THE FORGOTTEN CHOICE

An executive coach introduces her internationally tested personal success system.

Bence, author of several self-help and business books, including Master the Brand Called YOU (2014), says she applied “the power of thoughts and beliefs” to her own life and shared her learnings with her clients and audiences around the world. In this engaging book, she explains her success system, which is anchored by a central idea—“to consciously choose the Joy of Possibility over fear,” or as she calls it, “The Forgotten Choice.” The volume begins with several chapters that explore the concept of choice, why people generally focus on exterior rather than interior causes of unhappiness, and why “our ability to take charge and master the intangibles” is key to personal success. One of the author’s compelling core concepts revolves around a pyramid that demonstrates the interrelationship of four essential components of self-determination: “Think-Feel-Behave-Results.” Bence does an excellent job of explaining each of these elements in detail. Using concrete examples, she shows how the pyramid can be applied to decision-making. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the book is the author’s proposition that there are essentially just two “thought-systems”—one is fear and the other is the “Joy of Possibility.” Bence offers a lucid and at times riveting discussion of the aspects of fear, contrasted with an uplifting explanation of the Joy of Possibility. Again, several solid examples are employed to illustrate both of these thought systems. Other concepts in the volume, including the “Inner Coach” and “Mind Leadership,” demonstrate ways to help shift one’s thinking to achieve positive, high-growth potential. Some of the material covered in the work is recognizable; for example, the emphasis on living in the present and using creative visualization to think positively will undoubtedly be familiar to readers of other motivational self-help books. Still, multiple concepts coalesce here in a way that makes the overall presentation meaningful and memorable. Bence’s argument may occasionally rely too heavily on the power of individual choice, but it is hard to disagree with her contention that “we’re not thinking big enough.”

Enlightening, inspirational, and self-empowering advice.