A Quick Emotional Tune Up

When I was young, if our cars started running rough, my dad would go to the auto parts store and buy a tune up kit. A short time later, with a little time and effort on his part, our cars were running smooth again. That's where I got the idea for this title and book.

Most people don't really understand exactly how they come to feel bad, and often have some erroneous notions about how that actually happens. Because of that, they miss many opportunities to feel better, and don't realize just how easy it can be to do that for themselves. There is actually quite a bit you can do for yourself to feel better without the help of a professional. It often just takes a little bit of the right kind of knowledge, and a little guided practice. Education of the type in this book can be very therapeutic.

This book is intended to do exactly what it says, give you a quick way to tune yourself up emotionally so that your life can run smoother. There are 8 simple steps you can take to start feeling a whole lot better quickly. They are steps anyone can take

For example, learning to have USA or Unconditional Self Acceptance, and UOA or Unconditional Other Acceptance. Second, learning to have an internal locus of control instead of the external locus of control most people have. Third, learning to recognize your own (and others) irrational thinking. Fourth, learning how to correct any irrational thinking you engage in. Fifth, to start using I Messages whenever you want to assert yourself. Sixth, to start recognizing when you have "mistaken" goals that get you off course from getting what you really want in life. Seventh, learning to ask yourself some simple questions to evaluate your own thoughts, feelings and actions with respect to what you really want in life, the answers to which can motivate you to make necessary changes. Finally, to understand why making changes in the way you think, feel, say and do things can often be so difficult, and what it takes to make such changes.

The bulk of what is in this book is from a highly effective form of cognitive behavioral therapy called Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), developed by the late Dr. Albert Ellis. It's a very educational and self-help form of therapy. It's surprisingly simple and easy to grasp by even though with no prior experience with psychology. That's part of what makes it easy to learn and incorporate into your everyday life, and what makes it so effective. You can do a lot to help yourself in some very important ways very quickly.

It is intended to be brief and a quick read on purpose. If you like what is in this book, and want to go into more depth, I have three other books currently published on Smashwords.com that can help you do that. Think of this book as a primer.

I spent much of my 40 years as a teacher teaching this simple, easy to learn self help form of psychology to well over ten thousand students. First, I did so in a health education classroom. Since retiring from the classroom, I have taught thousands more students and teachers through presentations I do in schools, and at state and national conventions. For the past two years I have run "Tool Time" groups at a local high school for some of the most troubled and troublesome students they have. All this experience is why I know it can work for people. I'm also living proof that it can work. I sincerely hope it does as much for you as it has for me, and all my students.