Jump...and Your Life Will Appear: An Inch-by-Inch Guide to Making a Major Change

by Nancy Levin

Are you ready to make changes in your life—but feel something is holding you back? Is your soul asking you to take a leap—but you’re too afraid to take it? Are you ready for something new—but aren’t sure where to start?If this sounds like you, the book you hold in your hands will give you the courage and faith you need to jump across the threshold from where you are—to where you want to be. Jump . . . and Your Life Will Appear is a step-by-step guide to clearing the path ahead so you can let go and make the change you need the most. With a series of effective exercises, coach and author Nancy Levin will walk you through your fear, usher you up to the moment of jumping, and help you navigate what awaits on the other side.Whether you want to switch careers, move to a different part of the world, set boundaries with someone in your life, or increase your capacity for self-love, Jump . . . and Your Life Will Appear will support you on a practical path from start to finish.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Psychology, Memoir, Spirituality, Personal Growth

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 24, 2014

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5) Levin draws on her personal story of owning up to adultery and going through with a divorce in this self-help book about plunging into major decisions. As someone who is often paralyzed by indecision, I did find this book inspiring. First try doing just one thing differently, she advises, even something minor, and then see how that frees you up to make future changes. Each chapter includes examples from others’ experience and practical exercises for journaling and questioning your own motivations and choices.

I especially appreciated Levin’s discussion of how we naturally resist change, even when it would be beneficial: “Our natural impulse is to come up with all sorts of reasons why we should stay right where we are...The so-called safety of certainty and knowing is overrated.” Apparently there are three ways you can tell whether this resistance is your conscience telling you you’re making an unwise decision, or just your stubborn opposition to change:

• You feel defeated before you even start
• You want to change but don’t want to let go of what you already have
• You keep telling yourself that, actually, your current life isn’t that bad

I have certainly experienced that kind of resistance on a regular basis, so it’s reassuring to know that it’s not a sign that I’m generally a bad decision-maker.

In terms of self-help books, this one is fairly averagely written. It can be repetitive at times, as Levin keeps returning to her sordid divorce story. I think she’s also guilty of name-dropping, frequently mentioning all the work she’s done with Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer. Along with that, she relies a bit too heavily on quotes from other self-help gurus, plus philosophers and psychiatrists. So there are some gems of one-liners (e.g. Caroline Myss: “When making a choice, always choose what requires the most faith”), but I wondered whether more of the book shouldn’t have been built on Levin’s own expertise. There is also something rather gimmicky about her credentials (“Certified Integrative Coach through The Ford Institute for Transformational Training”).

You’ll find this book most useful if you’re able to take the time to work through all the exercises. I would recommend it if you’re facing a major life change, or just chronically bewildered by decision-making.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay guys I'm going to share a secret with you. I am addicted to self-help books. There I said it. While most don't change my life in the slightest I always hold out hope that the next one will be "the one". Silly, but what can I say, I have a problem.

Sadly this book was not "the one" but I still enjoyed it. I still feel like I got something out of it, and since this book was free, I literally got something for nothing.

This book helped me for where I am right now in my life, although my life is quite different than the authors and her clients. I enjoyed how much the author shared of her life and her experiences with her methods. The short stories from her clients was also a nice touch.

I did however feel like there was too much repetition in the book, however for all I know that might have been on purpose for reaffirmation and such.

Overall nice book, not life changing but did help with my procrastination.


Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim Faulks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I've worked through the questions and they've helped me gain a good perspective on where I am and where I need to go.

[Fiona Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of going through Nancy's Jump Group Coaching over a year ago, and still members from our group vent, and share, and support each other through our Facebook closed group. I found friends and allies through Nancy's Coaching, and was able to face fears and ... jump. Her powerful, step-by-step guide truly helps you to embrace your fears, process your pain, and create goals that you wish to achieve. Not only that, but actually achieve them. Nancy is with you throughout the steps and shares her deeply personal firsthand experience of healing through these Jump steps. I highly recommend the book, and the Group Coaching to anyone stuck but wishing to change, paralyzed but wishing to move, and ready, but needing a gentle push. Go for it! Jump!

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

As other reviewers have pointed out, there was a LOT written about the dissolution of the author’s marriage, so the book wasn’t relatable for me. This - along with abundant well-worn quotes and platitudes, name-dropping of famous friends, and a disjointed writing style that doesn’t ever really go ‘deep’ - left me wanting more.

