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Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life
A practical guide to finding your purpose.
"Kate's writing is immensely practical. Rich with compassion and insight from her many years as a therapist, her books always offer life-enhancing tools that may be applied right away. Transformational wisdom at its best!" —David Michie, author , The Dalai Lama's Cat
Many of us experience feelings of being stuck in the wrong life and disconnected from our true selves. Australian mindfulness expert and bestselling author Kate James has coached thousands of clients in similar situations. Now, Kate introduces us to a range of techniques, based on her knowledge of mindfulness, positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), creativity, and neuropsychology, that will help us clarify our goals, realize our purpose and connect more fully with the wonder of life.
Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life will help you - This is the perfect companion for negotiating transformation in an unsettled age.
"Kate's writing is immensely practical. Rich with compassion and insight from her many years as a therapist, her books always offer life-enhancing tools that may be applied right away. Transformational wisdom at its best!" —David Michie, author , The Dalai Lama's Cat
Many of us experience feelings of being stuck in the wrong life and disconnected from our true selves. Australian mindfulness expert and bestselling author Kate James has coached thousands of clients in similar situations. Now, Kate introduces us to a range of techniques, based on her knowledge of mindfulness, positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), creativity, and neuropsychology, that will help us clarify our goals, realize our purpose and connect more fully with the wonder of life.
Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life will help you - This is the perfect companion for negotiating transformation in an unsettled age.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2021
28 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Kate James
8 books17 followersKate James is a coach and mindfulness teacher who draws on research from positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and self-compassion in her work with clients. She shares practical tips about how these philosophies can be used in everyday life to build self-belief, overcome imposter syndrome and clarify career and life direction.
Her clients are introverts, highly sensitive persons and creatives who work in leadership roles or want to start their own business.
Kate is the creator of The Confidence Course, a program that teaches women how to find their way to greater clarity, confidence and calm.
Listen to Kate's meditations for free: https://insighttimer.com/katejames
Follow Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/total_balance/
Her clients are introverts, highly sensitive persons and creatives who work in leadership roles or want to start their own business.
Kate is the creator of The Confidence Course, a program that teaches women how to find their way to greater clarity, confidence and calm.
Listen to Kate's meditations for free: https://insighttimer.com/katejames
Follow Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/total_balance/
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 14, 2021
A lot of the information in this book I'm already familiar with, but it honestly didn't hurt to hear it again. It also served as fantastic confirmation that I'm finally on the right path.
Kate James is a psychologist and mindfulness coach and she brings her knowledge and personal experiences to this book to help you re-shape your thoughts in order to re-shape your life. There's a spiritual side to it - with its strong focus on meditation and mindfulness - but it also offers practical methods suggested by other respected experts. The general idea: if you can recognise negative thoughts and where they come from, you can learn to manipulate them so that they have a positive influence on all aspects of your life.
I really enjoyed the multi-faceted approach. This book provides multiple theories and exercises, so that even if some don't resonate there will still be something that does. Personally, I found Internal Family Systems (IFS) to be a little too wacky for me, but I really loved the information on 'fixed mindset' vs 'growth mindset'. There were a lot of things that resonated, and I enjoyed learning about them; and about myself through thinking about them.
I also particularly enjoyed doing the 'Strengths' test HERE and comparing results with my family and friends. If you decide to take it, please feel free to share your results and/or thoughts!
The 'workbook' format bothered me a little as I'm someone who likes to read uninterrupted, but I can definitely see the benefit to it. It does provide lines in the book so that you can jot down your answers and thoughts but it also recommends writing things down in a journal and I personally think that would be more beneficial. This is a book you should take your time with if you want to get the most out of it. Particularly Part One, which covers Connecting With Your True Self. You picked it up for a reason, right? So take your time and maximise the benefits.
I loved the practical element of it, and how there are plenty of questions you can challenge yourself with. A lot of it comes back to meditation, as this helps still the mind and allows you to connect deeper with your thoughts, but I think even if you're not a fan of meditation you can still get a lot out of just taking the time to think about your answers to the questions proposed. The author has done all the leg work in gathering information and strategies from notable experts - all we have to do is apply what works best.
