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Wise Mind Living: Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Life
Are you easily overwhelmed by your emotions? Is stress hurting your relationships and getting in the way of reaching your goals? With Wise Mind Living , esteemed psychotherapist and Columbia University professor Dr. Erin Olivo presents an in-depth resource that empowers us to stop struggling with emotions like fear, anger, shame, and sadness―and discover the doorway to better health and increased fulfillment in every area of our lives.
“When you’re living in balance between your emotions and logic, you’re experiencing Wise Mind Living,” explains Dr. Olivo. “It’s when you have the confidence to deal with difficult decisions or situations because you’re in charge―not your emotions.” The teachings and practices in this book give you a new understanding of the physiology of emotions and the debilitating effects of stress. Dr. Olivo provides mindfulness-based exercises and lifestyle skills to help us change the way we think, feel, and behave in situations where stress and anxiety arise, and gives practical instruction in putting it all together to manage your emotions for health and well-being.
Wise Mind Living invites you to
Mindfulness―what it is and how to practice it
• Combining the strategies of change and acceptance
• The universal structure of all emotional experience
• Becoming fluent with the eight core categories of emotion
• Why there is no such thing as a “negative” emotion
• The Wise Mind Review to objectively observe your experiencesOvercoming conditioned responses and knee-jerk reactions
• Relinquishing struggle as the pathway to change
• Plus, step-by-step instruction in Dr. Olivo’s six-week Wise Mind Living program
For anyone looking to get a handle on stress and anxiety once and for all, Wise Mind Living gives you a practical resource to help you navigate life’s difficulties with balance, confidence, and inner peace.
“When you’re living in balance between your emotions and logic, you’re experiencing Wise Mind Living,” explains Dr. Olivo. “It’s when you have the confidence to deal with difficult decisions or situations because you’re in charge―not your emotions.” The teachings and practices in this book give you a new understanding of the physiology of emotions and the debilitating effects of stress. Dr. Olivo provides mindfulness-based exercises and lifestyle skills to help us change the way we think, feel, and behave in situations where stress and anxiety arise, and gives practical instruction in putting it all together to manage your emotions for health and well-being.
Wise Mind Living invites you to
Mindfulness―what it is and how to practice it
• Combining the strategies of change and acceptance
• The universal structure of all emotional experience
• Becoming fluent with the eight core categories of emotion
• Why there is no such thing as a “negative” emotion
• The Wise Mind Review to objectively observe your experiencesOvercoming conditioned responses and knee-jerk reactions
• Relinquishing struggle as the pathway to change
• Plus, step-by-step instruction in Dr. Olivo’s six-week Wise Mind Living program
For anyone looking to get a handle on stress and anxiety once and for all, Wise Mind Living gives you a practical resource to help you navigate life’s difficulties with balance, confidence, and inner peace.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2014
72 people are currently reading
664 people want to read
About the author
Erin Olivo
5 books23 followersErin Olivo, Ph.D., MPH, is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than
25 years experience and is the author of Wise Mind Living: Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Life. In addition, she is the Co-Founder of the Center for Wise Mind Living, a group psychotherapy practice in NYC.
In her clinical practice, Dr. Olivo works with adults and teenagers who are experiencing difficulties dealing with stress, depression, anxiety, unhealthy relationships, chronic illness or problems such as self-destructive behavior, addictions, and over-eating.
Her treatment approach is solution focused and integrates cognitive behavior therapy and DBT therapy with mind-body strategies such as mindfulness meditation. She teaches her patients how to regulate their emotions, tolerate and manage stress, and achieve a more balanced approach to life that she calls Wise Mind Living.
25 years experience and is the author of Wise Mind Living: Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Life. In addition, she is the Co-Founder of the Center for Wise Mind Living, a group psychotherapy practice in NYC.
In her clinical practice, Dr. Olivo works with adults and teenagers who are experiencing difficulties dealing with stress, depression, anxiety, unhealthy relationships, chronic illness or problems such as self-destructive behavior, addictions, and over-eating.
Her treatment approach is solution focused and integrates cognitive behavior therapy and DBT therapy with mind-body strategies such as mindfulness meditation. She teaches her patients how to regulate their emotions, tolerate and manage stress, and achieve a more balanced approach to life that she calls Wise Mind Living.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 14, 2014
Excellent. They should teach this in school!
Wise Mind Living is by far the best approach to "stress management" I have ever come across. I gave up self-help books awhile ago because I started finding them to be fluffy and obvious and impractical. This book in NOT in that category. It reads more like a text book, but full of helpful analogies and interesting examples that make comprehension easy and the concepts readable.
The premise of the book is to live in Wise Mind, the sweet spot between Emotion Mind (hot headed, impulsive) and Logic Mind (cold, calculating). Which sounds great in theory, but how achievable is it?
And that is the true greatness of the book:
It's an insightful, well-researched, step-by-step guide to managing emotions. Erin Olivo's program breaks down the "Cycle of Emotion" (I didn't even know this existed!) and gives you tools to master each component.
