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Live Your Opus: Reclaim Your Energy, Redefine Success, and Create a Life That Truly Matters
You've built a life that looks successful—but inside, something’s stirring. You wonder: Is this it? What now? When will all this finally feel like enough? Or maybe you’re just tired of the pressure, the pace, and the ache for something more.
Live Your Opus is for high achievers who’ve done everything “right” yet still feel something is missing. It’s an invitation to step off the treadmill and compose a life that actually fits—one that energizes, not exhausts. Rooted in neuroscience, lived experience, and the Opus 8 Energy System, this twelve-week learning experience offers a practical, soul-stirring path forward. Readers learn to shift from reactive overwork to intentional impact, align identity and ambition with the future (not the past), rediscover what matters most, and build a rhythm that fuels life as much as work.
Within weeks, energy returns, clarity deepens, and something within awakens. You don’t have to leave success to find yourself—but you do have to stop running and start listening. Whether you’re burned out, at a crossroads, or ready to enjoy the life you’ve built, this book meets you where you are and helps you create what’s next.
You are your greatest work. Live Your Opus is how you begin treating yourself that way.
Live Your Opus is for high achievers who’ve done everything “right” yet still feel something is missing. It’s an invitation to step off the treadmill and compose a life that actually fits—one that energizes, not exhausts. Rooted in neuroscience, lived experience, and the Opus 8 Energy System, this twelve-week learning experience offers a practical, soul-stirring path forward. Readers learn to shift from reactive overwork to intentional impact, align identity and ambition with the future (not the past), rediscover what matters most, and build a rhythm that fuels life as much as work.
Within weeks, energy returns, clarity deepens, and something within awakens. You don’t have to leave success to find yourself—but you do have to stop running and start listening. Whether you’re burned out, at a crossroads, or ready to enjoy the life you’ve built, this book meets you where you are and helps you create what’s next.
You are your greatest work. Live Your Opus is how you begin treating yourself that way.
312 pages, Hardcover
Published February 3, 2026
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 10, 2026
Live Your Opus isn’t just a book—it’s a wake-up call wrapped in a love letter to your future self. Janine Mathó has crafted something rare: a guide that’s as practical as it is profound, as grounded as it is visionary. If you’ve ever felt like you’re hustling at life instead of living into it, this book is your permission slip to pause, recalibrate, and compose a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.
Why This Book Stands Out
The Opus Framework is a Game-Changer
Mathó’s 12-week transformation process (Connect → Dream → Compose → Embark) isn’t another fluffy self-help formula. It’s a structured, science-backed roadmap to help you:
Reconnect with your energy (no more autopilot burnout).
Dream without limits (and silence the "who am I to…?" voice).
Compose your life like a musician arranges a symphony—even if you don’t have all the instruments yet.
Embark with resilience (because real change isn’t linear).
The Opus 8 Energy System alone (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) is worth the price of admission. It’s like having a personal energy audit—but with compassion, not judgment.
It’s for the "Successful but Stuck"
This book speaks directly to high achievers who’ve hit the wall. You know the type: the entrepreneur who’s "made it" but feels empty, the corporate climber who’s exhausted, the creative who’s lost their spark. Mathó doesn’t shame hustle culture—she redefines it. Success isn’t about grinding harder; it’s about aligning your energy with what truly matters.
Stories That Hit Like a Gut Punch (In the Best Way)
The real-life examples—like Kristen, the edtech expert who launched a community for female founders and felt like an imposter—are raw, relatable, and deeply human. These aren’t fairy-tale transformations; they’re messy, courageous leaps that remind you: You’re not alone in this.
Practical Tools You’ll Actually Use
The Opus Change Continuum (are you a Hesitator? Navigator? Catalyst?) helps you locate where you’re stuck with zero guilt.
The "Dream Exercises" (like the one where Mathó’s future book demanded to be written now) will unlock desires you didn’t even know you had.
The "Opus Experiment" (testing ideas in small, low-stakes ways) turns abstract goals into actionable steps.
A Cross-Cultural Lens That Feels Like a Warm Hug
As a first-generation Cuban American, Mathó brings a refreshing perspective—one that blends discipline with heart, strategy with soul. She doesn’t just tell you to "set boundaries"; she shows you how to honor them without apology.
Who Should Read This?
✅ The burned-out high achiever who’s tired of "crushing it" but feeling hollow.
✅ The career changer who’s ready to pivot but terrified of starting over.
✅ The leader/creative who wants to sustain energy without losing themselves.
✅ Anyone who’s ever thought, "There’s got to be more to life than this."
