Your Inner Will: Finding Personal Strength in Critical Times

by Piero Ferrucci

The bestselling psychotherapist and author of The Power of Kindness provides concrete, meaningful lessons in developing internal willpower during times of personal crisis. We all experience periods of gloom, fear, and uncertainty. But we each possess deep reserves of inner strength and wisdom for dealing with such setbacks. Indeed, it is the very arrival of darkened circumstances that can summon our untapped energies.In Your Inner Will, therapist and philosopher Piero Ferrucci explores how to play on the iron chords of our interior selves. In this stirring and deeply practical work, Ferrucci provides a full program for the cultivation of the will by employing insights from classical mythology and wisdom teachings, neuroscience research, case studies, and psychological exercises.Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of will and is followed by exercises that guide the reader in its development. Chapters Mastery, Autonomy, Freedom, Courage, Integrity, and Resilience. Ferrucci describes the pitfalls we face when our inner strength is lacking, and shows us what we can expect when it is healthfully developed. An effective will can guide us in our search for inner freedom; it helps us to take risks and to renew ourselves; it makes us feel strong and confident.Your Inner Will is an immensely practical study that helps readers navigate crises and pursue more purposeful lives.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Psychology, Philosophy

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2014

About the author

Piero Ferrucci is a psychotherapist and a philosopher. He graduated from the University of Torino in 1970.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your Inner Will: Finding Personal Strength in Critical Times offers an eclectic approach to creating a life in harmony with your ideal self (think Carl Rogers and his incongruence theory). The book is divided into twelve sections that pertain to different aspects of the will such as plasticity and autonomy and how they synergize to form our core identity.

Throughout the book, Ferrucci cites numerous myths, religious stories, and psychology studies to support his ideas. Because of this, he occasionally goes off on tangents in order to explore and contemplate issues (e.g. whether free will exists). However, if you love thinking about the abstract or pondering possibilities, this type of format will greatly appeal to you!

Overall, Your Inner Will falls into the realm of humanistic and Jungian psychology. Concepts such as archetypes and Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey” are woven into each of the chapters. Many times, I felt as if Ferrucci approached the book as if the reader were one of his clients, and he was offering thoughtful insight into universal human issues such as overcoming fears that hold us back or living a life with integrity toward our individual values. If you’re looking for something more clinical and research-driven, this book might not be the best fit.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY favorite non-fiction read for the year. Written by a psychologist/philosopher, each chapter offers thoughtful suggestions for basically living life to the fullest by being in control of your own life. No nonsense. Excellent read.

[Gia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't be without this book at any time in my life. It will be a constant companion.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't love the writing style at first; it had that slightly condescending feeling of someone who has life figured out and tells you 'it's just this easy!' when we all know its not (I admit I'm just projecting here). But as you continue reading, the things he's saying make a little more sense, and while he is laying out solutions that are simple in concept and difficult in execution, it's a place to start, and perhaps simplifying is an aspect we need to incorporate. With good themes such as being proactive, developing autonomy, seeking depth, and developing resilience and integrity and courage, it's a good read, despite my never loving the style.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made it about 1/4 of the way in and that took effort. It’s your standard self help drivel: relay an anecdote, cram as many words in as possible to make it sound deep, repeat the same fluff over and over, and finally make a one sentence point at the end of the chapter.

Books like this (and there are MANY) are for cow-eyed simpletons who can’t compose an original thought.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part philosophical, part psychoanalysis, part scientific research blended with evidence of support from the wisdom of the ages as well as recent discoveries. This is a refreshing and insightful book.

[Alicia Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super insightful and has a few exercises that allows you to truly look within yourself. I loved it.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insights, and ways of telling them, including using Greek mythology, but it is not too academic, it's readable and interesting with examples

[Ann Cavlovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

[morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[Wee Meng Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the many books I've read so far, this is the most interactive book about Your Inner Will (as the title says). For every chapter, it gives a short story that best describe the core value, followed by different examples to better emphasise on each value. At the end of each chapter, an exercise is given optionally for you to apply in your daily life from this core value. To put it simply, all of these values in yourself will help you turn tides into opportunities, obstacles that form an adventure. An adventure that gets you to that dream you always desire to reach out for.

Pick up this book if you choose to find out more what these values exactly are and how you can apply it in your daily life.

[Marloes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een zeer behulpzaam en verhelderend boek over alle aspecten van de wil. (En ja, ook de vraag of hij bestaat komt aan bod.) De auteur gebruikt voor zijn onderbouwing een fijne mix van wetenschappelijke onderzoeken en oude verhalen en legendes.
Het boek heeft me veel inzicht gegeven in het bestaansrecht van een mens en zijn wil (dat helemaal niet hetzelfde hoeft te zijn als ego.) . Iets dat zen bij mij nogal had vernietigd.
Ik ga het herlezen.

[Erica Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not actually going through a "critical time" at the moment, but I've had this book sitting on a shelf for a few months now, and I found it interesting from a theoretical perspective. I loved the examples/stories he used to illustrate the different states of mind/emotions he wrote about.

[hemlet kiai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reading

[Albert Zecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great Book --Must read again!!!