"Gulp!"

Author – Gabriella Goddard
Publisher - Penguin
Published – 2006
ISBN – 0-141-02528-X
Cost - £7.99
Review by David Owen

“Gulp” refers to that physical reaction experienced by an individual encountering a major challenge. Goddard asserts that challenges stretch us, facilitate growth and teach trust in ourselves. She concludes that mastering our expectations, fears and beliefs through the ability “to calm the mind and build a strong inner core” are central to determining the outcome of a challenge. Her personal “Gulp” was discovering a lump on her breast and realising that she could be broken by the discovery or she could use it to re-create her future.

Drawing on diverse inspirational teachings to support her philosophy that “this is your life, so live it well,” her 7 stage programme presents numerous easy to use techniques to assist the reader manage their lives more effectively.

This is a book of great integrity and honesty, which does not pretend to offer the answers to everyone’s problems, advocating instead that some people will need to engage a specialist to assist them because of the complexity of their issues. However, it does offer the majority of readers a change programme, which is empowering and inspirational. The exercises at the end of each chapter and the web-based resources support the reader and ensure that there really is no excuse, now, not to transform your life.

I urge you to read this because whilst the ideas are not new, the extensive research and effective communication of complex ideas guarantee that you can apply the techniques successfully.