The Bottom Line
Live Your Opus is the book I wish I’d had a decade ago—when I was climbing the corporate ladder with a smile but a sinking feeling that I was betraying my soul. It’s not about quitting your job or moving to Bali (unless that’s your Opus). It’s about designing a life that feels like yours.
Mathó’s writing is lyrical yet direct, poetic yet practical. She doesn’t just ask you to dream; she gives you the tools to disarm the fear that’s been keeping you small. And her musical metaphors? Brilliant. (I’ll never hear "compose" the same way again.)
Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars – A must-read for anyone ready to trade autopilot for authorship. Buy it, underline it, dog-ear it, and—most importantly—live it.
P.S. The reflection prompts alone are worth revisiting monthly. This isn’t a book you read once; it’s a companion for the journey.
Great can you write a second one, a bit shorter★★★★★ "The Antidote to Autopilot" – A Book That Feels Like a Conversation with Your Wisest Friend
If you’ve ever felt like you’re going through the motions of success—checking boxes, hitting goals, but still wondering, "Is this all there is?"—Live Your Opus is the wake-up call you’ve been waiting for.
Janine Mathó doesn’t just tell you to "follow your dreams." She gives you a roadmap to actually do it—without burning out, losing yourself, or waiting for "someday." Her 12-week transformation process (Connect, Dream, Compose, Embark) is practical, compassionate, and deeply human, blending science, storytelling, and soulful wisdom.
Why It Works
✔ For the Overachiever Who’s Tired of Hustling – If you’ve ever pushed so hard you forgot why you were pushing, this book helps you reclaim your energy and realign with what truly matters.
✔ No Fluff, Just Real Tools – From the Opus 8 Energy System to the Dream Exercises, every chapter gives you actionable steps to test, refine, and live your vision.
✔ Stories That Feel Like Your Own – Mathó shares raw, relatable examples of people who’ve broken free from burnout, imposter syndrome, and autopilot living—and how they did it.
✔ A Fresh Perspective on Success – Success isn’t about grinding harder; it’s about composing a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.
Who Is This For?
High achievers who’ve lost their spark.
Career changers who need courage to pivot.
Leaders & creatives who want to sustain energy without losing themselves.
Anyone who’s ever felt stuck in "shoulds" instead of "wants."
Final Thought
Live Your Opus isn’t just a book—it’s a permission slip to live differently. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start thriving, this is your guide.
5/5 Stars – A must-read for anyone who wants to design a life they don’t need to escape from.
Why This Book Stands Out
The Opus Framework is a Game-Changer
Mathó’s 12-week transformation process (Connect → Dream → Compose → Embark) isn’t another fluffy self-help formula. It’s a structured, science-backed roadmap to help you:
Reconnect with your energy (no more autopilot burnout).
Dream without limits (and silence the "who am I to…?" voice).
Compose your life like a musician arranges a symphony—even if you don’t have all the instruments yet.
Embark with resilience (because real change isn’t linear).
The Opus 8 Energy System alone (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) is worth the price of admission. It’s like having a personal energy audit—but with compassion, not judgment.
It’s for the "Successful but Stuck"
This book speaks directly to high achievers who’ve hit the wall. You know the type: the entrepreneur who’s "made it" but feels empty, the corporate climber who’s exhausted, the creative who’s lost their spark. Mathó doesn’t shame hustle culture—she redefines it. Success isn’t about grinding harder; it’s about aligning your energy with what truly matters.
Stories That Hit Like a Gut Punch (In the Best Way)
The real-life examples—like Kristen, the edtech expert who launched a community for female founders and felt like an imposter—are raw, relatable, and deeply human. These aren’t fairy-tale transformations; they’re messy, courageous leaps that remind you: You’re not alone in this.
Practical Tools You’ll Actually Use
The Opus Change Continuum (are you a Hesitator? Navigator? Catalyst?) helps you locate where you’re stuck with zero guilt.
The "Dream Exercises" (like the one where Mathó’s future book demanded to be written now) will unlock desires you didn’t even know you had.
The "Opus Experiment" (testing ideas in small, low-stakes ways) turns abstract goals into actionable steps.
A Cross-Cultural Lens That Feels Like a Warm Hug
As a first-generation Cuban American, Mathó brings a refreshing perspective—one that blends discipline with heart, strategy with soul. She doesn’t just tell you to "set boundaries"; she shows you how to honor them without apology.
Who Should Read This?
✅ The burned-out high achiever who’s tired of "crushing it" but feeling hollow.
✅ The career changer who’s ready to pivot but terrified of starting over.
✅ The leader/creative who wants to sustain energy without losing themselves.
