Heart of the Matter: How to Find Love, How to Make It Work
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Book Overview
Why is it that love seems to come easily to some people and not to others?
According to acclaimed author and psychologist Linda Austin, M.D., there is nothing fundamentally wrong with those of us who have difficulty finding and keeping love. However, there may be specific behaviors that we engage in, or do not engage in, that limit our capacity to love -- even ourselves. In Heart of the Matter, Dr. Austin identifies the five core behaviors that determine our ability to have successful, loving relationships, as well as the patterns of behavior that can subtly sabotage those efforts.
The Core Behaviors
1. Engage with the World Around You
2. Evaluate the Choices You Make for Love
3. Expand Your Safety Zone
4. Establish Emotional Independence
5. Evolve Consciously, Willfully, Healthily
Heart of the Matter teaches us how these five essential practices can deepen and transform our ability to experience profound and lasting love. In this fascinating guidebook, Dr. Austin walks us through the process of making small, specific changes that are bound to have huge ripple effects in our interpersonal relationships. Most important, Heart of the Matter demonstrates how to identify and use our strengths to our fullest advantage in seeking the love -- and lives -- of our dreams.
According to acclaimed author and psychologist Linda Austin, M.D., there is nothing fundamentally wrong with those of us who have difficulty finding and keeping love. However, there may be specific behaviors that we engage in, or do not engage in, that limit our capacity to love -- even ourselves. In Heart of the Matter, Dr. Austin identifies the five core behaviors that determine our ability to have successful, loving relationships, as well as the patterns of behavior that can subtly sabotage those efforts.
The Core Behaviors
1. Engage with the World Around You
2. Evaluate the Choices You Make for Love
3. Expand Your Safety Zone
4. Establish Emotional Independence
5. Evolve Consciously, Willfully, Healthily
Heart of the Matter teaches us how these five essential practices can deepen and transform our ability to experience profound and lasting love. In this fascinating guidebook, Dr. Austin walks us through the process of making small, specific changes that are bound to have huge ripple effects in our interpersonal relationships. Most important, Heart of the Matter demonstrates how to identify and use our strengths to our fullest advantage in seeking the love -- and lives -- of our dreams.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0743437721
ISBN13:9780743437721
Release Date:May 2004
Publisher:Atria Books
Length:288 Pages
Weight:0.60 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 5.6" x 8.5"
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
excellently written
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
The editorial reviews of this book make it sound so very dry and clinical, which it definitely is not! This is a clearly written very readable book filled with insights for the reader who is paying attention and willing to be self-honest (at times a terribly difficult thing to do). This book addresses many issues that make it hard for people to connect with others: fears, patterns of behavior and so on. It's never easy to change, but this book gives you material to start working with.
Compassionate, practical, and wise!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
There are millions of lonely people out there, and this book can help. Most people have ended up lonely because of bad luck and a little shyness--but they usually blame themselves. Dr. Austin writes with understanding and sympathy for these feelings, and encourages the reader to take a fresh perspective on the situation. Then she offers direct, concrete solutions. I've recommended this book to many patients, and they always are grateful.
Terms of Engagement
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Linda Austin has written another book that challenged me to think "outside the box" in finding the life I wanted. She writes with insight about relationships that only an experienced therapist can bring to the table. I especially enjoyed the chapter on engagement, a concept and set of behaviors that were key to my finding the right partner for my life after years of feeling trapped in the wrong marriage. Thanks, Dr. Austin for helping me find the life I wanted.
You won't have to buy another self-help book after this
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Dr. Austin's book is so good that you won't ever have to buy another "self-help how-to-find love book" after reading it. While most books cover one aspect of the love game, Dr. Austin's book instead addresses it all: what is love, how to find it, how to know if it is any good for you, and how to do all this while becoming a better person in the process. While most books give you theoretical concepts, Dr. Austin's book gives you quick and easy, nuts and bolts advice on how to make love happen for you. It's the kind of book that you can give to your boyfriend to read, or that you can read with your girlfriends as a starting point for great discussions. In other words, if any book can help you find love and make it work, it's this one. I recommend that anyone looking for love should read it to put their love life on track as soon as they can!
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