The advice is highly adaptable to seemingly any personality. It is like having your own private coach whispering helpful advice in your ear any time a stressful situation (ie, distressing emotion) arises.
The book could probably use a few more graphics, but only because I am a visual learner. The writing is certainly clear, and even funny at times. The author doesn't take short cuts and the full program is challenging but the comprehensiveness is not intimidating. Quite the opposite: it feels supportive and compassionate. Exactly what you would want from a therapist.
I wish I had learned about this technique a long time ago.
Highly recommend.
Wise Mind Living is by far the best approach to "stress management" I have ever come across. I gave up self-help books awhile ago because I started finding them to be fluffy and obvious and impractical. This book in NOT in that category. It reads more like a text book, but full of helpful analogies and interesting examples that make comprehension easy and the concepts readable.
The premise of the book is to live in Wise Mind, the sweet spot between Emotion Mind (hot headed, impulsive) and Logic Mind (cold, calculating). Which sounds great in theory, but how achievable is it?
And that is the true greatness of the book:
It's an insightful, well-researched, step-by-step guide to managing emotions. Erin Olivo's program breaks down the "Cycle of Emotion" (I didn't even know this existed!) and gives you tools to master each component.
The advice is highly adaptable to seemingly any personality. It is like having your own private coach whispering helpful advice in your ear any time a stressful situation (ie, distressing emotion) arises.
The book could probably use a few more graphics, but only because I am a visual learner. The writing is certainly clear, and even funny at times. The author doesn't take short cuts and the full program is challenging but the comprehensiveness is not intimidating. Quite the opposite: it feels supportive and compassionate. Exactly what you would want from a therapist.
I wish I had learned about this technique a long time ago.
Highly recommend.
January 15, 2021
A really good read if you want to learn how to figure out and acknowledge which emotions you’re feeling and how to manage the negative emotions that happen in life so they don’t add stress or negative impacts on your body and life!
October 17, 2014
WISE MIND LIVING is a well-written book on how to balance emotion versus logic. The author notes that if you only consider logic, you are like "Mr. Spock." On the other hand, if you let your emotions control you, you are in "Emotion Mind." You don't want to be either one; her approach embraces both logic and emotions.
WISE MIND LIVING is a serious book; this is not a quickie-read that you just skim through. Rather, it will take time and study to fully appreciate the concepts presented here. Dr Olivo explains the goal of this book: "Wise Mind Living is when you sustain a mind-set that blances emotion and logic. You really don't want Mr. Spock driving either: just as Emotion Mind runs too hot, Logic Mind runs too cool."
Dr Olivo suggests a two-fold approach: First, learn what Wise Mind Living is all about. That's Phase I, which is covered in the first 9 chapters. In Phase 2 (starting with Chapter 10), you LIVE it. The author provides a lot of explanation, and useful exercises to help you identify the stages of your own emotional cycles that have happened to you.
Emotions are very valuable; they serve a purpose, but they can "drive the decisions you make, the actions you take, what you think, and yes, how to feel." Emotions, uncontrolled, can steer you off course: "Emotions can hijack your thoughts much more easily and quickly than your thoughts can tame your emotions." Recognizing the power of emotions, the author provides exercises to help you clearly identify the harmful emotions, and learn to "tame them." Every emotion goes through the same cycle:
- Prompting Event
- Interpretation
- Physical Response
- Urge to Act
- Action
- Aftereffects.
WISE MIND LIVING is filled with case studies that illustrate the principles defined here. One of the most important concepts suggested is that of "Mindfulness." The doctor explains that it means "focusing your attention on just the here and now--really noticing the present moment--and regarding what you find there without judgment." I tried this, and it is indeed difficult, as the author warns. It will take lots of practice, she explains, and so there are lots of exercises in the book to help you learn these principles. One playful exercise is to try "Mindfulness of Sound." You first get comfortable and relaxed, then you try paying attention to the sounds around you--even the hum of the fridge.
√ All in all, WISE MIND LIVING is an intriguing, fascinating book, with tons of real-life examples. This review hardly does justice to the many practical exercises that the author includes in this book. Dr Olivo has done an excellent job researching her ideas, and developing exercises to help the reader incorporate the Wise Mind Living system. Highly Recommend!
♫ A Review by Chris Lawson
Note: I do not know the author of this book, and no one requested I write this review.
Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss Distributors
WISE MIND LIVING is a serious book; this is not a quickie-read that you just skim through. Rather, it will take time and study to fully appreciate the concepts presented here. Dr Olivo explains the goal of this book: "Wise Mind Living is when you sustain a mind-set that blances emotion and logic. You really don't want Mr. Spock driving either: just as Emotion Mind runs too hot, Logic Mind runs too cool."
Dr Olivo suggests a two-fold approach: First, learn what Wise Mind Living is all about. That's Phase I, which is covered in the first 9 chapters. In Phase 2 (starting with Chapter 10), you LIVE it. The author provides a lot of explanation, and useful exercises to help you identify the stages of your own emotional cycles that have happened to you.