This would be a great starting point for someone wanting to gain a better understanding of how our thoughts shape our lives. It's fairly easy to digest and the exercises are quite practical. At the same time, for those of us to whom this information is familiar, I believe it's still worthwhile having it reiterated. I believe working through the exercises properly will help weed out any lingering difficulties and bring more to the surface that we can work on. I may be familiar with the concept of questioning my thoughts but I'm certainly no expert at it, so it was helpful to go through the processes here and I'll likely go back to it repeatedly.
My advice? Start the year right by treating yourself to a beautiful, new, blank journal, get a copy of this book, and enjoy the process of getting to know yourself and your dreams a little better.
Releasing 27th Jan 2021. With thanks to Macmillan for my ARC
Kate James is a psychologist and mindfulness coach and she brings her knowledge and personal experiences to this book to help you re-shape your thoughts in order to re-shape your life. There's a spiritual side to it - with its strong focus on meditation and mindfulness - but it also offers practical methods suggested by other respected experts. The general idea: if you can recognise negative thoughts and where they come from, you can learn to manipulate them so that they have a positive influence on all aspects of your life.
I really enjoyed the multi-faceted approach. This book provides multiple theories and exercises, so that even if some don't resonate there will still be something that does. Personally, I found Internal Family Systems (IFS) to be a little too wacky for me, but I really loved the information on 'fixed mindset' vs 'growth mindset'. There were a lot of things that resonated, and I enjoyed learning about them; and about myself through thinking about them.
I also particularly enjoyed doing the 'Strengths' test HERE and comparing results with my family and friends. If you decide to take it, please feel free to share your results and/or thoughts!
The 'workbook' format bothered me a little as I'm someone who likes to read uninterrupted, but I can definitely see the benefit to it. It does provide lines in the book so that you can jot down your answers and thoughts but it also recommends writing things down in a journal and I personally think that would be more beneficial. This is a book you should take your time with if you want to get the most out of it. Particularly Part One, which covers Connecting With Your True Self. You picked it up for a reason, right? So take your time and maximise the benefits.
I loved the practical element of it, and how there are plenty of questions you can challenge yourself with. A lot of it comes back to meditation, as this helps still the mind and allows you to connect deeper with your thoughts, but I think even if you're not a fan of meditation you can still get a lot out of just taking the time to think about your answers to the questions proposed. The author has done all the leg work in gathering information and strategies from notable experts - all we have to do is apply what works best.
This would be a great starting point for someone wanting to gain a better understanding of how our thoughts shape our lives. It's fairly easy to digest and the exercises are quite practical. At the same time, for those of us to whom this information is familiar, I believe it's still worthwhile having it reiterated. I believe working through the exercises properly will help weed out any lingering difficulties and bring more to the surface that we can work on. I may be familiar with the concept of questioning my thoughts but I'm certainly no expert at it, so it was helpful to go through the processes here and I'll likely go back to it repeatedly.
My advice? Start the year right by treating yourself to a beautiful, new, blank journal, get a copy of this book, and enjoy the process of getting to know yourself and your dreams a little better.
Releasing 27th Jan 2021. With thanks to Macmillan for my ARC
December 6, 2022
Definitely worth the read
August 26, 2021
I loved the gentle tone of this book. Kate has a calming style and gives clear and concise ways to change your life. Definitely a book I will refer back to for gentle reminders.
March 17, 2024
I’ve been reading this book as a therapy book while travelling around Australia. Thank you so much to Kate James for this wonderful book. It really helps! 🩵
February 14, 2021
A book to read twice / once to get the overall picture and to highlight the sections you want to work or or to reinforce( so many highlights). Then to read again and do the work.
April 8, 2021
This fabulous book has helped me reset my mind and my way of thinking. I have really enjoyed the mindfulness activities and challenges and the workbook format throughout the book where I can write them down so I can reflect on them both now and later.
It's so easy to fall in to the trap of negative thinking and this book helps to change that negative thinking and helps you realise your strengths and values. It is abundant with practical tips and techniques that make you think about your how you are thinking/feeling. It really helps to bring your thoughts it to perspective, realise your life purpose and reconnect with your true self.
Kate provides us with her profound knowledge on everything she has learned about how to change your life and has been using these philosophies and exercises herself and with clients for nineteen years as a mindfulness expert.
