Book Review: 12 Steps to Mind-Blowing Happiness

Recently, I was privileged to read Trish Ahjel Robert’s 12 Steps to Mind-Blowing Happiness.

Trish and I share some similar beliefs in that we both follow Buddhist principles. And, if you’re wondering, no you do not have to change religions to get something out of her book. Many people find that some of the basic tenets of Buddhism (such as Right Speech, Right View, Right Conduct, etc.,) simply help them live a better life without changing their core belief system. In fact, about ten years ago, I gifted a book to someone I love dearly Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh. Quick disclaimer…I get nothing for the Amazon links in the post. I read a book. I am in contact with the author. I liked her book. I agreed to review the book. I am not an Amazon affiliate. So, you can study and live by two sets of tenets and do just fine.

I say that because regardless of your personal religious beliefs (or lack thereof), if you’re looking for a way to incorporate more happiness into your life, this book can get you there…

If you’re willing to put in the work.

The thing about Trish’s book is that the 12 steps on their own are an easy, quick read. You can read them in a day. In fact, some, on their surface level, if you are not careful, will leave you feeling like, “Duh, I know that…where’s the real secret?” The thing is, what Trish writes in her book is the true secret to mind-blowing happiness. It’s just that we’ve become accustomed to “shopping” for more. We think it should be harder…and faster. Definitely faster… And so we don’t want to put in the work or put down the devices to do find the peace and happiness we want.

The Requirement of 12 Steps to Mind-Blowing Happiness Is to Work Each Step…Always

What do you do every morning when you get up? What do you do every afternoon? What do you do before bed? What do you do every Saturday? What do you do each year for Halloween or Thanksgiving or Christmas? Or whatever? What I’m getting at is…you know in many ways that you’re a creature of habit.

My guess is that every day probably even before you take a few moments to be grateful, you look at your phone. I’m not judging. I do it a lot, too. I mean, I own a business. I have a kid in school. I know that pull. So, again, no judgment. It’s the world we live in. I’m a layperson. I’m not in the monastic life.

When you get bored, what do you do? Are you scrolling? I have polyarthritis in all my joints except two. Yall…my thumb hurts…not just from scrolling, but that does NOT help. But do you see what I’m getting at?

Habit.

What if you want something different? What if you’re not happy doing what you’re doing?

My entire life, until about nine years ago, I wanted contentment. I didn’t even care about happiness. I wanted peace. That’s a story of its own. Of course, if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know some of it.

But if you want something different, you have to do something different and build new habits…and those aren’t a “one and done” type of thing. I was excited to read Trish’s book because she gives actionable steps that can be used to help change and reframe your thoughts. You can literally begin the deep and hard work required to rebuild yourself into a happier person. It isn’t an overnight thing. It is an every day thing…just like as if you were in recovery, and no I do not say that lightly at all. I am not saying that as a joke. I am saying that as someone who needed and needs a lot of structure in my thoughts to keep my mind right.

Believe me when I tell you that if I can rely on Trish’s book, and I plan to, I think it is worth it for you to read it, too.

I bought it on Kindle. It’s also on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback.

I give it 5 stars.

Follow Trish on Instagram and visit her website.