If you’ve taken Write Better-Faster, you know that I am a huge fan of Dr. Laurel Mellin, who wrote the NYT bestselling book, The Pathway, which I was introduced to in the early 2000s. She made a therapeutic program called EBT (Emotional Brain Training) which is a skills-based therapy along the lines of “re-parenting”. It’s meant to give you the skills you need, that you may not have gotten in childhood, to be a happy adult.
When I first heard of Wired for Joy, I was pretty ecstatic, because the coaching work I do is so informed by my experience learning about essential pain–which is, basically, a stress response. Dr. Mellin’s book, Wired for Joy, is all about the stress responses and how they impact brain states.
Since this is a Lit Review, and not a book report, I’m going to stick to my responses to the book, and not talk as much about the theory contained in it, with the hope that, if my responses are helpful, you’ll go read her book yourself, and not take my word for anything.
The most helpful part of this book, for me, is that it walks through so much of the core basis for EBT, and gives you some practical methodology to take away. She describes the brain states and the tools to utilize to reinforce the wiring for joy.
What this theory has done for me, in my life, is it’s built resilience I didn’t have before. The EBT therapy I went through helped me to accept without judgment and to find a way to self-regulate my emotions. (Those of you who think I’m crazy now, you should have seen me before!) I generally recommend this book to people who have been feeling overwhelmed by emotion, and need a way to focus and calm themselves. It’s not quite meditation, but it’s got a very deep feel, like that.
If you have been looking for something to read that will help you better understand your brain, and will help you to develop tools for being a more responsive, loving person (especially with yourself), then check this out. It’s also very effective for people who are struggling with impulse control and weight loss. It’s quite a book.
Becca,
Thanks for the book rec – I grabbed a copy of Wired for Joy, and look forward to reading it.
So glad you enjoyed the recommendation. I hope that you enjoy the book!