Emotions are very valuable; they serve a purpose, but they can "drive the decisions you make, the actions you take, what you think, and yes, how to feel." Emotions, uncontrolled, can steer you off course: "Emotions can hijack your thoughts much more easily and quickly than your thoughts can tame your emotions." Recognizing the power of emotions, the author provides exercises to help you clearly identify the harmful emotions, and learn to "tame them." Every emotion goes through the same cycle:
- Prompting Event
- Interpretation
- Physical Response
- Urge to Act
- Action
- Aftereffects.
WISE MIND LIVING is filled with case studies that illustrate the principles defined here. One of the most important concepts suggested is that of "Mindfulness." The doctor explains that it means "focusing your attention on just the here and now--really noticing the present moment--and regarding what you find there without judgment." I tried this, and it is indeed difficult, as the author warns. It will take lots of practice, she explains, and so there are lots of exercises in the book to help you learn these principles. One playful exercise is to try "Mindfulness of Sound." You first get comfortable and relaxed, then you try paying attention to the sounds around you--even the hum of the fridge.
√ All in all, WISE MIND LIVING is an intriguing, fascinating book, with tons of real-life examples. This review hardly does justice to the many practical exercises that the author includes in this book. Dr Olivo has done an excellent job researching her ideas, and developing exercises to help the reader incorporate the Wise Mind Living system. Highly Recommend!
♫ A Review by Chris Lawson
Note: I do not know the author of this book, and no one requested I write this review.
Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss Distributors
November 19, 2014
It was okay. There wasn't a lot new here, though. I liked that she emphasized the balance of logic and emotion in the beginning but I think it lost some of that thread as the book went on.
July 30, 2019
Great mindfulness/Wise Mind book. Straight to the point and much easier to understand than the typical Buddha mindfulness practices. I listened to the audiobook in order to get the full effect of the practices. Olivo’s voice was pleasant to listen to and actually enjoyed that it didn’t seem scripted. I enjoyed that she provided examples of what she uses with her clients in order to help understand. Concept. Very useful
June 28, 2019
If you haven’t read anything about mindfulness then perhaps this would be of help. I found it a bit repetitive and a little dull. I found “Authentic Happiness” by Martin Seligman to be much better. It covers most of what is mentioned here and more. It also has more science behind it so you understand why you are doing what your doing.
April 26, 2022
Wise Mind Living is a solid introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) that provides the reader with the knowledge, tools, and techniques to identify and overcome conditioned responses to common emotions. IMHO, this is recommended reading for those looking to better manage and balance stress, emotions, health, and happiness.
December 4, 2022
It wasn’t bad, just nothing really new. Fast, easy listen. I think I’d recommend as an intro to mindfulness or meditation, but too basic for those of us who’ve already dig deep in the practices
October 8, 2025
The brain is an amazing thing! Dr Olivo nor only explains the different parts of the brain but gives exercises to stay in the "wise" brain. I'm def gonna read again!
October 14, 2015
This recent (2014) book by a psychologist and colleague of Dr., Oz is about dealing with stress and emotions. With chapters about naming your emotions and changing what you feel, think and do, it covers some old techniques using current jargon and case study types of examples.
Arranged in a disorganized way, most of the tips seem to be just common sense, so I don’t recommend this book as it is not really worth the time.
Arranged in a disorganized way, most of the tips seem to be just common sense, so I don’t recommend this book as it is not really worth the time.
June 17, 2020
Emotional wisedom
Dr Erin not only impact my live, Dr Erin changed my whole way of thinking before I speak or act.
This is a must implementing manual for all. Even children will be able to follow Dr Erin's advice. LOVE THIS BOOK
Dr Erin not only impact my live, Dr Erin changed my whole way of thinking before I speak or act.
This is a must implementing manual for all. Even children will be able to follow Dr Erin's advice. LOVE THIS BOOK
April 19, 2017
This book is so helpful when life gets overwhelming. I downloaded this Christmas night of 2015, a day I have always found hard, with festivities coming to an end and an impending lull counting down to a new scary year. I have read it through a few times since.
It is a book that within five minutes, can allow you to become the observer of what is going on, from life changing events to minuscule interactions you have found unsettling. It offers you the opportunity to slow down, reflect and the journey it takes you on makes a lasting impression. Olivo does well to communicate obscure ideas in layman's terms and provides not only an understanding of how we think and process, but a bank of resources to tackle every day decisions that bog us down. I can't recommend it highly enough.
It is a book that within five minutes, can allow you to become the observer of what is going on, from life changing events to minuscule interactions you have found unsettling. It offers you the opportunity to slow down, reflect and the journey it takes you on makes a lasting impression. Olivo does well to communicate obscure ideas in layman's terms and provides not only an understanding of how we think and process, but a bank of resources to tackle every day decisions that bog us down. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews