In "You're Addicted to You," Executive Coach Noah Blumenthal argues that there is no magical pill for changing your ingrained behaviors. People often try to treat their behavioral addictions the way they would treat a common cold. Take a couple aspirin, and it will disappear.Not the case for self-addictions .There is an endless wealth of information on improving one's self, on how to become thinner, or smarter, or kinder, or happier, or more charismatic, or better in general. However, very few of these books actually work.Most of these books provide new behaviors and supply wonderful ideas, but they don't help us address our current addictions and ingrained behaviors. We have had our behaviors shaped, molded and reinforced thousands of times over the course of our lifetime. We have been conditioned to act in a certain way when faced with certain types of situations. We can't simply come up with something better and turn off the old behavior.As such, much of the difficulty we have with change is not for lack of information on what to change; rather, it is because we don't know how to change. We know what we want to do, but we don't know how to adjust when we get into situations that bring out our bad habits. Without an effective plan for getting past our engrained roadblocks, efforts to move toward improvements will continuously fall flat. This book is dedicated to helping us lay out that plan and break our self-addictions Using Blumenthal's solution-based "Circles of Strength" model, You're Addicted to You offers a three-pronged strategy with specific actions to help readers make real change. In Step 1, Raising Awareness, we build strength in our knowledge of the change we are making. In Step 2, Building Support, we create strength in the network of people who will help us in our change efforts. Finally, in Step 3, Taking Action, we develop strength in the routines that we can use to make the change. Following these steps will give us the strength we need to overcome our self-addictions.
Industry Reviews
"Through examples that will have you nodding your head as you recognize yourself, You're Addicted to You shines a light on common self-addictions and helps you identify your own. Blumenthal's realistic, systems approach for tackling personal and professional change can help you get started on a new quest or sustain changes already underway."
-Tammy J. Winnie, Director, Global Organization Effectiveness, Kellogg Company
"My life's work has been helping people overcome self-reinforcing and self-defeating behaviors. Noah Blumenthal understands how to do this and after reading this book you will too."
-James O. Prochaska, PhD, author of Changing for Good
"In this engaging and informed guide to enhancing self-awareness and personal growth, Noah Blumenthal helps us to find effective pathways to change. You will recognize many people in his exam- ples, most importantly, yourself. And you'll start to apply what you learn before day's end. Blumenthal will get you going. Beyond that, as he makes clear, anything is possible . . . it's up to you."
-Joseph G. Cunningham, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Brandeis University
"With all the attention our culture invests in advice for every kind of personal change-from weight loss to leadership style-it's striking how little genuine wisdom we have for how to change once we've identified what to change. In You're Addicted to You, Noah Blumenthal offers concrete, effective strategies for finding traction to change where change has eluded you before."
-Keith Allred, Faculty Member, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and Founder, TheCommonInterest.org
"Noah Blumenthal has created a simple, yet powerful means for effecting personal change. In an era where everything is supposed to be quicker and more automated, it is refreshing to find an approach that both honors the struggle we all face and acknowledges the time needed to make real, lasting changes to our behavior."
-Ethan Schutz, President, Business Consultants Network
"Noah Blumenthal has crafted a book for self-improvement that seems to have been personally written for each of its readers. It is an excellent guide toward the achievement of a happy life and the rediscovery of the divinity that resides in all of us. I am excited for the life-affirming opportunities that this approach can bring to my work and to my home."
-Rabbi Mark Covitz, Congregation Beth Yam, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
"Anyone who has tried to change knows how difficult it can be. Noah Blumenthal provides not only a voice of encouragement and optimism, but provides concrete tools we can use immediately to transform the lead of present circumstances into future gold."
-Karlin Sloan, CEO, Karlin Sloan & Company
"You're Addicted to You addresses a problem familiar to the diverse worlds of health psychology, organizational change, and individual counseling: how does one facilitate real behavior change, change which endures for more than a very brief time? Noah presents the possibility of change using straightforward language, helpful examples, assessment tools, and homework."
-Kathleen M. Schiaffino, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Fordham University