[Kalliste · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part this book seemed to be a guide for people living with a secret they're ashamed of and pushing past the shame and the fear and being true to themselves.

Unfortunately, my reason for picking up the book wasn't because of an issue based on shame but just a need to try and improve my life. This meant that most of the activities weren't really relevant to me.

[Alissia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

It's always nice to know you're not alone going through certain emotions and feelings about life circumstances and this book helped me see there are others that struggle but you can get back up and try again.

[Stephanie Thoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

a raw vulnerable tale of liberation

Levin showcases through lived experiences how one can go from Shame driven to shame ridden. Sometimes your biggest fear coming true and loving yourself and others in the wake of a new chapter is what the soul needs.

[Micha Goebig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of how to start a transition process

[Camille · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just didn't do it for me. I reviewed it on my blog: https://wineandhistory.wordpress.com/...

[Ariane Schang · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book had been 75% less about divorce I think I would have really liked it. Fine airplane read and contains some interesting prompts.

[David Geschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts out very strong and really gets you thinking about how and why we make the choices we do in life. What are the things we never experience because we fall into a comfort zone and don't really think about making changes that might not be popular with our friends or family, but we know inside our heart is right for us? What's the real cost there? Living a life based on other people's ideas of who we are and what we should be doing. Making changes can be scary, thus the title "JUMP... and your life will appear".

I've met Nancy several times at Hay House events, she's got a great presence about her. I was really surprised at how many extremely personal topics she shared in this book, maybe more than any other book I've read, certainly recently. She was really willing to look at the things in life we often don't WANT to look at or think about and face them head on, fight through the fear to change what needed to be changed and make a leap of faith.

Great book, extremely well written, thought provoking, holds your interest throughout. It's a book I'll most likely read again and refer back to as well as I try to implement some of the ideas and exercises into my own life. If you've been to any Hay House events, you've probably seen and/or heard Nancy speak. I have read hundreds of self help books and continue to read basically only that genre to this day, this is one of the better books out there right now. Read it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an amazing book. The author's change was going through a divorce but this book, her techniques could be used for many different situations. Life is about change. I thought the chapter on grief was really touching and eye opening. The book is written so that she walks you through the process as well as telling her story as well as others throughout the book. Nancy's writing style is easy to understand. Once I started reading it was difficult to put down the book. I read through the book pretty quickly. I am going to re-read and do the exercises.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tend to resist self-help books, but I needed one for a reading challenge, and as an innately indecisive person I was drawn to the book's subject. And this was actually kind of inspiring. I liked the author's willingness to use herself as the example, and I liked the metaphors she used when describing what it's like to be in the wake of a big change. I felt like most of the quotes kept coming from the same sources, and some of the exercises and stories didn't resonate as strongly with me, but I can see how this could be a helpful resource.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy did a great job sharing her experience, and then giving readers some solution to move past the pain in our lives. I was fortunate to meet Nancy at Hay House Writer's Workshop in San Francisco in March 2014. She is full of energy and passion about what she is doing. I recommend this book to anyone who may have trouble in their marriage or feeling stuck in their lives.

[Krista Loreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book to sit and think with. It's a helpful guide to personal evaluation. She does talk a lot about her divorce and uses it as clear examples for her book. It does, in the end, seem a bit much. I would recommend this book for anyone seeking a change in their life with no idea where to start. It's a great guide if you take what you want (or need) out of it and leave the rest.

[Wadiyyah Salaam · Rating 4 out of 5]

a book like no other. Nancy Levin maps the blueprint to healing emotional wounds and living your best life. She shares her story and instructs readers, serious readers, who want to transform their lives on how to actually take the steps to being your best you.

[Nicola Keeble · Rating 1 out of 5]

I never finished this book. I only read 5% because, to be honest, it's boring. The book would be more interesting if the author showed her story, not told it. I wish I'd had a sample of the book rather than buying it.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, most impressed by the structure and the bringing together of various experiences. Finished in a few days.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the exercises/questions to consider are really interesting, but for the most part nothing new.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Focuses on giving readers the courage and understanding of why and how they need to change. I didn't do the exercise, but great anyway.

[Maura Alia Badji · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was in my 20s I read a lot of self help books; this fact probably accounts for my current impatience with them. This one did not wow me, nor was it poorly written. Fair to middling.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars