Feel Better, No Matter What: A 4-Week Course to Love the Life You Have Right Now

by Michael James

A 4-week course offering new tools to deal with the challenging emotions that get in the way of enjoying life. These incredible self-soothing methods, created by a highly respected life coach and inspirational speaker, really do work.Do you feel your life could be a lot more successful and fun - but it's not happening? Do your overthinking and intense emotions keep getting in the way of enjoying life? Do you struggle following advice such as "let it go", "be positive" and "live in the moment"? Do you keep falling back - despite your best efforts - into the same old relationship problems, mood swings and self-esteem issues? This book has a radical You don't need self-improvement to enjoy your life. You don't need to be better. You are ok just as you are. Step-by-step, this innovative 4-week course teaches you to free yourself from intrusive thoughts and challenging emotions, so you can step out bravely into the world, not caring so much what others think. There are no complicated theories, rituals or practices here, only simple techniques that will enable you to step away from overthinking, self-criticism and fear to live as your already empowered Real Self. Living a good life doesn't need to be complicated. Amazing things happen when you know how to be yourself and love yourself, shining bright as who you are.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Unfinished

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2021

About the author

Michael James is a life coach, philosopher and group facilitator. Teaching self-development through books, seminars and one-to-one sessions, he has created an effective method which helps people empower themselves and live their best life. Michael has studied many different approaches and his early training included Integrative Counselling, although he doesn’t describe his current work as therapy. He has written articles on self-help and spirituality which have been featured in leading publications (including The Huffington Post) and he regularly facilitates events across the country, invited by organisations as diverse as the Yes! Group, London’s iconic Mind Body Spirit Festival, HM Prison Brixton, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and some of the leading yoga studios in London (including a weekly residency at SYC). He has become particularly sought-after in his work around dealing with anxiety and emotional soothing. Having facilitated over 600 groups or workshops to-date, including the popular Processes Group which met weekly in London’s Covent Garden for over ten years – Michael continues to research new paradigms of personal development and stress management.

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

The self help market is particularly saturated at this time of year, when people sign up for new year's resolutions, and it can be difficult to know which to read and which to discard. What attracted me to Feel Better, No Matter What was the fact that it doesn't try to change you as a person. Instead of setting out tips and tricks to change yourself, it provides empowering tips and tricks to help you to accept yourself exactly as you are; after all, there is nothing wrong with you the way to are, as that was the way you were intended to be. But that doesn't mean you can't improve certain aspects of your life that are stesssing you out or bringing you down and that is what life coach Michael James reassures us of throughout this excellent book. In a time of worldwide crisis where a lot of people's mental health has understandably suffered, and is still suffering, I found this a comforting, reassuring read and that patient, caring tone continues throughout.

Addressing topics that all of us are familiar with facing everyday of our lives, I found this to be thorough and inspirational. Be yourself, because everyone else is taken! Feel Better, No Matter What: A 4-Week Course to Love the Life You Have Right Now gives you the emotional freedom you need to be yourself, talks about unconditional self-acceptance and self-confidence. Exploring the topic of relationships, freedom, self-love and show to live your best life by being your most authentic self, James touches on how to approach wellness, health and healing; dating and relationships; how to create and maintain better relationships with your loved ones and colleagues; and even how to forgive and let go of problems plaguing you as well as dealing with the judgement of others. This an accessible, indispensable and informative guide to loving who you are. As if you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else? Highly recommended.

[Anthony Sciorra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any authentic coaching programme is going to challenge you and push your buttons where they need to be pushed, and Feel Better, No Matter What is no exception. If you're expecting just another 'positive thinking' book you will be disappointed. But for the more sophisticated spiritual seeker, there is gold to be found here. I had read all the must read personal development and just found it all hard work if I'm honest. I didn't 'manifest' what I wanted and hardly met anyone who did. This book has more in common with traditional philosophy than the endless happy-clappy positive thinking of self-help. It's a brand new approach and really delivers. Not only did I feel better but I found those blocks and patterns of thinking I had been attempting to deal with for years just sorted themselves out. However, this only happened when I applied what I read - as Michael often emphasises throughout the book. Embark on this course if you're ready for the profound wisdom it contains and if you are truly ready to transform your life, you will have found a treasure in this book!