A must read if you feel like you have disconnected from your true inner self.
Thank you to @macmillanaus for my #gifted copy.
It's so easy to fall in to the trap of negative thinking and this book helps to change that negative thinking and helps you realise your strengths and values. It is abundant with practical tips and techniques that make you think about your how you are thinking/feeling. It really helps to bring your thoughts it to perspective, realise your life purpose and reconnect with your true self.
Kate provides us with her profound knowledge on everything she has learned about how to change your life and has been using these philosophies and exercises herself and with clients for nineteen years as a mindfulness expert.
A must read if you feel like you have disconnected from your true inner self.
Thank you to @macmillanaus for my #gifted copy.
January 23, 2021
‘... when you change the relationship you have with yourself, you discover that there’s a whole different way of living in this world.’
January, more often than not, starts with a set of goals or intentions for people. As we embark on a new year, and after the lessons of last year, I highly recommend reading Kate’s book as a good place to start in making changes for the better in your life. There are so many books, videos and apps in the area of self help, but this little gem of a book really hit the spot for me.
It became clear very early that Kate (and this is the first book of hers I have read) really has an amazing approach to life and a wealth of experiences that allow her to share some wise and profound insights whilst offering advice to her readers. This will certainly be a book that I go back to time and again as the practical questions and recommendations assist in providing that sense of balance and calm that we all seek.
‘In many ways, the path to a meaningful life is uncomplicated. It’s about recognising that the short amount of time we get to spend on this earth is a blessing. And we need to make as much of it as we can.’
Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life has many practical ideas to not only assist you in finding a purpose but transform the way your overactive mind operates - to appreciate why it is you think certain thoughts and those that may in fact hinder a transformation to a happier way of being. I very much enjoyed the poignant stories from both Kate herself and her clients. Their honesty was clear and meaningful, making the messages real and accessible. This is all supported with well researched data and offerings for further study into some of the concepts. There is also a ‘workbook’ of sorts with questions to contemplate and reflect upon at the end of chapters, that allows the reader to put into practice or consider how one could effectively initiate some of the recommendations.
‘It involves momentarily quieting your discursive thinking and putting aside your preference for things to be any other way than what they are. With this open and accepting mind state, we often find that it’s actually not that difficult to feel a greater sense of acceptance of our thoughts, our feelings and our lives.’
This is one of the best books of this genre that I have read. For many of the chapters I felt that Kate was speaking to me personally and I furiously highlighted certain passages. We are all on a path and to make it more enjoyable this book certainly offers refreshingly and positive ways to really enjoy your individual journey. At a time when we may be feeling more disconnected than connected, Kate offers purposeful advice to take practical steps to lead a better life.
‘Maybe the most significant lesson was the importance of finding beauty in everyday, ordinary things. We often work on our personal development goals thinking there’ll be an endpoint where we have it all figured out and where life will be rosy and happy. After losing Reneé, I realised that genuine contentment is learning to be right here - to embrace this flawed and imperfect and very brief life and to find a way to love every part of it. Something Reneé and I had in common was a desire to make every day beautiful, regardless of our external circumstances.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
January, more often than not, starts with a set of goals or intentions for people. As we embark on a new year, and after the lessons of last year, I highly recommend reading Kate’s book as a good place to start in making changes for the better in your life. There are so many books, videos and apps in the area of self help, but this little gem of a book really hit the spot for me.
It became clear very early that Kate (and this is the first book of hers I have read) really has an amazing approach to life and a wealth of experiences that allow her to share some wise and profound insights whilst offering advice to her readers. This will certainly be a book that I go back to time and again as the practical questions and recommendations assist in providing that sense of balance and calm that we all seek.
‘In many ways, the path to a meaningful life is uncomplicated. It’s about recognising that the short amount of time we get to spend on this earth is a blessing. And we need to make as much of it as we can.’
Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life has many practical ideas to not only assist you in finding a purpose but transform the way your overactive mind operates - to appreciate why it is you think certain thoughts and those that may in fact hinder a transformation to a happier way of being. I very much enjoyed the poignant stories from both Kate herself and her clients. Their honesty was clear and meaningful, making the messages real and accessible. This is all supported with well researched data and offerings for further study into some of the concepts. There is also a ‘workbook’ of sorts with questions to contemplate and reflect upon at the end of chapters, that allows the reader to put into practice or consider how one could effectively initiate some of the recommendations.
