My Favourite Stress Management Books
As I developed Feeling Fitness, two books influenced me. They have completely different approaches and bring opposing insights which helped me begin to understand what seemed be happening emotionally for me. These books were the Chimp Paradox and Letting Go the pathway to surrender. So which one is right for you? Here I will give you a quick summary of each, I recommend you start with the one you naturally feel attracted to.
Summary of the Chimp Paradox (Dr. Steve Peters)
Concept: The book introduces the concept of the "chimp brain" as a metaphor for the emotional, irrational, and impulsive part of the brain. It explores the idea of managing this inner "chimp" to gain control over emotions and behaviors.
Approach: The book uses a model that divides the mind into three parts: the human, the chimp, and the computer. It focuses on understanding how these parts function and interact, aiming to help individuals manage their emotions and thoughts better.
Techniques: It offers techniques and strategies to recognize and manage the chimp brain, such as the use of logical and rational thinking to control emotional responses, understanding triggers, and managing automatic emotional responses. In my opinion this book is most useful for understanding how to parent and husband your inner self.
Summary of "Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender (Dr. David R. Hawkins)
Concept: This book emphasizes the concept of surrendering to emotions rather than controlling or managing them actively. It proposes that letting go of resistance to emotions can lead to spiritual growth and freedom.
Approach: Dr. Hawkins focuses on the concept of emotional release through surrendering to feelings without judgment. He suggests that embracing emotions without resistance or attachment leads to healing and personal transformation.
Techniques: The book offers guidance on how to surrender to emotions, using meditation, mindfulness, and practices of letting go to reach higher states of consciousness and achieve inner peace. In my opinion this book is most useful for presenting an uncommon model of embodied emotional containment which I outline in more detail in my blog post why does it work. This is great for seeing new way to manage emotional well being.
Comparison
"The Chimp Paradox" by Dr. Steve Peters and "Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender" by Dr. David R. Hawkins offer distinct approaches to understanding and managing emotions and thoughts. As I implied earlier, they differ significantly in their perspectives and methodologies.
While both books address emotions and offer strategies for managing them, they differ in their fundamental approaches. "The Chimp Paradox" leans towards a cognitive and behavioural approach, advocating for active management and control of emotions, while "Letting Go" emphasizes a more spiritual and meditative path by surrendering to emotions without resistance.
Letting Go is my favourite of the two although in my opinion it reads a bit like a psychedelic journey, while the Chimp Paradox seems to follow the self-help framework and is a great guide with lots of practical advice and tips.
Takeaways
Choosing between these approaches might depend on individual preferences, beliefs, and the effectiveness of the methods in addressing specific emotional challenges. Some people might resonate more with cognitive strategies and control, while others might find surrender and acceptance more beneficial for emotional well-being. Integrating elements from both approaches might offer a more comprehensive understanding and application of emotional management techniques and is part of what we do at Feeling Fitness.
Links
Here are some links to the Chimp Paradox and Letting Go if you would like to to get hold of a copy. I am not sponsored or an affiliate of these sites. I just think they are interesting and useful books.
If you enjoyed that and would like to learn and benefit from the more powerful stress relief techniques please read on.
Introductions
Hi, I am Hurudza, the founder of the Feeling Fitness. I want you to know that I feel your pain- I have worked in high performance roles and in success and failure I struggled with crippling stress and anxiety.
The Feeling Fitness System was a labour of love aimed at building calm and freedom into my life. It’s taken 10 years to get to this point, that is 9,500 hours of effort and counting.
To get started on your journey to a calmer lower stress life …
Benefits of Feeling Fitness
so you will quickly - feel lighter, calmer, less pressure, more clarity, more focus and enter flow states more easily.
Enjoy better, deeper sleep, Get your motivation back, handle challenges every time, let setbacks go.
Independence
Feeling Fitness is skills based so your growth is under your control & you don’t need share your feelings or secrets.
Testimonials
Here are a few of my favourite comments from clients …
Communications Executive
“Feeling much better. Much much better!!!”
Marketing Manager
“Really grateful for your programme, I feel like skipping in the street”
Lawyer
“I feel like I have new tools in my arsenal”
Technical Director
“The techniques are simple and they work”
The Process
It is a 3 step process to relieve stress and teach you the skills so you can apply it yourself. It is designed so that relief comes as soon as possible. It all starts with:
Step 1 - Create a personalised plan
Step 2 - Enjoy learning and feeling the skills and tools working for you
Step 3 - Enjoy the feeling of calmer, lower stress life
What do you get?
Step 1 - Create a Personalised Plan
Your Free Stress Assessment of what are the main causes of stress and areas for potential improvement in your stress reduction practices,
A Personalised Roadmap to your goals, where we get to know each other and I can your goals for stress management and we can discuss potential solutions that work with you, and
Guided Stress Relief so you can feel if my approach works for you.
Step 2 - Enjoy Learning & Feeling Your New Skills and Tools Working for You
Personalised 1:1s for specific areas of focus identified in your plan,
In person 1 day Workshop in:
Stress defence techniques,
Stress removal techniques
Natural supplements for stress reduction
How to change your sensory environment for stress reduction
Supporting reading materials
Supporting tools
and we offer ongoing support, accountability, tools and coaching to ensure you stay in control and address the causes of stress.
Next Steps
To get started on your journey to a calmer lower stress life …
