Gael Lindenfield
49 books39 followersShe is the internationally best selling author of 20 ground-breaking books, which have been translated into 33 languages.
Gael’s method works. It is grounded in 30 years of tried-and-tested strategies, bringing success for people from all walks of life. She uses a wide range of creative and interactive techniques. Through her highly engaging and ‘non-academic’ writing, media appearances, and seminars with charities and business organisations, she fosters in people the courage and coping mechanisms to become more confident and motivated.
Her unique hallmark is her down-to-earth approach. When consulted about a problem, she can always be relied upon to come up with a clear and concise explanation of its most likely cause and a practical strategy with which to tackle it.
Gael has also acquired enormous respect and credibility through her personal sharing. She is herself a role model for bouncing back from setbacks. She spent most of her childhood in children’s homes, overcame severe depression in her twenties and dealt with the traumatic breakdown of her first marriage in her thirties. More recently she lost a 19-year-old daughter in a tragic accident in 1996.
Gael’s method works. It is grounded in 30 years of tried-and-tested strategies, bringing success for people from all walks of life. She uses a wide range of creative and interactive techniques. Through her highly engaging and ‘non-academic’ writing, media appearances, and seminars with charities and business organisations, she fosters in people the courage and coping mechanisms to become more confident and motivated.
Her unique hallmark is her down-to-earth approach. When consulted about a problem, she can always be relied upon to come up with a clear and concise explanation of its most likely cause and a practical strategy with which to tackle it.
Gael has also acquired enormous respect and credibility through her personal sharing. She is herself a role model for bouncing back from setbacks. She spent most of her childhood in children’s homes, overcame severe depression in her twenties and dealt with the traumatic breakdown of her first marriage in her thirties. More recently she lost a 19-year-old daughter in a tragic accident in 1996.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 1, 2020
This is a difficult book for me to rate and review as I respect that everyone takes something different away from self help books, but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
I will however, add that I did like the way this book was divided into different sections e.g. mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, finances etc. I also liked how there was a lot of short, easy to use tips and exercises.
However, some of the exercises were so niche, they almost are quite impossible for a lot of people to use. They were not the most practical of tips sometimes.
I did also have some major issues with the some of things said in this book e.g. she says "it's no advantage to anyone to have yet another depressed person in the world" I did feel this was quite offensive to people with depression, like some how, someone who has depression, is just a depressed person, nothing else and can't be any use to anyone. I wasn't comfortable with this.
I also didn't like how on multiple occasions, the author promotes her previous books. You shouldn't need to help people by selling them more of your own books.
There were also mutiple spelling mistakes too.
Overall, this wasn't a particularly good self help book. Although there were some interesting points and I'm sure some people will benefit from this book, I certainly didn't.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me over a copy for review
I will however, add that I did like the way this book was divided into different sections e.g. mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, finances etc. I also liked how there was a lot of short, easy to use tips and exercises.
However, some of the exercises were so niche, they almost are quite impossible for a lot of people to use. They were not the most practical of tips sometimes.
I did also have some major issues with the some of things said in this book e.g. she says "it's no advantage to anyone to have yet another depressed person in the world" I did feel this was quite offensive to people with depression, like some how, someone who has depression, is just a depressed person, nothing else and can't be any use to anyone. I wasn't comfortable with this.
I also didn't like how on multiple occasions, the author promotes her previous books. You shouldn't need to help people by selling them more of your own books.
There were also mutiple spelling mistakes too.
Overall, this wasn't a particularly good self help book. Although there were some interesting points and I'm sure some people will benefit from this book, I certainly didn't.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me over a copy for review
December 24, 2021
Published in March 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic began, the nonfiction book "How to Feel Good in Difficult Times," by Gael Lindenfield, is a short, practical book full of self-help tips.
I saw this audiobook at my library in December 2021, and this book made me feel very uplifted and cozy. It's nice to remember that no matter how awful life gets, we all have the ability to make choices to help ourselves (or not).
This has been a really difficult month for me personally, and I appreciated hearing these very basic self-help tips delivered with a lot of compassion. The text helped me to just keep slowing down and remember that life was full of warm and cozy things, like this audiobook.
