Barry Michels Books

To begin the journey of transformation, we have to name the adversary that keeps us stuck. We call it *Part X*. It’s the invisible psychological force that resists growth, criticizes us mercilessly, and tries to persuade us to stay small. Whether it speaks as self-doubt, cynicism, or procrastination...

From Coming Alive: Using the Power of Mindfulness to Reconnect with Your Spirit, Awaken Your Joy, and Live the Life You Want

Gratitude, when sincerely felt, changes the texture of consciousness. The first tool, called *The Grateful Flow*, teaches you how to shift out of negative looping and move toward a luminous mental state in which positive feelings flow through you effortlessly. We’ve both observed that when people si...

From Coming Alive: Using the Power of Mindfulness to Reconnect with Your Spirit, Awaken Your Joy, and Live the Life You Want

Every human instinct tells us to flee from pain. The mind is wired to avoid discomfort, whether physical or emotional. But this avoidance—so reflexive, so justified—creates a prison. It keeps us from growth, from action, from vitality. The first tool, the Reversal of Desire, teaches us to do the unt...

From The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity

If fear is one half of what blocks human development, hostility is the other. Our relationships often imprison us in cycles of resentment and judgment. The second tool, Active Love, confronts this poison head on. It teaches us to use the most powerful psychological and spiritual force available—love...

From The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity