With this book '10 Steps to Positive Living' you can build your self-confidence and gain an optimistic outlook with Windy Dryden's practical, no-nonsense advice. Simply use his techniques to learn new ways of dealing with the things that bother you, and equip yourself to tackle anything life can throw at you.

You can follow the steps in order, or use them individually to attain your goal:

• You can improve your relationships
• Become more open and creative
• Look forward to a happier future

Contents

Preface

• STEP 1: Assume personal responsibility
• STEP 2: Adopt a non-demanding, flexible philosophy
• STEP 3: Accept reality
• STEP 4: Develop a philosophy of high frustration tolerance
• STEP 5: Develop a healthy attitude towards yourself
• STEP 6: Allow yourself to experience healthy negative emotions
• STEP 7: Think critically and creatively
• STEP 8: Develop and pursue vitally absorbing interests
• STEP 9: Improve your relationships with others
• STEP 10: Develop a realistic outlook on personal change

Index

Preface

My previous books for Sheldon Press have all addressed the issue of how people can overcome specific emotional problems (e.g. anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, shame, sulking and love problems). Increasingly, however, I have noticed a growing interest amongst members of the general public in the topic of how to achieve positive mental health. Thus, whenever I give public lectures on psychological topics, I have noticed that at question time there have been more questions concerning how people can increase their mental health as opposed to over coming their emotional problems. Consequently, it seemed to me that the time was right for me to write a short book on the steps that people need to take if they are to become mentally healthy. This book is the result.

While the steps I have outlined in this book are not perfectly sequential, I suggest that readers note that steps 1 to 6 need to be taken before steps 7 to 10. However, feel free to use this book in whatever way makes sense to you, and I would be very grateful to receive any feedback that you care to give me. Your comments should be addressed to me c/o Sheldon Press.

As ever, I would like to express my thanks to Caroline Dearden whose help has been invaluable in the preparation of this manuscript.

Windy Dryden London, September 1993

About the author: Windy Dryden was born in London in 1950. He has worked in psychotherapy and counselling for over 30 years and is the author and editor of 160 books, including How to Accept Yourself (Sheldon Press 1999) and Overcoming Envy (Sheldon Press 2002). Dr Dryden is Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies at Goldsmith's College, University of London.