YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE TO CHANGE EVERYTHING by Beth Kurland drove home the astounding perspective that you don't have to do or be anyone other than who you are in order to be happier, more effective, and engaged with your life. Throughout her guide, she discusses approaches to start where you are, shift your perspective and how you hold the events and feelings and thoughts that run through you releases the energy, old scripts, and habits that make it feel impossible to feel joy. While some of the terms and language did not resonate for me, overall I felt that this experience-based guide offered fresh insights into finding wellbeing in the middle of chaos. That small willingness to breathe, to consider how I am the container, has changed so much for me. I enjoyed the accessible and encouraging way Kurland suggests different ways to look at yourself and your life -- and that in and of itself meant a huge whoosh of relief. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

I struggled to get through this. At times it felt repetitive and a lot of time was spent setting the stage and/or talking about what would be discussed in the book. That said, the information was great. I related to a lot of what the author shared about her own life experiences as well as the overlap with her professional life.

You Don’t Have to Change to Change Everything is the ideal combination of advice, practices, and personal anecdotes to make a compelling help book. Beth Kurland’s stories, particularly the ones regarding her own life are moving and inspiring for readers to want to implement her suggestions in to their daily lives. The book as a whole is a digestible demonstration of the benefits which result from introducing each of the six tenets Kurland discusses. The book is easy to pick up and put down at the reader’s leisure making it ideal for those who want to take her advice one piece and at time that it is equally powerful when reading straight through. I could not recommend this book enough to readers of all ages and stages of life as coming out of the pandemic in 2020, there is at least one piece of advice every person could take from reading this book.

You Don't Have to Change to Change Everything by Beth Kurland.
I received an eBook ARC to review and give my honest thoughts and opinions on.

The author has been a Clinical Psychologist for over 30 years. She has also spent time in therapy, giving her a chance to literally see both sides of therapy, what it is, how it can be used effectively.

She references several people throughout the book that helped shape her views, mentored her, or that she found to be important to what/how she derived her thoughts on healing.

Beth spends quite a bit of time talking about the inner parent, something that, while I understand what she's saying, gives me the shudders. She does say that one can definitely use a different term that doesn't leave a person re-traumatized, if that's an issue.

There's quite a bit of good in the book, but ultimately, it just wasn't for me.

I struggled with this book due to formatting issues,, but I did finally get the download to Kindle worked out, so it was much easier to read on Kindle rather than a time phone. (This issue has ZERO bearing on my review, just an aside.)

In "You Don't Have to Change to Change Everything" by Beth Kurland, readers are introduced to a transformative healing approach that prioritizes shifting perspectives over altering oneself. The book advocates for changing the container in which inner experiences are held, offering a unique pathway to wholeness and healing. Kurland addresses the common source of suffering—our instinct to avoid challenging emotions—highlighting the significance of how we meet and greet these inner experiences. Rather than battling against discomfort, the book provides six distinct vantage points to navigate difficult emotions, fostering inner stability, self-compassion, and a connection with the "Whole Self." This practical guide encourages readers to cultivate resilience and well-being by embracing a different approach to their emotional landscape, creating a foundation for profound personal transformation. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This was probably one of the best self help books I have read in a long time. The author wrote in such a way that was easy to follow and understand and provided a good amount of personal stories, as well as stories of other people. There was also so much practical info and practical resources such as meditations and reflection questions. I really like how this book was not about trying to make drastic changes but about taking practical steps to reframe things when they arise. This is definitely a book I will be purchasing when it is released because of all the useful information that I want to be able to return to over and over again. I definitely recommend giving this book a read!

This book is not about changing yourself, fixing yourself, or self-improvement to find happiness, This book is about shifting where you stand, shifting your vantage point, and how, when you do that, everything begins to change. It’s about shedding the layers to uncover the essence at your core that has been there all along. It’s about freeing yourself from the mental habits that have been keeping your life small. It’s about shifting your relationship with your own suffering, and how, when you can relate to your suffering in new ways, things begin to change. It isn’t about changing your circumstances (when you can’t) or about changing yourself; it is about changing your relationship to what is already here, and the choices, possibilities, resources, and deep sense of well-being that become available when you do.

We have a happiness problem in our culture, and it is making many of us—well, unhappy. There is an unspoken myth that somehow, we “should” be happy, at least much of the time, as if happiness is the holy grail or gold standard upon which we determine the value of our life. The problem is that when we don’t feel happy, we often feel like we are falling short in some way, or that there is something wrong, or even that there is something wrong with us!

Loved the sections on cultivating curiosity and bringing back childlike qualities. Also the focus on compassion, bringing back playfulness, and observation practices. I found the exercises in the back really helpful.

Reading this book is like going to therapy without going to therapy. It helps you work on your self-esteem and your way of viewing yourself in general. It's about changing your way of thinking, one step at a time., and beginning to see life with different eyes.

"You Don't Have to Change to Change Everything" by Beth Kurland, Ph.D., provides valuable insights into the human experience of coping with difficult emotions. The book delves into the significance of acknowledging and facing unpleasant internal experiences, and the impact it has on our overall well-being and resilience. Rather than attempting to force oneself to feel constant happiness or being overwhelmed by intense emotions, the book offers six alternative approaches to handling difficult emotions. It encourages readers to shift their perspectives when faced with challenging feelings, ultimately promoting inner stability, self-compassion, and greater connection with oneself and the world around them. Kurland's work serves as a guide for cultivating personal growth and emotional resilience, offering a valuable and transformative resource for those seeking to navigate their inner experiences with greater understanding and compassion.

What a great approach to mindfulness through self-reflection and compassion. I truly loved this book and will use the tools for myself and with clients in my therapy practice.

This was a really helpful, impactful, powerful read. It is heavily rooted in Buddhist philosophy which I have long studied and attempted to practice, with additional science, research, and perspectives sprinkled in. I always enjoy when modern research “proves” things that have been in existence for 2000+ years.

I appreciate that the book is immediately actionable with numerous exercises in mindfulness and inner exploration while also providing a tool kit for ongoing use.

I have recommended this book and will continue to do so for anyone looking for additional resources to help better manage their emotions - big or small!

This book got me thinking of a new way to heal, in terms of how much my perspective matters instead of working hard to change myself-it is more like changing the box you are in and not yourself to fit inside the box.
This book offers six ways to shift one's vantage point when it comes to dealing with difficult emotions. It also has take away points and questions for reflection at the end of each chapter to help reflect on the topics.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to approach mindfulness in a way that requires reflection.

Open mindedness and empathy full of enlightenment and energy is discovered and atoned for within and beyond.