[Sarah Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I'm a fan of Michael's work and it's great to have so many of his practices and insights condensed into one volume. Takeways include: mistakes people make when applying the Law of Attraction and visualisation methods. Ways to instantly feel good from wherever you are feeling. And new insights on forgiveness and getting along with friends and family members. And how to make meditation easier.

[Randal White · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a miss for me. Never seemed to get going. A bit too "cutesy" and new age seeming. Maybe others will get more out of it, but I can't recommend it.

[Claire Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a breath of fresh air in the overcrowded self-help genre and a standout - Michael offers a genuinely new approach that revisits those classic self-help practices you may have heard before many times and then reinvents them, bringing them up to date in a really relatable and understandable way, and then adding some incredible new practices which show you how to let go and keep centred in your power. It's highly practical, with 15 techniques to deal with all aspects of everyday life. What I really enjoyed about this book is that it engaged me with some really fascinating ideas and at the same time was something I could actually put into practice.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, teaching insightful techniques that really make a profound difference in your life. It's perfect advice and easy to follow and implement into your daily routine to make a real and positive change. Feel far more optimistic and hopeful after completing the book and will keep referring back to it. Brilliant!

[Mark H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the author's other previous book but this is a different level, in my opinion. I know these words have been overused in self-help reviews but in this case it's true - this book will change your life! I've heard all that so many times and been let down- but after completing the first week of the course (there are four weeks in total so it feels like you are being coached along) I started to feel great. This was a lot down to the Tools for Emotional Overwhelm that Michael describes in his book and the whole approach seems almost to be the opposite approach to many positive thinking books out there (the book is more about acceptance than improvement, as the author explains). There is also a really simple way of explaining meditation - something that I'd never been able to do. The rest of the course is about looking for the good in where you are, a new take on forgiveness and letting go, and has the author's own take on visualisation (again very different to what I'd read before and seems to actually work). The chapters on body image and romantic relationships (an area I've really struggled with) which follow were particularly helpful. Overall, what comes across is the genuineness of the author and the feeling that this work can be trusted as it's coming from experience. I get the feeling I will be reading this again and again. One thing I would say is it's got very deep concepts and will probably appeal most to people like me who've read so many books sharing a similar philosophy, but I can imagine it would be equally practical for newcomers to this kind of book, too. The only slight criticism I would say is there are almost too many techniques in it so it can at times feel like quite an academic read like you are studying for something - but then again there's not a single of the techniques I don't find useful, so I'm not complaining. Recommended.

[Jane Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books on the subject of spirituality, philosophy and personal development. I've also studied counselling and psychology to a professional level. The problem with reading a lot of books of this type is they give you good ideas but don't tend to work when you're actually engaging in daily life. Just like the title suggests, this book is not really a book at all, but a course book, more like the kind of textbook you get when starting a diploma or degree. James clearly is well-read and has a deep understanding of his field, and that is why I got so much out of the book. It's not patronising, it doesn't repeat the same things we've all read about in the same self help books of the 'new age'. His take on the subject is great - but what I really appreciated about this book is how it is probably the first book I've found which makes self-help concepts applicable in daily life. Without being airy-fairy, it retains a sense of optimism. This book arrived at the perfect time and is not a book to be read in one sitting but more of a study course which I will take my time with.

[Caterina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book found me in a time where I really needed to hear its contents. I am forever grateful for the techniques and the information and I really can recommend it to everyone who wants to feel better, no matter what.

[K Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where nearly every other personal development book (or the world itself) is trying to tell you who to be, Michael James says 'Be More You'. He's got a whole chapter about this in this book, which is like a compilation of the best wisdom you can find anywhere else all in this one small book. He's saved you years of doing the research. This book has everything in it you'll need to live a great life. Meditation, Appreciation, Visualisation - put all the other books down and get this one. Plus, there is quite possibly the best advice in the relationship section of this book than any book I have read before. While I prefer Michael's actual workshops - this is the next best thing. A must buy!

