Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide
Authors Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP, and Dr. Michael B. Frisch have compiled a collection of lists to help readers achieve individual excellence. Caroline recounts how her good fortune to be part of the initial student class at the University of Pennsylvania allowed her to partner with her professor and mentor, Dr. Frisch, to teach a class and co-author this book, based on a passion of hers—marrying goal planning with positive psychology.
The result? Hybrid modality of research-based suggestions, thought-provoking exercises, and inspiration lists to help you design and create your best life.
A notable feature of the book’s layout is the inclusion of lists, takeaways, charts, models, and “tidbits” that make each chapter intentional. In other words, you’re not bogged down with too many word-heavy lessons; instead, it’s a neat little package of life hacks that invite you to pick and choose what works to help you accomplish the overall themed goal. Again, there are numerous goal books available, and you can see that I’ve read the majority of them. But I enjoy gleaning from each one something novel. It’s even better when it’s presented in a way that would appeal to someone who doesn’t do well with lengthy chapters.
Another unique premise is the behavioral psychology behind the lists.
The authors infused their expertise into the lists. They are thoughtfully designed to meet the reader where they are. For example, lists about self-control, willpower boosters, home goals, building grit, recreation, play, and parenting are just some of the “what you need now can be found here” life lists included within.
One of the downsides is that there is an inordinate amount of time focusing on the end of life. From bucket lists to final affairs, the authors argue that considering a ticking clock will motivate the reader to set and achieve significant goals. I’m not an expert, and perhaps that’s true, but to me it felt heavy and negative versus positive.
What attracted me to this book was the title. I’m a big list person to the point where it possibly drives people crazy. But those who get this character trait understand the calming control that it divines. From planning Books Uplift to client projects, and on to daily, yearly, and life lists, this book held immense interest for me. Did it deliver? It provided me with plenty of ideas and a few approaches that I would have never considered otherwise. Creating Your Best Life is worth a read.
Source: Purchased.
Image Courtesy of Union Square & Co.
