This Year I Will...: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True Hardcover – December 26, 2006

This book is in a different league than most self help books. All too many self help books these days seem more about making the author wealthy than genuinely trying to help the readers. You know what I mean. Some authors have one semi-successful book and then turn into total hucksters with book after book that rehashes the same information--"7 Effective Habits For Your Trimming Your Nails", "Chicken Soup For Your Female Teenage Libra Soul", etc. Others want you to buy their expensive DVD training courses, bundled packages, special supplements, or go to their clinics. And many just plain don't seem to be grounded in any sort of reality and lack credibility. The overwhelming impression is the author's want your money above all else.M.J. Ryan is one of those rare authors that seems genuinely more concerned about helping people than personal wealth. She comes across as real and having lots of personal integrity and experience with the subject matter. She doesn't profess to have some revolutionary new method that makes it all easy. In fact, she credits countless others for much of her advice as most of it isn't new. But that's OK, as she does a great job of presenting it all in one very accessible book.In This Year I Will... she doesn't ask you to just blindly trust her the way so many self help authors do. She shares plenty of personal anecdotes of what's worked for people she's worked with, friends, family and herself. She also ties much of it, using very simple language, into scientific research and knowledge. Unlike so many authors of similar material, she actually has neuroscience on her side.Most self help books appeal mostly to either the emotional brain OR the thinking brain but rarely both equally. Ryan nicely engages both without offending either. There's something here for the warm and fuzzy crowd and the more analytical reader.So many New Years Resolution books cover the same basic things: Set achievable, measurable and realistic goals; watch out for the usual pitfalls; reward yourself when you get it right, etc. Ryan covers those as well. But she's not so arrogant to suggest all of them work for everyone. And she goes well beyond the basics. She encourages, and helps, the reader to find what works best for them.She also doesn't lure you in by telling you it's going to be easy or fast. She points out major new goals are often hard work and, like most things new in life, take time and practice to get right. Books that make misleading claims to get you to buy them just set their readers up for failure. Ryan does the opposite and is refreshingly realistic.This book is very easy to read. Nearly every chapter is only a few pages. So it's broken into neat little bite size bits of advice that are easy to digest. She covers everything from serious addictions, to weight loss, to self improvement, to work and family.I suppose the true test will be to see where I'm at roughly a year from now? But, for now, I feel Ryan has helped put me on a better track than ever before.

M. J. Ryan, the author has written a very easy to read, yet very solid guide on how to make changes in your life that will actually stick. She writes from a very emphatic viewpoint - she understands what is involved in making permanent changes in life - so at times she is sympathetic and at other times she says what needs to be said.When we set goals for ourselves, we often fail because "we expect too much of ourselves and we expect to change overnight." She lets the reader know from the start that trying to change too much too fast rarely works. Taking a more realistic approach is a much more successful path.According to Ryan, there are three things that are necessary to achieve any change: desire, intent and persistence. She teaches how to identify what you really desire, how to make it specific and measurable. She also covers how to avoid common pitfalls which will drain your energy causing too many to give up on their goals.There are some very valuable lessons in this book. One is that "We do what we do because it serves some need." Even our unhealthy actions provide some payoff. If we expect to change our behavior we must understand what we are gaining from those actions and be willing to make better choices to achieve our goals. "We can't make lasting changes unless we recognize it (current payoffs)and meet it some other way."Each chapter starts with a quote. There is a lot of wisdom in some of the quotes Ms. Ryan has selected. Here are a couple: "It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinions than our own." Marcus Aurelius. "Time is a created thing. To say, `I don't have time' is to say, `I don't want to." Lao Tzu. "The most difficult matter is not to change the world as yourself." Nelson Mandela. I think the quality of the quotes is a good reflection on the quality of the content of the book.There are plenty of real life examples used throughout the book to illustrate the point the author is making. The author has also included some exercises where appropriate and some specific items for action.The last chapter gives 12 tips to help you keep the promise you made to yourself. These are concise pointers for helping anyone stay on track.If you are really ready to make lasting change, this is a great guide.

Some friends and I are reading this book; I am halfway through. The book has easy instructions and tips on how to proceed with a long range goal and I think can be helpful to others. It is concise and an easy read.................

Kennst du das vielleicht auch? Immer wieder neue Vorsätze, was alles umgesetzt werden soll. Und am Ende bleibt es doch auf der Strecke.Genau da setzt das Buch an und gibt dir Impulse zur Umsetzung und Ideen, was alles noch angegangen werden kann.Es ist einfach zu lesen und gut zu merken. Klar, laufen wirst du schon selbst dürfen. Mit diesem Begleiter wird es dir jedoch einfacher fallen.Amazon ist wie immer sehr schnell und zuverlässig in der Auslieferung, vielen Dank!

Just finished reading this awesome book and have highlighted much of its wisdom. I particularly like the fact that the author focuses on what you can actually DO and your experiences that shape you.

I loved this book!Tells you all steps to make this time different:How to change? Why it didn't work before? What to change?Doing the exercises it suggests it's a big part of it.

This is such a wonderful book! I'm hearing the audio version for the second time, and have already bought the paper version, to underline, take notes, and make it my 'change companion'.For the last 3 years I've been reading all kind of books to help me get motivated and beat my procrastination habit. Of course, I collected some good advice, here and there, which I've been applying to my life. But this book is by far the most inspiring and complete I've encountered! The author has valuable experience with her clients (whom she helps making meaningful changes), and she has done a wonderful research on other authors insights and on the current scientific knowledge of brain functioning. When hearing the audiobook, I would find myself raising my old questions and obstacles that have been making change so hard - only to hear the author, just a little bit later, address those concerns in a fresh and creative way. In the last 2 weeks I've managed to work more hours on my current project, and I'm feeling much more positive about my strengths and capacity to finish it with success. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling stuck, and who has lost faith in his or her capacity to change.

A multitude of meaningful information presented in a easy to read and light hearted approach. Love it :)