‘It involves momentarily quieting your discursive thinking and putting aside your preference for things to be any other way than what they are. With this open and accepting mind state, we often find that it’s actually not that difficult to feel a greater sense of acceptance of our thoughts, our feelings and our lives.’
This is one of the best books of this genre that I have read. For many of the chapters I felt that Kate was speaking to me personally and I furiously highlighted certain passages. We are all on a path and to make it more enjoyable this book certainly offers refreshingly and positive ways to really enjoy your individual journey. At a time when we may be feeling more disconnected than connected, Kate offers purposeful advice to take practical steps to lead a better life.
‘Maybe the most significant lesson was the importance of finding beauty in everyday, ordinary things. We often work on our personal development goals thinking there’ll be an endpoint where we have it all figured out and where life will be rosy and happy. After losing Reneé, I realised that genuine contentment is learning to be right here - to embrace this flawed and imperfect and very brief life and to find a way to love every part of it. Something Reneé and I had in common was a desire to make every day beautiful, regardless of our external circumstances.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
December 2, 2022
This is the kind of book one needs to purchase as it has so many practical and useful tips that would be ideal to come back to at different times, as required. Not all of the information is new to those that have read motivational/self help books before, but it is simply presented and user friendly and discusses a breadth of topics/ideas. At its simplest, it is a great reminder that there are different ways to look at things but it is also a toolkit for life, empowering readers with knowledge and choices that they might not be able to envisage on their own. This book was thoroughly worth my time.
July 6, 2023
Exceptional and exactly what I needed. I've just read the book on holiday and taken the time to do the exercises and meditate on the questions I struggled to work through. I've done a lot of reading/thinking/journalling in a short period of time and I feel huge shifts in my thinking and self esteem already. I realise that not everyone has this luxury. I feel incredibly fortunate that this book became available to me whilst I was away, and I was able to give it my full attention. I've plotted out some challenging projects for the year ahead and diarised times to check in with the journalling I have done. Highly recommended read if you can channel the time to do the exercises.
March 15, 2021
I feel like this book would be really good as a companion book when you first go to see a therapist/counsellor cos it touches on a lot of topics/issues that you can delve into deeper with a professional.
I liked how the book used loads of examples and there are lil exercises at the end of each chapter to put what you’re learning about into action.
There’s also a big focus on meditation so if that’s not your jam, this might not be the best book for you.
This book probs would’ve been a lot more helpful if I approached it as a “one chapter a week” read.
I liked how the book used loads of examples and there are lil exercises at the end of each chapter to put what you’re learning about into action.
There’s also a big focus on meditation so if that’s not your jam, this might not be the best book for you.
This book probs would’ve been a lot more helpful if I approached it as a “one chapter a week” read.
April 14, 2021
This is one of the best ‘self-help’ books I have read in some time. It is full of practical advise across a range of different therapy approaches. There are a lot of exercises included for self reflection and self development, which are well presented and explained.
Read
June 18, 2022I borrowed this from the library in audio, and I think it is just the wrong format. I just could not get into it, but I am marking it off here, so I know what happened, if I ever come back to it for some reason and can’t remember if I read it or not.
Did not get into it
Did not get into it
October 2, 2022
A great balance of theory, stories, powerful quotes and practical exercises. I love reading with a pen in hand to write notes in the margins. This book encourages you to write in it!! Thanks Kate for that. Reading this book is second to having a coaching session with Kate. Enjoy
April 14, 2021
Read as audiobook. Want to get a physical copy as there were a lot of great journaling prompts!
June 14, 2021
A book to stop dreaming and live a life, now.
August 15, 2021
It was ok, some good self reflection activities to do. I think perhaps people more in need of its guidance would get more out of it. A nice quick read too.
August 4, 2022
Very useful.
December 6, 2023
Couldn’t tell you a single thing about this book. About as interesting as a bucket of mud
May 31, 2025
One of the best self-help books I have read in a long time. I have stopped and started and wish I had read it sooner. Definitely a good read with practical guides to help.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews