Reviews

Orloff (Second Sight) offers a superbly written series of psychological strategies for maximizing positive emotions and minimizing toxic ones. A practicing psychiatrist, the author straddles the worlds of mainstream medicine and alternative healing; she regards emotions as a training ground for the soul, and views "every victory over fear, anxiety, and resentment as a way to develop your spiritual muscles." As the self is the foundation for emotional freedom, the author discusses how readers can find their emotional type--intellectual, empathic, rock or gusher--and suggests how to find balance. Her tips include avoiding "emotional vampires" or consulting dreams, which she divides into three types: psychological (where fears and neuroses express themselves), predictive and guidance. The second half of the book tackles the most difficult life challenges: depression, loneliness, anxiety, frustration, rejection, grief, envy and bitterness. Orloff addresses each fully and frankly, using anecdotes from her own life and practice--the death of her mother, her own crippling envy. This insightful and positive book will assist anyone who is suffering in mapping a path out of pain. (Mar.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Psychiatrist and best-selling author Orloff (Positive Energy; Dr. Orloff's Guide to Intuitive Healing) successfully combines spirituality and intuition with traditional medicine. In Part 1, Orloff presents four components of emotion-biology, energy, spirituality, and psychology-and provides a 20-question assessment to highlight individuals' strengths and weaknesses. She addresses the use of dreams in making life changes and teaches the reader how to meditate. Orloff divides Part 2 into seven chapters, each devoted to a difficult negative emotion. Throughout, Orloff details how one can use the four components of emotion to transform negative emotions into positive ones and become a more centered and emotionally healthy person. For example, she provides an action plan to help readers respond to anger from a more empathic place instead of spinning out of control. This well-written book is full of good advice for anyone who wants to take more control of his or her emotional life. Highly recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/08.]-Phyllis Goodman, West Chester Lib., OH Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

"Our faltering economy has cost many people more than their money: They've lost their peace of mind. Peppered with practical action steps to build healthy emotional habits this book tells how to manage difficult emotions and restore inner calm."
-"USA Today"
"A road map for people who are stressed out, discouraged or overwhelmed, or for those who simply want to get to a better place. Orloff, a psychiatrist, offers a step-by-step way to change outlooks, alter behavior and cope with life's challenges."
-"Chicago Sun-Times"
"Dr. Orloff has a gift for making psychology lively, relevant, and useful to laypeople, and EMOTIONAL FREEDOM provides an ample menu of highly original action steps to help you work through each emotional state to achieve well-being."
-"Sacramento Bee"
"[A]superbly written series of psychological strategies for maximizing positive emotions and minimizing toxic ones....This insightful and positive book will assist anyone who is suffering in mapping a path out of pain."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This well-written book is full of good advice for anyone who wants to take more control of his or her emotional life."
-Library Journal
"A must-read for anyone who's tired of feeling frustrated, lonely, jealous, or emotionally tense. Dr. Orloff shows you how to achieve a lightness of being and feel more positive and peaceful. Highly recommended."
-Deepak Chopra, M.D., author of "Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul"
"Spectacular! I endorse this book so heartily because it gives a unique blend of the author's personal and professional experience to enlighten us, and it's a totally fascinating read. I recommend it to everyone who wants to overcome sabotaging emotional patterns to achieve self-mastery."
-Candace Pert, Ph.D., author of "Molecules of Emotion"
"A heartfelt, accessible guide to the graceland of peace and calm-regardless of our parents, our past, or our presen