This Way Up

This Way Up: Seven Tools for Unleashing Your Creative Self and Transforming Your Life by Patti Clark. Berkeley: She Writes Press, 2016. 313 pages. ****  Recommended Reading List.

The book is divided into two parts: an allegorical tale of 50 plus year-old Kat, who takes her youngest child to college and is overcome with the thought of returning to her empty house and a Workbook of Weekly Exercises to transform your life. Kat stops at a bar on her way home and the next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital. While there she is dream visited by Gaia, a spirit who guides her to a better life by understanding the Seven Tools for Transformation: Visualization, Heart-Centered Goal Setting, Be Happy Now, Meditation on Love and Compassion, Frame of Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Uploading and Downloading from the Source---Taking Action on Inspiration. Clark invites the reader to participate in a twelve-week process by journaling and exploration.

Kat's story simplifies the process of transforming into the creative person we are each meant to be and her explanations of Gaia's message to her sister and best friend allows the reader to absorb it in language easily understood. Clark drives home Marianne Williamson's message that "We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world." 

Anyone over 50 will identify with Kat's feeling of invisibility and vulnerability; Clark provides realistic tools to empower the reader seeking a better path and life. This book stands out in its unique format as a self-help workbook starting with Kat's tale.  The activities presented are applicable to any age group of women and provides the way for a new creative, more joyful life. I am working on the exercises myself, so stay tuned for an update.

I received a copy of this book from Patti Clark's publicist for a review.

Patti Clark was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. After traveling for several years, she and her husband settled down in New Zealand. Patti's enthusiasm and love of working with people of all ages has led her to a career as a workshop facilitator. She has been facilitating workshops around New Zealand since 1993 and is dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey toward an extraordinary life. Patti lives by the beach on the Coromandel Peninsula with her husband, Jeff and two sons, Lukas and Devin. This Way Up is her first book.