BOOK OF THE MONTH: JUNE 2019

ABOUT THE BOOk (previously called FIGHT! in HARDBACK)

Whenever elite fighter Hazel Gale entered the ring, she felt fear. Not just the rational fear of being knocked out. But something deeper as well. The fear that she didn’t deserve success, and that she would let everyone, especially herself, down.

While others saw a confident world champion athlete, Hazel was plagued by anxiety, self-doubt and depression. It was these things – the monsters of her mind – that she felt were her most dangerous opponents, and she waged a war. It was that hard-fought internal battle that ultimately led her to burn out.

Now a sought-after London therapist, Hazel has created a revolutionary system for overcoming fear, underperformance and self-sabotage. In The Mind Monster Solution, she uses personal anecdotes, practical exercises and innovative therapeutic tools to help you create a balanced life, rich with meaning, confidence and positivity.

Written with humility and humour, this book will help you emerge victorious from your own battles, whatever they may be.

(

WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK, by TONI

1. Full disclosure: this is not a fluffy self-help book. While last month’s title was a gentle and nurturing guide to boosting our self-care, and ultimately self-love, this month’s read invites us to build on those self-worth muscles by going digging. The original title of this book was Fight! and readers should brace themselves for a bit of an emotional brawl as they face down some parts of themselves they may well have spent their entire lives avoiding. But I believe that if we’re serious about self-help then getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is a crucial part of the process. (And the good news, is that this story does have a happy ending).

   -

2. Hazel's own story is fascinating - a champion (female!) kick boxer-turned-therapist - and she shares it beautifully because she also happens to be a funny and clever writer.

   -

   3. It's basically a therapy course in a book, guiding us through lots of techniques, tools and strategies that we would only otherwise encounter on a therapists’s couch. So I think it’s a brilliant place to dip our toes into some of the popular therapy techniques (before maybe taking the plunge and booking an appointment...?).

HOW TO READ THIS BOOK

“Meaningful, unconscious change doesn’t happen in a flash,” says author Hazel, who suggests reading this book at a pace that feels right for you, rather than trying to rush through it all in one month.

Hazel has shared the crucial chapters below, and this is what we will be focusing on in Shelf Help for June, encouraging anybody who wants to delve further to read and work through the rest as and when they can.

By Monday 10th June: Opening: Introduction / How to use this book / Calibration and Part 1: Evolution I / Ch1 / Ch2 / Ch3

By Monday 17th June: Part 2: Evolution II / Ch6 / Ch8

By Monday 24th June: Part 3: Evolution III / Ch9 / Creating your temporal map p263 - p265 / Ch12

By Sunday 30th June: Part 4: Ch13 / Evolution IV / Ch14

ABOUT THE AUTHOr

Hazel says: “I first discovered cognitive hypnotherapy as a kickboxer training towards the ISKA World Championships in 2009. Although I was used to training through all sorts of illnesses and injuries, chronic fatigue (caused by consistent overtraining and maintained stress) was giving me serious problems. I was tired and depressed, and I was rapidly losing hope. I told myself that if I couldn’t get fit this time I’d hang my gloves up for good.

“Cognitive hypnotherapy meant that I didn’t have to do that, and I went on to win multiple World and European titles in kickboxing, and later, numerous National and European titles in ABA boxing [For more about Hazel’s journey, check out her article “The Fighter Mindset: From Burnout To The Medal Podium”.] After experiencing the power of Cog Hyp first hand, I felt (and still do feel) compelled to help others achieve their goals in the same way. “

get the book

JOIN THE CONVERSATION (and meet the author!)

• We’ll be sharing quotes, exercises and questions for discussion throughout the month on Instagram and Facebook.

• Put your questions to Shelf Help founder Toni and author Hazel via Instagram Live on Tuesday 4th June at 8.30pm.

• Join Shelf Help founder Toni and author Hazel at High Road House in West London on Wednesday 19th June for an evening of creative therapy and storytelling designed to help you overcome self-sabotage. (free event)

• Come along to a real-life meetup, this month held on the last Monday of the month (Mon 24th June 2019). And if there’s no meetup in your area yet and you want one, then let us know so we can try and include in our roll out plans.