Attitude Reconstruction by Jude Bijou - Book review

Attitude Reconstruction

A Blueprint for Building a Better Life

By: Jude Bijou, M.A., M.F.T.

Published: November 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, 315 pages
ISBN-10: 0983528772
ISBN-13: 978-0983528777
Publisher: Riviera Press







"Our poor attitudes and rocky relationships are caused by unexpressed anger and fear", writes licensed marriage and family therapist, educator, and student of Eastern philosophy, Jude Bijou, in her inspirational and life transforming book Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life. The author describes how as children we expressed our emotions freely, but as we grew to adults we were told expressing emotions was inappropriate and unacceptable. Jude Bijou provides evidence that identifying and expressing our emotions is crucial to overcoming challenges, changing our behavior, and attaining happiness in life.

Jude Bijou understands that emotions are part of our nature as human beings, and that attempting to stifle them only leads to deep seated behavioral problems. As a result, the author provides an alternative approach to overcoming life's challenges and changes in our behavior, through identifying our emotions and expressing them in positive and natural ways. Jude Bijou points out that the emotions of sadness, anger, and fear should be expressed and released for our own emotional and physical well being. To address these emotions, and to begin the process of overcoming problems, behavioral transformation, and attaining happiness, the author shares her concept of Attitude Reconstruction.

Jude Bijou (photo left) recognizes that societal and parental pressure have taught people to ignore and hide their emotions. She points out that expressing emotions is often considered inappropriate, and is discouraged despite the the damage it does to a person's life and behavior. The author's principle of Attitude Reconstruction is a complete process for overcoming and working past emotional barriers and obstacles.

Jude Bijou offers evidence that people already possess the essential tools to achieve an emotional breakthrough, and offers the techniques and practices for refitting your emotions and rewiring your thought process. The Attitude Reconstruction tool kit is comprised of the following five tools:

* Emotions: Expressing them physically and constructively in a safe place
* Thoughts: Replacing destructive thoughts with new truths
* Intuition: Utilizing the wisdom in your own heart
* Speech: Changing your choice of words and tone of voice
* Actions: Change old behaviors to new one in small and steady steps

For me, the power of the book is how Jude Bijou combines a very strong theoretical framework for behavioral change, with the hands on tools and practices to make that transformation a permanent one. The author shares the latest findings and practices in psychology, therapy, and conflict resolution to provide background and real world experience and results for her concepts. The key idea that understanding and expressing our emotions constructively is a powerful principle that liberates people's thoughts and mode of behavior. The idea that it is a good idea to express emotions freely and constructively, and in the right place and time, gives people the freedom to overcome their emotional blockades.

Jude Bijou presents the practical tools for addressing each emotional challenge, and to replace and transform the debilitating sadness, anger and fear onto positive and life changing emotions. The book is structured so the reader can navigate the chapters and problem solutions in any order, providing a free flowing system for understanding these groundbreaking principles.

I highly recommend the very hands on and wisdom filled book Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life by Jude Bijou, to anyone seeking a real world based and well grounded book for overcoming even the most daunting and persistent emotional barriers. This book will not only liberate your emotions, but transform the way you think, act, and behave when confronted by any emotional challenges, or personal and career setbacks.