When you look in the mirror, do you see a good person or a bad person? Author Joel Primus grew up believing he needed to "do good" and "be good" to earn his parents' love and society's acceptance, but no matter what he accomplished, he never felt good enough. This underlying feeling of "badness," which he tried desperately to ignore, permeated much of his life. Psychiatrist Carl Jung calls the unsavory aspect of our personality the "shadow self," and the more we distance ourselves from it, the more anxiety, shame, ...
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When you look in the mirror, do you see a good person or a bad person? Author Joel Primus grew up believing he needed to "do good" and "be good" to earn his parents' love and society's acceptance, but no matter what he accomplished, he never felt good enough. This underlying feeling of "badness," which he tried desperately to ignore, permeated much of his life. Psychiatrist Carl Jung calls the unsavory aspect of our personality the "shadow self," and the more we distance ourselves from it, the more anxiety, shame, and unworthiness grows. From the media, society, religion, our parents, and other external voices, we learn to condemn the bad in others and push it away in ourselves. But what if good and bad aren't actually opposites? That's what author Joel Primus explores in this book. Combining research and parables with his own experiences as a long-distance runner, entrepreneur, traveler, and father, Primus asks us to challenge our perception of good and bad. When we embrace the idea that our shadow is not the antithesis of our light, but rather a vital piece of our whole, we free ourselves from self-imposed constraints and give our children permission to do the same. By healing ourselves he believes we can "heal the line" and redefine what it means to live a good life.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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Add this copy of Good Boy, Bad Boy: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst to cart. $24.56, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2024 by Joel Primus.
Add this copy of Good Boy, Bad Boy: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst to cart. $29.48, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2024 by Joel Primus.
Joel Primus's Good Boy Bad Boy is a heartfelt exploration of self-acceptance and the battle within ourselves between societal expectations and personal authenticity. Drawing on his own experiences and blending them with psychological insights, Primus dissects the binary notion of "good" and "bad" that often traps us in cycles of guilt and shame. Through personal anecdotes, philosophical musings, and practical advice, he invites readers to confront their "shadow self," embrace their complexities, and ultimately, find harmony. The book is both reflective and actionable, moving from the roots of our struggles to solutions for overcoming them.
From the first chapter, when Primus shares his teenage feelings of inadequacy in front of a mirror, you can feel his pain and relate to it deeply. His journey is woven with relatable examples, like the dichotomy of being a ââ?¬Å"good kidââ?¬Â? who follows the rules but internally feels hollow. The chapter on duality, with its Cherokee wolf parable, offers a powerful metaphor for the internal struggle between our better and darker selves. Itââ?¬â?¢s not just abstract philosophy; the examples, like balancing societal expectations with personal truth, felt refreshingly real.
The bookâ��s strongest moments come when it challenges the idea of external validation. For instance, Primus describes a poignant moment when his coach urged him to race for the love of the sport rather than for others' approval. That conversation resonated with me, as Iâ��ve struggled with the same perfectionist tendencies. His ability to balance personal anecdotes with universal lessonsâ�"such as recognizing and integrating your shadow selfâ�"made the book incredibly thought-provoking.
Good Boy Bad Boy is a book for anyone seeking personal growth and self-acceptance. Its candid tone and relatable stories make it accessible to readers who feel weighed down by the need to be perfect. Whether you�re grappling with feelings of inadequacy or simply looking to better understand yourself, this book offers a compassionate guide to navigating the messy, beautiful middle ground of being human. I�d recommend it to anyone who wants a blend of introspection and practical advice wrapped in genuine emotion. It left me inspired to look in the mirror with more kindness and curiosity.
