When Is Enough Enough: What You Can Do If You Never Feel Satisfied

by Laurie Ashner and Mitch Meyerson

Book Overview

This no-nonsense, compassionate guide shows readers how to replace feelings of chronic dissatisfaction with a sense of contentment and fulfillment. This no-nonsense, compassionate guide explores misguided life strategies that can sabotage happiness and fulfillment. Using practical examples from everyday lives, the authors show us how to replace feelings of chronic dissatisfaction with a sense of contentment and fulfillment.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568381972
• ISBN13: 9781568381978
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Hazelden Publishing & Educational Services
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Illuminating, insightful and practical

I'm not usually keen on self-help books because I find that they tend to repeat themselves, use extensive anecdotal evidence or offer nothing but psychobabble. This one is different. The authors really understand human nature. They go beyond the surface and ask us to pose difficult questions to ourselves about why we repeat certain behaviors or what is causing us to be unfulfilled at work and relationships, and in other areas of our life. The book covers a wide range of territory and is well worth reading, especially if one takes the time to do the exercises and think about what might be causing him or her to be stuck and routinely unable to feel satisfied. My only complaint would be that there was a little too much emphasis placed on parenting and early childhood experiences. Not everyone is damaged in childhood. Other life events can occur in adulthood that can be traumatic and can alter one's self image and self-esteem. Other than that, this is a thoroughly enjoyable and insightful read. Sigrid Macdonald Author of D'Amour Road

The key word in the subtitle is DO

Nine core issues are discussed as underlying chronic discontent or "never enough" thinking. The authors are both therapists and present the issues as questions commonly asked by their clients. "Why do I always feel like something is missing?" is shown to be a search for self. "Why don't I follow through on my dreams?" can mask the search for purpose. "Why is it that nothing makes me happy for long?" calls for a search for validation. The search for trust lies behind the question "Why can't I just relax?", and the search for competence lurks beneath "Why am I so bored and restless?" "Why can't I find the right person?" translates to the search for a mirror. "Why do I always end up getting less than I give?" calls for a search for control. The search for identity underlies "Why can't I stop comparing myself to other people"? The last core issue is the search for safety, or "Why do I always want the one thing I can't have?" Guidelines for change and growth are discussed throughout each chapter, and the closing chapters pull together ideas so that satisfaction with one's life is seen as an achievable goal. Lots of thought-provoking ideas as well as Prescriptions for Change, and Thoughts & Questions given for each of the nine core issues.