Listening to a few tracks at a time, I'd feel my mood lighten and my stamina improve. This book is like having a really kind friend remind you of all the things you already know, and pick up your spirits.
While I understand that some readers wanted groundbreaking new self-help tips from this book, I thought this book was excellent just as it is. "How to Feel Good in Difficult Times" is a comfort read. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to read a book and feel comforted.
Five stars.
I saw this audiobook at my library in December 2021, and this book made me feel very uplifted and cozy. It's nice to remember that no matter how awful life gets, we all have the ability to make choices to help ourselves (or not).
This has been a really difficult month for me personally, and I appreciated hearing these very basic self-help tips delivered with a lot of compassion. The text helped me to just keep slowing down and remember that life was full of warm and cozy things, like this audiobook.
Listening to a few tracks at a time, I'd feel my mood lighten and my stamina improve. This book is like having a really kind friend remind you of all the things you already know, and pick up your spirits.
While I understand that some readers wanted groundbreaking new self-help tips from this book, I thought this book was excellent just as it is. "How to Feel Good in Difficult Times" is a comfort read. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to read a book and feel comforted.
Five stars.
April 16, 2020
This is the perfect time to read this book. It does not dwell on the negative and is positive & uplifting.
The writing style is accessible, open & honest and I truly recommend it to anyone, whether you’re struggling with anxiety or depression or not.
Full review at https://bexcapades.com/2020/04/16/goo...
The writing style is accessible, open & honest and I truly recommend it to anyone, whether you’re struggling with anxiety or depression or not.
Full review at https://bexcapades.com/2020/04/16/goo...
September 25, 2021
I will preface this with a warning that I may be in a perennially foul mood due to day 240-something of lockdown with two small kids. But I found this book to feel a lot like an elderly out-of-touch neighbour giving me unsolicited advice. There were some smart tips in there, but on the whole there was a lot of scoffing on my part, and I was surprised to find the author is renowned in her field (which made me think my interpretation was perhaps slanted by my bad attitude). I would, however, highly recommend this book to intergalactic aliens starting out as humans on Planet Earth, because it covers some things so basic I actually laughed.
August 7, 2020
This didn’t add anything to what’s already out there.
January 23, 2024
I found it difficult to like this book. Whilst practical and logical, it is reasonable. But it was difficult to engage with and I found myself thinking about many other things and losing track of what was being said. Not sure it helped my mental help much, but I’m hoping it will sink in with time.
January 22, 2022
Just the words I needed to hear after a week of ups and downs. Highly recommend as an audio experience as the words are just that little bit more soothing.
Some simple quick wins I know I’ll put into practice!
Some simple quick wins I know I’ll put into practice!
March 9, 2025
Ok, not groundbreaking but some nice bits
May 12, 2022
An audiobook self-help book I downloaded when the world seemed even more on fire than it currently does (if that is actually possible)… with a title like that, how could I refuse? As I have seen many other reviewers suggest, I don’t know if this book necessarily bought anything new to the table in regards to mental health discussion, and felt far more specific and guided than I anticipated (certainly no bad thing if you aim to use it as a tool book… I’m sure it would have been very useful to me around a decade ago) with devices and advice for specific situations. There was one Chinese proverb quoted which I felt summed up the practically of the book brilliantly: “You cannot prevent birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair”. On a negative note, one phrase really did stand out to me for all the wrong reasons. (In relation to being so empathetic that you may absorb another loved-one's own emotions) The author says “the last thing the world needs is another depressed person”, which frankly made me do a big YIKES. Luckily enough my mental health is in a pretty good place right now, though I am sure if it weren’t this would be a pretty big smack around the face/ears and glaringly unfeeling for a writer of a self help book, no?
February 10, 2023
I hope to be more self reliant in difficult situations after listening to this audiobook. Some really good advice.
April 12, 2020
The timing of reading this book could not be better as we're all stuck at home during this awful pandemic.
Throughout the book Gael explores our knee-jerk response to punish and retreat into ourselves in times of great stress, whether that manifests itself through dietary choices, insomnia and sleep-related issues or more problematic self-destructive behaviour. I think these issues are really quite common for both men and women.
She gives real world examples of people who have struggled and used techniques described within the book to overcome the issues to show you how it can be done.
