A Weekend to Change Your Life: Find Your Authentic Self After a Lifetime of Being All Things to All People

It is a sad reality that so many people have their identities molded by the wants and needs of others. And I think that few would dispute that this is more likely to happen to women. There are powerful social and perhaps biological reasons why this might be. But the important point is that there are millions of people who are not fulfilling their potential. And there are many men who are stuck in the same bind.We are all combinations not just of male and female biology but also of a set of identities that together form our sense of self. There is very good evidence that the female sense of self is closely related to her relationships, while the male sense of self is usually more closely linked to achievement. Though there are clearly personal and cultural variations, the implication is that most men and most women will likely find different techniques of healing and integration to be effective for each of them.This is a terrific book in which Joan Anderson shares some of the exercises and activities that she has developed to encourage change and growth. One of her models is based on the work of the German-born psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, who delineated eight stages of life from infancy to old age. Joan suggests listing the gains and losses from each phase in order to help us identify our personal strengths. This is a fine example of drawing strength from the natural reversals that we all experience and using them to develop resilience. She also guides us to other exercises and techniques that make very good sense, and some of which I've found very useful, despite having a Y-chromosome!So while designed to help women, this is also a book for men who want or need to learn more about their feminine nature, and who care about the women in their lives.This is a book that is practical, wise and compassionate.Highly recommended.Richard G. Petty, MD, author of  Healing, Meaning and Purpose: The Magical Power of the Emerging Laws of Life

Easy read, done in a few days. So many tid bits hit home about my life and what I want the next season of it to be. Highly recommend.

I'm not a big fan of self-help books and am pretty cautious in my response to readings like this. A Weekend to Change Your Life, however is one of the true exceptions I've had the pleasure to read. The author is not preaching or in any way a know-it-all but she challenges very basic feelings and emotions in each and every person, whether we admit to them or not. And in going thru her exercises we are drawn into trying her suggestions and digging deep into our souls to see why we do so many of the things we do. The author has deep, deep respect for the uniqueness and value of every emotion and individual. She doesn't judge or ever try to criticize or downgrade. She teaches us acceptance and deeper understanding of whatever is causing our innermost private thoughts and feelings. It's truly a treasure and one that I highly recommend for every woman, no matter how old. I readily admit that one of the feelings I deal with most often is that "I'm too old; I'm 73 years old; I'd like to do this or that, but I don't have enough time left to start now, etc." Nonsense! Joan Anderson has prompted me to try, even at this ripe old age to at the very least try and to live each day left to maximum fullillment and satisfaction. !

Having attended three of Joan Anderson's weekends over a ten year period, I was thrilled to see that this book was available to help those who don't have the time or money to travel to Cape Cod and spend a weekend in retreat. It is also a great tune up for those who have attended retreats. But it is most of all a way to have your own retreat at home alone or with a group of friends. It is a step by step guide to understanding yourself as your life changes and through that understanding to empower yourself to make the changes you know you need so that you can become the person you really are. Especially helpful for middle aged women who have spent a life fulfilling the expectations and needs of others, this book shows you how to take the time to recognize, understand and fulfill your own wishes, needs and desires. It is an excellent step by step guide for holding your own retreat with exercises, explanations and examples from Joan and other retreaters' own stories. Take a weekend away or just do a chapter a day/week. Spend the time to find your authentic self and the happiness you deserve.

This morning I finished reading "A Walk On The Beach"; this book didn't disappoint me and I look forward to reading "A Weekend To Change Your Life ...". I, too, have a Joan in my life. My Joan is someone who has experienced life, lost a child and a husband, shows wisdom, courage and confidence and who has remained positive, growing gracefully into her 83rd year. Joan Anderson, the author of this series of books, is very descriptive in her life's-journey, yet private in her personal self. In this tell-all world, I enjoyed reading about her year at the sea, and walk on the beach. She didn't tell all yet kept my interest in her story. I'm sure "A Weekend to Change Your Life" will offer more personal growth, a way to find self and will not be a disappointing read. Thanks Joan Anderson for your words of wisdom.

I really like and appreciate the advice and the words "authentic self". Always I have followed the patterns of others, but after reading this I am going to accept only myfeelings and my decisions and try to challenge myself more often. I so wish that I had had this advice in my fifties. I am in the same age range as the author and I had read her other book A YEAR BY THE SEA : Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman. I really liked both and probably will re-read them again. It has prompted me to make every newday a good one and get the best out of it. Susan

I was expecting a new book and what I got was a old yellowed pages book.

I have read all Joan Anderson's books and these cds are good to listen to in addition. Good to listen to while travelling or nodding off too!