Readers seeking inviting, transformative guidance will appreciate the practical design and easy-to-grasp techniques here, as Lok-Payne divides the affirmations into convenient sections, including “self-love,” “gratitude,” and more. For each reframe she identifies a negative thought, followed by a handful of alternative phrases readers can use to transform their thinking from defeatist to empowered. Instead of “I can’t control my circumstances” she suggests “I can control my reaction and attitude toward the situation”; instead of “I can’t do it” she advocates the reminder “I just haven’t done it yet.” Throughout, Lok-Payne offers insights that both appeal and inspire, like “happiness is the road trip, not the destination” or “my past does not predict my future.”
It’s clear Lok-Payne crafted this work as a collection of moments to savor, and readers should plan time for deep reflection and study. She offers suggestions to boost that meditation, such as taking quiet walks and mastering deep breathing when responding to stress—or using the journal pages included at the end to contemplate the book’s lessons. Readers struggling with self-doubt will relish her emphasis on “lov[ing] myself just as I am in this very moment,” as well as her advice to view failure as a springboard instead of a wall—an uplifting and refreshing message.
Takeaway: This uplifting guide demonstrates overcoming negative thoughts through affirmations.
Great for fans of: Pauline Ronan’s The Pocketbook of Positivity and Reframing, Shad Helmstetter’s What to Say When You Talk to Your Self.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