✅ Anyone who’s ever thought, "There’s got to be more to life than this."
The Bottom Line
Live Your Opus is the book I wish I’d had a decade ago—when I was climbing the corporate ladder with a smile but a sinking feeling that I was betraying my soul. It’s not about quitting your job or moving to Bali (unless that’s your Opus). It’s about designing a life that feels like yours.
Mathó’s writing is lyrical yet direct, poetic yet practical. She doesn’t just ask you to dream; she gives you the tools to disarm the fear that’s been keeping you small. And her musical metaphors? Brilliant. (I’ll never hear "compose" the same way again.)
Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars – A must-read for anyone ready to trade autopilot for authorship. Buy it, underline it, dog-ear it, and—most importantly—live it.
P.S. The reflection prompts alone are worth revisiting monthly. This isn’t a book you read once; it’s a companion for the journey.
Great can you write a second one, a bit shorter★★★★★ "The Antidote to Autopilot" – A Book That Feels Like a Conversation with Your Wisest Friend
If you’ve ever felt like you’re going through the motions of success—checking boxes, hitting goals, but still wondering, "Is this all there is?"—Live Your Opus is the wake-up call you’ve been waiting for.
Janine Mathó doesn’t just tell you to "follow your dreams." She gives you a roadmap to actually do it—without burning out, losing yourself, or waiting for "someday." Her 12-week transformation process (Connect, Dream, Compose, Embark) is practical, compassionate, and deeply human, blending science, storytelling, and soulful wisdom.
Why It Works
✔ For the Overachiever Who’s Tired of Hustling – If you’ve ever pushed so hard you forgot why you were pushing, this book helps you reclaim your energy and realign with what truly matters.
✔ No Fluff, Just Real Tools – From the Opus 8 Energy System to the Dream Exercises, every chapter gives you actionable steps to test, refine, and live your vision.
✔ Stories That Feel Like Your Own – Mathó shares raw, relatable examples of people who’ve broken free from burnout, imposter syndrome, and autopilot living—and how they did it.
✔ A Fresh Perspective on Success – Success isn’t about grinding harder; it’s about composing a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.
Who Is This For?
High achievers who’ve lost their spark.
Career changers who need courage to pivot.
Leaders & creatives who want to sustain energy without losing themselves.
Anyone who’s ever felt stuck in "shoulds" instead of "wants."
Final Thought
Live Your Opus isn’t just a book—it’s a permission slip to live differently. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start thriving, this is your guide.
5/5 Stars – A must-read for anyone who wants to design a life they don’t need to escape from.
Read
January 13, 2026Live Your Opus speaks directly to readers who have achieved outward success yet feel inwardly depleted. Janine Mathó offers a grounded and compassionate guide for high achievers who sense that something essential has been lost in the pursuit of productivity and performance.
Rather than prescribing radical reinvention, this book invites readers to pause, listen, and realign. Drawing on neuroscience, lived experience, and the Opus 8 Energy System, Mathó reframes success as something that should energize rather than drain. The result is a practical and reflective twelve week framework that helps readers move from constant reactivity toward intentional impact.
What stands out is the book’s respect for the reader’s existing accomplishments. This is not a rejection of ambition. Instead, it asks how identity, values, and energy can evolve alongside success rather than being sacrificed to it. The tone is steady and encouraging, offering clarity without pressure and structure without rigidity.
Readers will find themselves reassessing how they define enough, how they use their energy, and how they design a rhythm that supports both meaningful work and a sustainable life. The shifts described feel attainable and humane, particularly for those navigating burnout, transition, or quiet dissatisfaction.
Live Your Opus will resonate with professionals, leaders, and creatives who want their next chapter to feel aligned rather than exhausting. It is thoughtful, motivating, and deeply affirming in its belief that a fulfilled life is something we can consciously compose.
Rather than prescribing radical reinvention, this book invites readers to pause, listen, and realign. Drawing on neuroscience, lived experience, and the Opus 8 Energy System, Mathó reframes success as something that should energize rather than drain. The result is a practical and reflective twelve week framework that helps readers move from constant reactivity toward intentional impact.
What stands out is the book’s respect for the reader’s existing accomplishments. This is not a rejection of ambition. Instead, it asks how identity, values, and energy can evolve alongside success rather than being sacrificed to it. The tone is steady and encouraging, offering clarity without pressure and structure without rigidity.
Readers will find themselves reassessing how they define enough, how they use their energy, and how they design a rhythm that supports both meaningful work and a sustainable life. The shifts described feel attainable and humane, particularly for those navigating burnout, transition, or quiet dissatisfaction.
