Review of You Got This!

[Kibet Hillary]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "You Got This!" by Linda Bjork.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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“You are the expert on your situation.”
[Bjork, Linda. You Got This!: An Action Plan to Calm Fear, Anxiety, Worry, and Stress.]

True to the book’s title, Linda focuses on empowering the reader, and one of the most frequently repeated statements in the book is the quote above. From the start, the author emphasizes that skills are acquired through learning and practice, building a strong foundation for the rest of the chapters, which include an action plan with simple exercises. But that’s not all—the reader is also encouraged to think of other simple exercises they can do. Simply telling might not be enough, so I appreciated that Linda incorporated moving personal stories into the book.

My favorite story is titled Dreaded Phone Calls. I found it very relatable, as I once served as an official for an association, and the task of calling strangers caused anxiety often. This led me to postpone these dreaded phone calls, increasing my stress over time. Undoubtedly, readers will explore the root causes of similar issues in You Got This!: An Action Plan to Calm Fear, Anxiety, Worry, and Stress and embark on a healing journey.

Will the journey be easy? No one promises a smooth path, and the author highlights some of the most common setbacks and hurdles, including the “mere exposure effect” phenomenon and the reticular activating system (RAS). The RAS filters sensory information, but this can be a disadvantage for those struggling with mental and emotional challenges like stress. In such cases, the author points out that predominant thought patterns shape what the RAS deems important. Consequently, the author explains, an internal battle ensues as the brain warns against change, signaling that moving forward is a threat. This insight is not only enlightening but also fosters empathy for those battling fear, anxiety, worry, and stress. The battle is undoubtedly difficult, but the war can be won.

Certainly, these struggles are not the end of the story; in fact, they are key to the healing process. This is where Linda Bjork introduces the concept of an emotional first aid kit to help overcome obstacles. The book provides examples of tools that can be included in one’s emotional first aid kit, one of which is laughter. You don’t have to revert to the status quo—there may be hurdles ahead, but with courage as your fuel and energizer, you can move forward.

You Got This!: An Action Plan to Calm Fear, Anxiety, Worry, and Stress by Linda Bjork is an essential read for everyone. The only minor flaw I noticed was a personal preference—I would have liked more stories—but this did not detract from the book’s overall impact. It is both informative and eye-opening, which I believe are essential elements in the journey of healing through unlearning, learning, and relearning—especially with simple, consistent exercises. As a result, I rate this book five out of five stars.

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You Got This!
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[Seetha E]

Linda Bjork's book, emphasizes the importance of learning and practice in overcoming mental and emotional challenges. An action plan with simple exercises and personal stories to encourage readers sounds useful. I am curious to know more about overcoming the common setbacks. Overall, the book seems informative, emphasizing the importance of unlearning, learning, and relearning through simple exercises. Nice review! Thank you.

[Abhinav Maurya]

You Got This! Linda Bjork's by Linda Bjork, offers an overview and method for stress management, anxiety mitigation, and reframing negative thinking in an informative and useful way. By incorporating some of the tenets of CBT and mindfulness strategies, in this book, the reader is provided with the tools and their strategies through a thirty-day plan for reducing anxiety and reclaiming mental sharpness. The method pursued by the writer Bjork is means of simplicity and constancy, in the sense that changes are expected to be achieved gradually through daily practice.

Pros

1. Clear and Structured Plan: Readers can see a clear roadmap in the 30-day action plan. Each day contains practical exercises, journaling exercises, and stress reduction exercises that are highly practical.

2. Practical and Accessible: Bjork focuses on simple strategies, such as reframing negative thoughts and using affirmations, which are effective without being overwhelming. These tools can be immediately integrated into daily life.

3. Positive, Encouraging Tone: The book is written in a warm, supportive tone that fosters a sense of reassurance. Listeners have the impression of being followed by a guide, which adds value to the whole experience.

4. Proven Psychological Techniques: Such application of CBT and mindfulness approaches has strong research evidence to be credible, and effective in anxiety reduction.

Cons: Cons:

1. Too Basic for Experienced Readers: Readers who are experienced with CMBT or self-help approaches will probably see too simple and repetitive the material and it will not provide them with too much new information.

2. Lacks Depth: The book provides tools to help manage stress and anxiety but, unlike a more diligent approach, does not delve into the root cause of such problems and leaves some would-be readers seeking an improved engagement with psychology.

3. Repetitiveness: The text contains exercises and topics recurrently, which can be tedious and uninteresting to many readers who want to see a range of techniques.

You Got This! It is an excellent learning tool for beginners or anyone who wants to gain practical, actionable tips on handling stress and anxiety. Although possibly not a great deal of detail for the experienced reader, the well-ordered and easygoing style of the volume provides a useful resource for anyone wishing to regain command of their mental fitness.
As a result, I rate this book five out of five stars.