Fascinating Authors

Book Review
by
Susan Haley

Take-Charge Living: How to Recast Your Role in Life . . . One Scene at a Time by Marion Kramer Jacobs, Ph.D.

Do you think of changing your lifestyle, ingrained habits, or even your personality and how you react to things as beyond your control? Or do you think of it as a choice, either conscious or unconscious?  In her book, Take-Charge Living, Dr. Marion Kramer Jacobs tells us “As long as more than one way exists for a person to respond to a situation, the way you actually respond is your choice. Even choosing to do nothing is a choice”. I would like to add to that statement that from the perspective of a layman on the subject that there is also more than one way to teach this premise.

It seems to me the first step in making any decision on a problem of a psychological nature is to recognize that it is you that has the problem. Many folks tend to hole up in the shadows of denial, fear, or assign the blame to others. It’s easier that way. But, once you’ve decided to face an issue and deal with it, a bit of guidance on methods and attitude is invaluable. Yet, many get discouraged with long technical dissertations on physiology and psychology, or repetition in the deluge of books of the self-help genre. Dr. Jacobs has come up with a unique way of presenting it. She approaches it as if life is more like a stage play and you are your own director once you’ve prepared the script.

Take-Charge Living starts out with tips on making the decision to take charge of your life and then helps you to systematically write the script for your play. You’re given tests to analyze your story and possible angles on how to proceed . . . or “prepare for the stage”. Then, you learn how to overcome “stage fright”.

Next, you will start the ‘dress rehearsals’ and it becomes fun and begins to warms your heart with a sense of accomplishment and creativity, a sense of growth. When you bask in the glow of your first opening night, you will be alerted to the possible pit falls of the critics. You are warned that some will want you to fail as your failure may insure their power over you or your life. If you happen to be a timid soul that has never learned to say ‘no’, your successful play may have you taking control over your available time to help others without putting your own goals on the back burner. That will be their loss; it worries them.

Lastly, but more importantly, the confidence you gain with the success of your debut effort will inspire you to attempt another hit performance! But first, you must take a moment to appreciate the accomplishment you’ve given yourself. It quite possibly will be the best gift you ever receive and you gave it to yourself.

I personally want to thank Dr. Marion Kramer Jacobs for her great little book. I’m a writer with a hectic schedule and I find myself now mentally writing little screenplays to help me ‘take charge of my time’. Her book is my guide to a ‘first draft’ so to speak. I always wanted to write a screenplay. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear . . .” There are many versions of that old saying and I’m not sure who the original credit goes to, Buddha maybe, but it sure applies here. I recommend it to anyone who wants to take responsibility and write their own life choices rather than always taking a back-up role in another’s play.

Susan Haley, Author
RAINY DAY PEOPLE
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**Susan Haley is the published author of two books, several articles on networking, an award-winning poet, contract copy editor and book reviewer for Author Marketing Experts. She is a columnist for “The Florida Writer” the official magazine of the Florida Writers Association, and serves as Facilitator for the Sarasota County Chapter. The audio version of her novel RAINY DAY PEOPLE was awarded runner-up Finalist in the 2008 Indie Excellence National Book Awards. She also contributes a variety of editorials and excerpts of her work to various E-zines, newsletters, and local papers, and is currently working on her second novel, The House is Burning.  Susan can be contacted at www.sucarha.com or shaley1112@verizon.net.