[B Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

After studying contemporary personal development for some time, I've realised you get two choices of philosophy: The Non-duality community (those who talk about the fact that we are the awareness behind thoughts, and 'being in the now'), which can be a real bore, full of overly-intellectual folk who manage to fill volumes of dreary, mind-numbing books full of thoughts about letting go of thoughts - and not seeing the irony in this. And then you have the New Thought/Law of Attraction crowd who go the whole other way into embracing materialism, all these people trying to cash their billion pound cheque from the 'Bank of the Universe' and cashing out literally nothing. Rather than taking a hint that perhaps their approach is flawed, teachers and students of each path plod on with their chosen philosophy, hoping that one day they will either: reach enlightenment (in the first case) or manifest their dreams (in the second). Or hopefully, both.

And now there's a third choice - for those exhausted with those previous paths. And this is where Michael James steps in. The title 'Feel Better, No Matter What' is accurate in describing what the book does, and yet could hint of just another glib and ultimately vapid self help book. Don't be fooled by the title - this is a deep and profound spiritual work. It's multi-layered - and dare I say Feel Better, No Matter What is in-league with the best psychological classics out there. Michael James takes high level esoteric principles with an apparently broad knowledge of counselling psychology and makes it understandable for the everyday person. And so perhaps the title is perfect? A short yet detailed introduction (that I had to read several times to take it all in - and I am well-read on Freud, Jung, Heidegger, Gurdjeff etc) got me into the gist of where he's coming from - a New Thought and almost Taoist approach, with more than a dash of Advaita Vedānta. It's all about participating fully in our evolution through non-resistance - and that Life is to be embraced as a gymnasium which has both resistance and relaxation - he puts it better than I have here - and then we get into the course itself.

I really appreciated the course and that's a good thing, as it's about appreciation and looking for the good - but genuinely, some of the practices are incredible. Less generous authors would have written whole books and crafted rubbishy, expensive coaching downloads around one of these processes - but here we have everything in one book. You've got to do your part - you can't just read the book and expect it to work - as James reminds us several times - which is accurate, and the practices are appealing enough to follow through with, at least I have found that. This is the problem with those of us with a bookshelf packed with personal development books - we spend more time reading than doing the work.

So if you want to start living life at its best, get this book. It's a must buy for everyone who wants to finally 'get there' in terms of non-duality or enlightenment - and live in alignment with the Law of Attraction and put the (Greatest) Secret into practice. And even if you feel that it's not for you, you will find a one liner that will be worth it - and oh, it's got an arty, intelligent looking cover that will look chic on the coffee table.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited when I discovered that Michael has a new book out! Michael was my first coach and spiritual teacher. Now I tend to follow my own heart and that's what his work encouraged me to do - true self-empowerment rather than always following other people's views - but I still use his techniques every day and so do my friends and family. A bit of background - I attended Michael's groups in London every week - such memories! Reading this book, as he recounts anecdotes from the group, brings back how fortunate I was to be there in person in the early days especially before everything went mostly online in these times we are living with - and also when Michael was teaching to such small groups of people. I certainly remember the woman who was very unhappy the first time at the group, totally transforming her body image and how inspiring that was (which he mentions in the 'Looking and feeling your best self' part of the book). Plus, the woman who wrote 150 things she appreciated daily and how it brought so much success into her life, I knew her. I also took part in his Finding Love workshop at a yoga centre in North London - which he mentions in the dating and relationships section - and can vouch for the authenticity of this chapter as I know two people who met their 'soulmate' through applying Michael's work.

