54 Simple Truths with Brutal Advice: How to Face the Challenges of Life

Life is very short and some people go through life never learning or realising that experiences coming their way are inevitable.The simple truths described here are those inevitable events, incidents and moments that will touch everyone eventually in their lifetime.We can make the most of the time we have by being alert and aware of the choices we make in life and the impact they have on ourselves and others. Exploring, debating and reflecting on these simple truths may raise complexities and 'grey' areas, and you may say that there is no such thing as a simple truth.What may be a truth for some may not be for others. What is simple to some is complex to others. The point here is - it's your choice. You choose what value you gain from these reflective and challenging statements. Challenging; because the truths are accompanied by 'brutal advice'. Brutal only in the sense that I leave out the complex, theoretical or academic reasoning behind what I write within the book.I have tried to express the ideas from the heart with good intention that when you pause and ask yourself "so what?" the answer is in the realm of common sense (or it could be a direct challenge to some) even though it may come over as a little brutal!By the way, a word of warning; always be wary of advice given to you. Always better to take your own counsel, your own choices and your own direction."54 Simple Truths with Brutal Advice" is a common sense guide that provides the reader with a direct no-nonsense approach to living a happy and healthy life at home and at work - two common aspects of life often taken for granted as not being connected.With topics like life and death, love and loss, risk and sex, author Mike Wash explains the importance of maintaining an earnest sense of responsibility and gratitude when considering the choices and surprises presented to us in life, whether we're dealing with injustice, addiction or success - just to name a few of the many possibilities explored in this challenging and stimulating book.

About the Author :
At the age of 15, after spending 18 months in Catholic School training for a life of a religious teacher as a 'De La Salle' brother, I decided to come home and face the realities of a different type of 'family' life. The desire within me to help others was still strong and on the eve of me leaving to do Voluntary Services overseas, at the age of 17, an opportunity to join the school of psychiatry as a student nurse was too much of a coincidence to ignore. Those first few years working in a large mental institution in the early 1970's, wiped out any sense of remaining naivety or innocence about the capability of the human mind to destroy itself and others. My path was set, but I was unhappy to be constrained by 'institutional walls', so after psychiatry, I trained as a general nurse, then as a tutor - and in my private practice, qualified as a counsellor and psychotherapist. The constraining nature of the 'health' profession was still too much, so I decided to explore outside, and my horizon changed significantly when I was offered a job in a large telecommunications company. Here, I introduced counselling and the value of developing a supportive, facilitative change management style of leadership. My premise was that large organisations damage your health - and it doesn't have to be that way. The irony was that during this time, I battled for six months against cancer, which created a greater strength and determination to carry on the path of 'healing', whether in the context of work or family life. During these very formative years, I also experienced the tragic death of my mother. Following an accident, she was left in a coma for several years. Also, my little sister, who was on kidney dialysis for years before succumbing to hepatitis and kidney failure. I was married young and one of the most proud moments of my life was witnessing the birth of my twin sons. The strain of tragedy, illness and personal change was too much for my marriage, and divorce eventually cut the chains - which enabled us both to be free and to find new happiness. I have been running my own business for the past 17 years and feel very privileged to work with people and organisations passionate about wanting to change and discover their true potential. I am very happy, married to Mave and enjoying my Grandfather status, and the attention of my sons and step-children. The journey continues... Mike Wash has a Masters degree in Leadership Effectiveness, a post graduate diploma in Humanistic Psychology as a trained psychotherapist and counselor. He is a qualified teacher and has had significant experience as a mental health practitioner. Also by the same author Managing Change at Work - 54 Approaches to Brickwall Management (The psychology of resistance to change) Also 54 Tools and Techniques for Business Excellence.