Live Your Opus will resonate with professionals, leaders, and creatives who want their next chapter to feel aligned rather than exhausting. It is thoughtful, motivating, and deeply affirming in its belief that a fulfilled life is something we can consciously compose.
February 3, 2026
Where oh where was Live Your Opus back in 2022, when I was contemplating retirement but not at all sure I would continue to exist – much less flourish– without my daily trudging up that corporate hill?
Fortunately for me then, I stumbled into some coaching and other resources that made the transition survivable in the end. Which makes me appreciate even more the thoughtful, deeply grounded approach Janine Matho lays out here.
Among the truly stellar elements Matho brings to her ”claim your life” Opus Way is the centering of energy as the coin of the realm. She helps us understand that physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy isn’t a fabulous byproduct of this work but rather the fuel that drives it all – and that it can be self-regenerating when we’re in harmonious alignment with ourselves.
Equally powerful for me – perhaps because I have far fewer chapters ahead than behind me at now – is Matho’s prescription to fully embrace our past. “Your story matters,” she writes, sending me down the path of remembering who I was and what drove me when I was 10, 20, 30 and beyond. My modern American instincts want me to slam the door on the past as part of any reinvention for the future; the Opus Way is a healing corrective.
As much as I needed Live Your Opus a few years ago, I am deeply grateful to have Matho’s system in hand now. There are symphonies ahead for me yet!
Fortunately for me then, I stumbled into some coaching and other resources that made the transition survivable in the end. Which makes me appreciate even more the thoughtful, deeply grounded approach Janine Matho lays out here.
Among the truly stellar elements Matho brings to her ”claim your life” Opus Way is the centering of energy as the coin of the realm. She helps us understand that physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy isn’t a fabulous byproduct of this work but rather the fuel that drives it all – and that it can be self-regenerating when we’re in harmonious alignment with ourselves.
Equally powerful for me – perhaps because I have far fewer chapters ahead than behind me at now – is Matho’s prescription to fully embrace our past. “Your story matters,” she writes, sending me down the path of remembering who I was and what drove me when I was 10, 20, 30 and beyond. My modern American instincts want me to slam the door on the past as part of any reinvention for the future; the Opus Way is a healing corrective.
As much as I needed Live Your Opus a few years ago, I am deeply grateful to have Matho’s system in hand now. There are symphonies ahead for me yet!
Read
January 10, 2026Live Your Opus speaks directly to high achievers who have checked every box of success yet still feel quietly depleted. Janine Mathó offers a compassionate, grounded guide for reclaiming energy, redefining ambition, and building a life that feels aligned rather than exhausting. What makes this book stand out is its balance of neuroscience, lived experience, and practical structure, especially through the Opus 8 Energy System, which translates insight into action.
Rather than encouraging readers to abandon their success, Live Your Opus reframes it. Mathó invites readers to pause, listen, and realign their identity with who they are becoming, not who they had to be to survive. The result is a deeply affirming roadmap for intentional living that restores clarity, purpose, and vitality.
This is not a motivational quick fix, it’s a thoughtful, steady recalibration. A powerful read for leaders, creatives, and professionals at a crossroads who are ready to stop running and start composing a life that truly matters.
Rather than encouraging readers to abandon their success, Live Your Opus reframes it. Mathó invites readers to pause, listen, and realign their identity with who they are becoming, not who they had to be to survive. The result is a deeply affirming roadmap for intentional living that restores clarity, purpose, and vitality.
This is not a motivational quick fix, it’s a thoughtful, steady recalibration. A powerful read for leaders, creatives, and professionals at a crossroads who are ready to stop running and start composing a life that truly matters.
Read
February 2, 2026Review of Live Your Opus: Reclaim Your Energy, Redefine Success, and Create a Life That Truly Matters
by Janine Mathó
Live Your Opus speaks directly to a quiet but widespread experience among high achievers: the realization that external success does not automatically translate into inner fulfillment. Janine Mathó articulates this tension with clarity and compassion, addressing readers who have followed the rules, met expectations, and achieved milestones yet still feel exhausted, restless, or disconnected from what truly matters.
What sets this book apart is its refusal to offer surface-level motivation or productivity hacks. Instead, Mathó presents a grounded, thoughtful framework rooted in neuroscience, lived experience, and the Opus 8 Energy System. The result is a twelve-week journey
by Janine Mathó
Live Your Opus speaks directly to a quiet but widespread experience among high achievers: the realization that external success does not automatically translate into inner fulfillment. Janine Mathó articulates this tension with clarity and compassion, addressing readers who have followed the rules, met expectations, and achieved milestones yet still feel exhausted, restless, or disconnected from what truly matters.