Back in the day, what began as his Law of Attraction groups evolved into something more, and that's the uniqueness of his work - it manages to bridge non-duality with Law of Attraction - it truly is the heart of most spiritual paths you may have read about, like the 'best of' the wisdom out there. I do think he's going to be seen as one of the leading teachers - his is a mature spiritual approach that certainly helps those looking for the secret to manifest what they want (in a way arguably better than anything out there) but also helps you deal with the challenges of life that we all go through, no matter how much we read we have to be positive all the time. I remember all these people coming to the group who were scared of their negative thinking after what they had read in confusing books on the subject - Michael's teachings really got people to relax and see things from a totally different way and on their path to success. He also influenced a lot of other people to go onto teach - I remember seeing a particular personal development teacher at his groups all the time taking notes. Like another reviewer said, this is first and foremost a coursebook and something to study in detail. There's a gem of wisdom in every paragraph - there's humour, too - and it's a book to set aside a lot of time for. It will totally benefit your life.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd describe this book as self-help for smart people. If, like me, you were reading all those books about manifesting and wondering if you'd missed what the secret was or what you were doing wrong - get this book, now. If you're not into Law of Attraction and just want to feel good and sort out all your issues about dating, family relationships, feeling confident and being successful and everything else about your life - get this book, now. I don't think this book mentions the words Law of Attraction once, but it's very much a Law of Attraction guide - and an extraordinary one at that. For those that don't know him, Michael James has been the go to person about the Law of Attraction and Creating your Reality in the UK for the last decade - I once went to one of his Mind Body Spirit Festival talks - but like those teachers from the past, such as another favourite of mine Neville Goddard, he has stayed under the radar. In many ways (and like Neville) he's got that old school vibe and his work resonates with traditional spiritual literature more than it does these modern guides. So, to the book itself: There's a short introduction that explains his philosophy and then we're straight into the four week course. The titles of each week are Beginning, Freedom, Confidence and Self-Love and Be More You. the first week is about meditation, the second is about freedom from overthinking, the third about loving yourself and the fourth is about being unapologetically you out in the world. Each section has three or four practices - some of which I was familiar with but most I weren't and seem new. Since I attended his talk he seems to have added some more practices. The Starboard is one of my favourites (kind of a new way to do vision boards), and I've already created one, plus the Freedom process which has transformed blocks I'd been working on (and getting nowhere) for some time. I can do that in a just a few minutes if I'm ever feeling stuck in my thoughts. The best part of the book is the last part which are essays about different areas of life along with examples of applying the techniques you've just learned. Although I said it's about Law of Attraction it doesn't really mention attracting anything or changing your life at all - it's more about acceptance - it's hard to explain without reading it!I wish this guy did more videos but for now this book will do. Can you call a modern book a masterpiece? I'm not sure - but I predict that's how Feel Better, No Matter What is going to be seen years from now.

[Steve Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute triumph. Firstly I want to say that I am not usually into personal development at all, there's a lot of pretenders and fakes out there. And so I found Feel Better, No Matter What through a recommendation from a friend. It's a reference book filled with practical and quick techniques to help you find your empowerment and the back of the book says it all:"You don't need self-improvement to enjoy your life." Those on the self-help merry-go-round of constant self-enquiry and doing workshops may disagree - but I'd say to them - how's it working for you? Where's your soulmate, abundance, peace of mind - where's the 'stuff' you want or are you still waiting for it to manifest? If that's you, I'd suggest you indulge in a bit of space clearing by binning those books that aren't working, and take a look at this one.

This book isn't just the same old techniques you've read about. It's brand new techniques you won't have come across before. One of them - the Retrospective Process - is worth buying the book for alone. It's a totally new way of looking at visualization that gets you into the feeling place, without all that trying so hard. It gets you to go beyond and then look back, hence the title, you see your desires 'in retrospective'. Another new one is the Freedom Process, which is a powerful way to accept the moment. And then there's the Relationship Trigger, a practice which will be very welcome for those who have found relationships and dating a total nightmare (and who hasn't). I would say like another reviewer said that having so many intense practices can get a bit full-on, and perhaps should have been spread into different books - the practices come at you at such a rapid rate that you certainly need to pause between chapters (but to be fair, the book does recommend you study it over the four weeks suggested in the title).

I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book for total beginners but then again, perhaps it's the best place to start? If it's a bit too advanced for some people, I'd recommend they first read some basic metaphysics so this book doesn't go over their head and then, once they have - I'd implore them to follow the tools and techniques here and love their life now rather than complaining and waiting forever for it to improve! James is the nearest thing we have to a modern-day Neville Goddard - his teachings are just as profound but way more practical.

[Steve Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best personal development book I've read in years.

