Book Review - The First Thirty Seconds by Stephen M. Armstrong

When I saw the cover of this book, I was instantly drawn to it. I love trees and although it's not my favorite color, I love orange too. I will admit I let physical beauty influence me over content. When the book first arrived and I flipped through it, I was a little disappointed. It's very sparse. Not a lot of words in this one. You see I'm a meat and potatoes kind of reader. I like a lot of substance in my books. Give me a book with 500-600 pages in tiny print and I'm in heaven. So at first glance, this nook made me feel like I was being rationed, being put on a diet. Once again, I was letting the physical appearance sway my judgment. I was torn. Torn between that esoteric disappointment and being very busy, part of me was relieved - this book was so sparse I'd be able to read and review this in no time. Then I made an interesting discovery.......

That Stephen M Armstrong is a sly one. The First Thirty Seconds is a wonderful resource for personal reflection. Don't be fooled by its sparse interior. This book could almost be called a workbook. He combines pages of 'thought' with pages of 'reflection' that compliment the thoughts, often times giving you a question to ask yourself. People often comment on how positive I am and ask how I do it. Considering at one point in my life I was the queen of negativity, I always respond with making a conscious effort and lots of hard work. It's a shame this book wasn't published all those years ago when I began that journey. Not everyone wants to reflect, it's often not easy to look inside oneself. Although I don't have the background in Psychology and Therapy that Armstrong does, it is something I see in those around me every day. This book offers a great first step in that journey. I give it four out of five reflections.

There are so many great thoughts and reflections in this book it is hard to choose only a few to give you a taste of what a full course meal this book really is.

Thought (from page 9):

Wherever you may be

in the natural course of your day,

you can always pause to consider your attitude.

~

If it needs readjustment

to more positive or more loving or more sensitive,

the changes in your attitude can be made

within the next thirty seconds.

~

It is never too late or too futile.

The companion reflection (page 10):

What can I use as a trigger today

that will remind me to check my attitude?

Thought (from page 63):

Happiness is elusive:

the more it is directly sought

the harder it is to find.

~

Rather, it is most frequently

a by-product of positive thinking

and positive behavior.

The companion reflection (page 64):

Will I stubbornly refuse

to take responsibility

for my own happiness?

Thought (from page 179):

We all know

that hindsight is 20/20.

We also know

that a rearview mirror

is sometimes necessary.

The normal adult experience

includes occasional backward glances,

sometimes accompanied by regrets.

~

Regrets should not be viewed

as evidence of one's failure as a person.

Rather, they should be viewed

as lessons learned

and motivation to do better.

The companion reflection (page 180):

What have I framed as a "regret"

that could be framed as a "lesson learned"?

* This book was provide by the author.