What sets this book apart is its refusal to offer surface-level motivation or productivity hacks. Instead, Mathó presents a grounded, thoughtful framework rooted in neuroscience, lived experience, and the Opus 8 Energy System. The result is a twelve-week journey
Read
January 13, 2026Live Your Opus is a thoughtful and deeply relevant guide for high achievers who have done everything right yet still feel something is missing. Janine Mathó speaks directly to the quiet exhaustion and inner questioning that often follows outward success. The book’s blend of neuroscience, lived experience, and reflective guidance makes it both grounded and emotionally engaging.
What makes this book especially powerful is its focus on energy, identity, and intention rather than hustle and burnout. The Opus 8 Energy System offers readers a structured but humane way to realign their lives with what truly matters. Live Your Opus feels like an invitation to pause, listen, and consciously design a future that is both successful and deeply fulfilling.
What makes this book especially powerful is its focus on energy, identity, and intention rather than hustle and burnout. The Opus 8 Energy System offers readers a structured but humane way to realign their lives with what truly matters. Live Your Opus feels like an invitation to pause, listen, and consciously design a future that is both successful and deeply fulfilling.
Read
January 10, 2026Live Your Opus is a refreshing and deeply grounded guide for anyone who feels successful on paper yet quietly depleted in real life. Janine Mathó reframes ambition not as constant striving, but as intentional alignment between energy, purpose, and meaning. Rather than offering surface-level motivation, the book invites readers to pause, reassess what success truly costs them, and consciously design a life that feels sustainable and fulfilling. Thoughtful, practical, and resonant, Live Your Opus speaks especially to high-performing professionals and creatives who are ready to redefine achievement on their own terms.
February 3, 2026
Live Your Opus by Janine Matho feels especially supportive if you’re a high achiever who wants more clarity, intention, and momentum in life.
The book is divided into two parts. The first introduces the core concepts — the Opus Change Continuum, the Opus 8 Energy System, and the four stages of the Live Your Opus transformation process. The second part, which I’m most excited about, takes you through a 12-week transformation journey, with a weekly exercise designed to move you from autopilot to authorship.
This book is exactly what I needed at this point, and I’ve also ordered the accompanying workbook.
I received an ARC from the author.
The book is divided into two parts. The first introduces the core concepts — the Opus Change Continuum, the Opus 8 Energy System, and the four stages of the Live Your Opus transformation process. The second part, which I’m most excited about, takes you through a 12-week transformation journey, with a weekly exercise designed to move you from autopilot to authorship.
This book is exactly what I needed at this point, and I’ve also ordered the accompanying workbook.
I received an ARC from the author.
February 9, 2026
My journey has been complicated, and expectations placed on me were great. I can’t help but wish I’d had this wonderful book with me along the way. Live Your Own Opus is deeply affirming and beautifully grounding. I will absolutely be sharing it with my children and friends.
People question my judgment all the time, but the line, “You’re the world’s leading expert on yourself,” resonated with me most. This book is a powerful reminder that a joy-filled life is possible no matter what’s thrown at you — as long as you stay true to yourself.
People question my judgment all the time, but the line, “You’re the world’s leading expert on yourself,” resonated with me most. This book is a powerful reminder that a joy-filled life is possible no matter what’s thrown at you — as long as you stay true to yourself.
February 10, 2026
If you’ve ever felt like you’re going through the motions of success like checking boxes, hitting goals, but still wondering, "Is this all there is?" Live Your Opus is the wake-up call you’ve been waiting for.
Janine doesn’t just tell you to follow your dreams. She gives you a roadmap to actually do it without burning out, losing yourself, or waiting for someday. Her 12-week transformation process is practical, compassionate, and deeply human, blending science, storytelling, and soulful wisdom. This book really change my way of approaching life.
Janine doesn’t just tell you to follow your dreams. She gives you a roadmap to actually do it without burning out, losing yourself, or waiting for someday. Her 12-week transformation process is practical, compassionate, and deeply human, blending science, storytelling, and soulful wisdom. This book really change my way of approaching life.
February 5, 2026
No matter who you are, no matter if your life is anything like the author's, you will find plenty of parallels. I believe that any reader would be able to take something helpful from the advice and guidance that this book offers.
February 4, 2026
Reading Live Your Opus is like having a kind, wise friend gently nudging you forward and supporting you on your journey of self-acceptance, self-exploration, and creating the life that you want.
February 7, 2026
At this point in my life I feel that this book is very important for me! It's so encouraging to learn that there are new paths to follow. This is my inspiration for peace and harmony.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews