You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life – Practical Positive Psychology for Joyful Living

by Alexandra Stoddard

With her 25th book, lifestyle philosopher Alexandra Stoddard offers simple steps for taking charge of your life—your way. In brief essays filled with useful examples and optimism, she reveals 50 choices you can make to live joyfully in pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful.  As a pioneering writer and lecturer on personal happiness for the past twenty years, Alexandra has inspired millions to break the "rules" and pursue fulfillment. Now, as scientists have begun to discover the benefits of living a happy life, Alexandra provides practical ways to live happily every day. She puts us in charge of our choices, reminding us that we always have a choice about what we think, feel, and do. When we are true to ourselves, we can fly above stress and conflict, contented and confident that we are the right path.
Featuring essays that help us trust ourselves ("Intuition is your guiding light"), stay steady in a storm ("Your choices count most in a crisis"), embrace the new ("Accept opportunity"), address unfinished business ("Have as few regrets as possible"), surround ourselves with delights ("Redefine what is beautiful"), and remember to have fun ("Cheap thrills are thrilling"). Every choice you make is an opportunity to delight in life.  You Are Your Choices  offers insight and companionship each step of the way.

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

208 pages, Hardcover

First published December 26, 2006

About the author

ALEXANDRA STODDARD is a philosopher of contemporary living and author of many best selling books, including the classic Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life, Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life, Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life, and You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life. Alexandra's newest book Happiness For Two: 75 Secrets for Finding More Joy Together, published in January 2008, is now in its second printing.

Reviews

[Brita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitley has its great lines, and even chapters, but I find the author incredibly annoying and perhaps a bit vain. Trying to ignore that and really squeeze the good stuff out of her books gets tiresome and makes them almost not worth the read. Almost! But I have a rule that if I read a book and can get one good quote to copy in my journal, or something that really makes me stop and think, or teaches me something new, then the book is worth it. And this book is packed full of all that good stuff. I only wish the author would leave out her personal anecdotes as she seems to live a much "fancier" (not sure if thats the word I'm looking for, but it will do) life than most people that stop in a bookstore and pick up her books.

[Kaitlyn Ratterman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bought this year's ago while sorting books to donate I realized I hadn't finished it. I hate not finishing books so before donating it, I decided to finish it. What. A. Chore. Literally one of the most pretentious books I have ever read. Rather than any sound advice or perspective about choices, it serves of more a celebratory pat on the back to herself for marrying Peter, acquiring things, and traveling. Really just a testament to money buying happiness. I find it ironic how much she references Buddhism and weaves it into the book while discussing accumulating beautiful things and buying luxuries to alleviate anxiety and stress. This book should be called, "Throwing money at trivial problems."

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I love Alexandra Stoddard's decorating books, her philosophy of recognizing the importance of living in and appreciating the present, cultivating beauty and elevating the mundane, in this and another of her more current books, she expresses that she believes that this is the purpose of life. Being happy and making ourselves happy, she believes, is life's ultimate purpose. I can't agree and admit to only perusing this book, because that philosophy lies at the root of everything this book is about. So...meh. It's another reason to love libraries. Just RETURN.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand she has good points, but I found it very hard to relate to. I definitely could not afford the luxuries she has been privileged to so I feel her level of "living the good life" is far higher than mine.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to keep as a reference book and re-read different chapters to remind yourself that you, yourself, help determine the choices you get to choose from. I find it very inspiring, and opens your mind. Of course not everything will apply to you (it depends at what stage of life you are at), but I hope you find this book a keeper!!

[Aynur Aslanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Always know that you have access to the wisdom of the universe inside you, available whenever you tap into this deep resource. You are pure potential and are endowed with the ability to handle situations well. The good life is boundless in opportunities, in excitement, fun, pleasure, and excellence. When you commit yourself to living on this right path, the universe and its fundamental laws will support and uplift you.

You are truly on your way. Choice by choice, you will be directing all your energies toward an extraordinarily rich and meaningful life. Choose to live the good life with your whole heart. Wisdom will support you every step of the way."

[Bonita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

inspiring, uplifting and feel good book..

[S. Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved Alexandra Stoddard since I was in college, maybe even high school....

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very inspirational!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

More excellent tips from a gracious woman of style.

[Nancy Fornataro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved all her books, we ARE our choices, after all. Highly recommend this book.

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her earlier interior decorating books had some sound principles, but over the years there has been a repetition of belief systems, philosophies, choices....she needs to reset before she writes again. I know her favorite colors, her favorite artist and her former employer's belief systems....over and over again.

[Tammy Durm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing new. I was ready for it to be over before I hit the halfway mark but I finished it anyway. I really hate to not finish books. The best parts were the quotes from other people.

[Jane Dugger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very enjoyable but I hated the green ink for some of the text. (I must be getting old.)

[Joyceline MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tricky!. I liked this one but there are lots of references and quotes.

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I shouldn't mark this book as read, I didn't read much of it. Later, perhaps I will make a new category called... books I later realized that I didn't really want to read. It was okay, but not what I hoped for. I felt like the little tidbits of wisdom where similar to something I might find in Good Housekeeping magazine or some other popular magazine. For this type of self improvement style of book, I would prefer Sarah Ban Breathnach anyday. Her writing is just more enriching and inspiring.

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book. In fifty digestible pieces of advice, Alexandra Stoddard gives life lessons to slow down, accept things as they are and other such advice. It also contains quotes by famous and not so famous people. For instance, she has some quotes by her family and friends, but also some quotes by Aristotle, Seneca, and others.

It is very inspiring, but not really a book that I would buy, so I am somewhat glad that I got it from the Library.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each chapter consists of ways to make your life better. It's very repetitive, but has some great quotes such s:
pg. 164 Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
and
"Around the corner of every moment is the fascination of the unknown." by Donald Twining pg. 161

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

feel-good book. whenever i need to be reminded about how my choices affect my happiness, i pick it up and read a few pages. great little rules by which to try and live your life. the author go on a little about herself and her other books sometimes, but i didn't mind it too much.

[Chazzle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your are Your Choices, by Alexandra Stoddard - 3 stars; good springboard for journaling; a series of 50 short essays; I really liked the book, but it’s not a page turner, nor is it meant to be.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read that packs a punch. It's a great wakeup call to what you can do with your life.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not properly titled. The book is more about how to the live a good life. Very, very short chapters. Uplifting but nothing new.

[Lisa]

Life

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://allthingsjennifer.wordpress.co...

[Laura Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a stinker, heard it all before.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I found it was geared toward an older audience.