Just When I Thought I Couldn't Learn Anything New ...
October 21, 2008
By A. Espi (Florida)
I just finished ready Dr. Nagy's book Emotional Awareness and I'm looking forward to reading it again. There are short exercises at the end of each section to help the reader further develop their understanding of the material. I did not complete the exercises because I didn't want to stop reading. I learned so much from the material that the next time I read it I plan to take the time to work through the exercises because I believe they could very well provide me with some important insights as to my own perception of my emotions in addition to those I have already gained just from the reading.
Prior to reading this book I believed that I was pretty much in touch with my emotions and feelings. Although I felt that I still had some work to do I felt that compared to where I was earlier in my life I was doing very well. However, after reading this book I became aware that some of the ways in which I was dealing with situations were still being governed by old habits and social conditioning.
Reading this book has motivated me to evaluate how I react to situations in my life experience and take a moment to think about how I am feeling and why, and then think about the some of the possible ways that I can respond. I have had some positive experiences recently by deliberately choosing different emotional responses to some events other than the habitual/default emotion I would normally have exhibited. I felt some resistance to choosing a different pattern of thinking but I stuck to my guns and decided it was time for a change. Although the reality of what happened did not change, I found that my new reaction to this familiar situation resulted in a wave of positive responses from all parties involved. I have been able to easily maintain a positive attitude and accept the situation for what it is without carrying an unnecessary emotional burden around. It's behind me and I'm moving on! I know I made the right decision.
I did not give my emotions or feelings much thought up until now. They just happened and I dealt with them in the same ways that I had always dealt with them in the past. Deep down I feel that I knew there was more to it and reading this book helped me to re-think my perception of my reality and how my emotions provide important messages about my experience.
If you want to know why you are getting what you are getting out of life and how to get something different, something better, this book is for you.
Wish I knew this years ago!!
September 26, 2008
By L. Houk (Land O'Lakes, Florida)
Well, I have known John Nagy for years. When my husband passed away he came along and has been so very helpful. He has used his emotional awareness techniques to "make" me understand where all my emotions were coming from. This book is just the icing on the cake, it is exactly what I needed. I now know that my emotions are my own. I no longer have to dismiss them. I can make a change. Life is empowering now!
Knowing myself better
September 23, 2008
By K. A. ROBERTSON-KIDD "Imakegarb" (Silverton, OR)
In a culture where we often unleash our emotions based on entertainment cues (which too often means we act like spoiled children rather than mature adults), it's wonderful to come across a book such as Dr. Nagy's "Emotional Awareness Made Easy." His book truly does make easy what too many chronological adults lost track of long ago.
Nagy starts with the most prevalent misconceptions about emotions. "Most people have one basic emotional paradigm," Nagy writes in Chapter One. "They believe emotions are energies the dwell within, they have a mind of their own and there is little that one can do about them. Based on this paradigm, many actions people take are usually done to minimize the damage emotions cause and to have these energies on their course in the hope that things may eventually return to 'normal'."
Nagy's book offers a better - and far more accurate - map to "challenge and hopefully transform your preconceived notions about what emotions are and aren't, what they do and don't do, and why and how they do the things they do."
From there Nagy takes the reader through the components of emotions (Mental, Physical, Behavioral), the various emotional illusions and then sets out to help the reader know what emotions actually are (and it's not "feelings"). From there, the reader comes to understand and, hopefully, mature in the understanding, and take ownership, of their emotions.
For the careful, thoughtful reader, Nagy's book is a guide to undoing the dysfunctional emotional acting out so often encouraged by popular culture; and maps a way back to the adult, emotional maturity required to make the best decisions in life.
As a student of philosophy, I found this book to be an excellent edition to my arsenal in the great quest in life: Know Thyself. I heartily recommend it. Read it for yourself. I guarantee, once you've read it, you'll keep it as a reference when you need this map again. With careful study, you'll soon be able to recognize others who also need to buy and read this book. Or, maybe, you can gently nudge them in the right direction by purchasing a copy for them.
Good luck on your journey.
Check out the Table of Contents!