Everyone on the 'mind body spirit' scene in London in the mid-2010's knew about Michael James's work. For many that was through his Law of Attraction groups, which were legendary, with people packed across the carpeted floor of the basement room in the West End, eager to hear Michael's message of the week. You didn't just have spiritual types, you had everyone. And being in the middle of Soho you got some real characters from the local scene dropping in. In many ways Michael was one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the time - and yet he never got into the mainstream. Back then I felt he could have ascended Anthony Robbins-style to the big arenas if he'd wanted to, yet Michael stayed humble - a few people tried to copy his format, but it was never the same - mostly because it didn't have the star ingredient: Michael James himself.

And so here we have his teaching now being launched into the mainstream. I was so looking forward to this book... And wow! For those like me who loved the groups, this is next level. His work has evolved. His teaching was always so down to earth and also more than a little metaphysical - just like the book. It's a detailed plan - and gives all the secrets you need to open up to your own inner teacher. Page after page of 'aha' moments and all those questions you had about the Law of Attraction are answered here. Feel Better, No Matter What is the perfect book for this time of year and especially with all the things going in in the world. Buy it - it's the only one you will need.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit of this book! The best self help book out there!!! Instead of being filled with information on how to change yourself and a giant list of things you need to accomplish in order to feel happy or good about where you are, this book tosses all of that out the window and teaches you how to be okay with yourself, how accepting yourself and loving your Real Self is the only way. This book has ACTUAL practical exercises you can do from bed, in your journal, and basically anywhere that you can do daily and weekly or even in times of intrusive thoughts, anger, and depression, real exercises for in the moment solutions. You will feel better about yourself and your life after reading this book. I recommend for anyone wanting to love themselves better, to get out of a slump or rough patch, or to reach inner peace. This would also be a great book to give a friend or family member who is going through something or is lacking self confidence.

[Dinara Zhangaziyeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than anything, we want to feel happy. all our dreams and goals are just for this. we believe that this dream initiates these thoughts of joy.

what if we can feel it now? and in this state everything manifests itself easier and faster?

Michael James talks about this and more in his book. Quote: "The only problem with many people is their overthinking." I practiced everything from the series of help yourself, participated in many trainings.

but what he gives in this book is what EVERYONE who wants, like me, to practice knowledge in it and feel euphoria from the state here and now needs. I can write not only a review about a book, I cannot write the whole book about this book, I am so delighted with it. but believe me. if you want to be happy, you don't need other books anymore

[Sharon Naylor Toris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admirable, with plenty of track for guidance and satisfying self-soothing. If you're okay with skimming past the small pile of cliches and over-drummed self help verbiage that bleeds in now and then, you'll find plenty to like here. It's a plan, and people who like to follow plans will like it. It has some fresh gems; many of them, actually. The author does a good job of making this book relatable and connecting with readers. It's a solid read. Plenty to feel energized.

[Kedijik · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has a whole bunch of faulty assumptions, mostly around the idea of an unchanging, perfect as you were born 'real self'. This is just bullshit. It also has some conflicting messages when it comes to change and evolution and there is the generic romanticising of childhood as if we could just never grow, we would be 'living our best lives'. It is exhausting to pick up the pieces of decent advice among all this metaphysical truthiness.

[Christina Chong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the only self-help book you will ever need. It was so soothing to read, and very refreshing to have an author who doesn’t try to get you to change but instead helps you to see everything is exactly how it’s supposed to be. You have to do the work though, and Michael’s book sets you up with all the tools you’ll need. I particularly like the Icon Switch exercise. Can’t recommend highly enough.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book took such a long time to get going.
I really didn't enjoy this.

I didn't find it helpful or even original.
I feel like i'd heard it all before. It was also really difficult to follow.
There are much better books out there!!

[Susie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t think this book taught me anything I didn’t already know. There was lots of positivity but same old saying etc, that just made it a bit meh for me.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

[Varma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Great book with practical techniques. Michael James knows coming from experience is testemant of this book.it is like a university practical follow through book

[Lavins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I've really enjoyed this book and all the techniques presented in it. I have used them many times and they've really helped me when i most needed it.