This is a book you should have on your coffee table so you can pick up and work your way through the various chapters and practical advice given within it so you can be better equipped to deal with stressful situations in your own life at your own pace.
I read this book in just a few sittings but you can digest it at a slower pace and work your way through the various exercises and techniques over a longer period of time. I think I will go back and do this myself.
Throughout the book Gael explores our knee-jerk response to punish and retreat into ourselves in times of great stress, whether that manifests itself through dietary choices, insomnia and sleep-related issues or more problematic self-destructive behaviour. I think these issues are really quite common for both men and women.
She gives real world examples of people who have struggled and used techniques described within the book to overcome the issues to show you how it can be done.
This is a book you should have on your coffee table so you can pick up and work your way through the various chapters and practical advice given within it so you can be better equipped to deal with stressful situations in your own life at your own pace.
I read this book in just a few sittings but you can digest it at a slower pace and work your way through the various exercises and techniques over a longer period of time. I think I will go back and do this myself.
May 13, 2021
A good time to read this book if you are struggling with feeling good/positive especially in these unprecedented trying times. It was inspiring with some good tips on how to handle/manage feelings of depression and to start feeling better and having a more positive outlook. #gaellindenfield #howtofeelgoodindifficulttimes #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #amazonkindle #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram #selfhelp
October 30, 2023
I loved the way author has mentioned some quick tips to uplift your mood. Very simple reading and what I love about self-help books the most - that each page and chapter is independent of others. You can start reading this book from any page or chapter and still can get some nice takeaways.
February 27, 2021
Not as guts as i hoped in the situation
January 11, 2025
A nice one to distract from daily hassles and life events
December 16, 2022
I’ve listened to this audiobook and when the author recommended for readers to collect earthworms and watch them for a few days, I was almost going to stop listening. There may be beauty in watching earth worms, but it’s not for me. I do have a worm farm, so it’s nothing against the worms.
The book gets better towards the second half of the book. Control over your feelings is crucial for functioning well and to be happy. Your feelings are in the driver's seat. When you lose control of your feelings, you lose. Your feelings are not necessarily the real you. When you think that you have no power to change things, you can feel even more negative feelings.
I enjoyed the part when the author spoke about forming deeper connections with our loved ones by five things: time, touch, sharing, caring, and fun. I would like to add trust, as well.
Overall, a decent self-help book.
The book gets better towards the second half of the book. Control over your feelings is crucial for functioning well and to be happy. Your feelings are in the driver's seat. When you lose control of your feelings, you lose. Your feelings are not necessarily the real you. When you think that you have no power to change things, you can feel even more negative feelings.
I enjoyed the part when the author spoke about forming deeper connections with our loved ones by five things: time, touch, sharing, caring, and fun. I would like to add trust, as well.
Overall, a decent self-help book.
July 10, 2021
Reflections and lessons learned:
“Battle with only one bad habit at a time…”
A very practical feeling book with lists, tips, inspirational quotes and reflective exercises for encouragement and morale boosts - I listened to the audiobook version which I enjoyed but it’s possibly a better book in print to have reference access to the lists. A life without set backs, good and bad, is a life surely not properly experienced
“You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from nesting in your hair” Chinese proverb
“Battle with only one bad habit at a time…”
A very practical feeling book with lists, tips, inspirational quotes and reflective exercises for encouragement and morale boosts - I listened to the audiobook version which I enjoyed but it’s possibly a better book in print to have reference access to the lists. A life without set backs, good and bad, is a life surely not properly experienced
“You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from nesting in your hair” Chinese proverb
May 16, 2022
A lot of this was really sensible and stuff I already knew, but being paralysed by inaction, it was good to listen to the audio book to focus my mind. I liked the anecdotes and the examples from her own life (nice to know the therapist is fallible) as well as the “don’t panic” approach. I found it quite a calm listen which has been helpful.
December 10, 2020
Listened to as an audiobook. Full of helpful tools to call on when you need or to share with others. Good balance of anecdotal threads to go with the tools
February 4, 2022
DNF Simplistic
February 11, 2023
A good reminder on self care and finding bursts of beauty in life. Also liked the point on self reliance :)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews