The Complete Being

The Complete Being: Finding and Loving the Real You
By Dr. Tami Brady
Loving Healing Press
ISBN: 1-932690-20-4
Non-Fiction, Self Actualization, Psychology

Like many people, I used to spend a good deal of my time fantasizing about the life I wish I had. Caught in the mindset of I could never do that, why can't I be more like so and so, and nothing is ever going to change, I felt my dreams slipping away. But one simple question, why not?, changed my life forever. This phrase challenged to take control of my life and start driving towards the me I always hoped I could be.

The Complete Being: Finding and Loving the Real You will help you realize your own hopes and dreams. This book contains the wealth of my own personal journey to contentment in easy to adapt exercises that you can use to identify and strive towards your own life ambitions. You will regain control of your own destiny by applying these simple yet thought-provoking exercises in the mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of your life.

Reviews

In this informative packed work, author Tami Brady sets you on the course for success. Have you agonized wondering why others seem to achieve and you do not? Have you wanted to know something that may turn your odds around? If so this book is for you.

Ms. Brady explains in her work some key points to use that are within yourself. She breaks these down into four separate categories, explains each and draws them all together for one big picture of success. The main point I saw in this work, and one I thought was outstanding, is that we are all individuals, unique and that one set formula may not work for everyone. I believe that is what makes her work different than other self-help books. No two people are alike and she shows we must look at our own personalities, gifts, emotional baggage, physical strengths and weaknesses, mental ability and spiritual needs and use them to our benefit. If we can understand more about ourselves we can correct weaknesses and increase our strengths; that is my take on this work, and to me this was the main theme. A very good one: I believe.

I enjoyed this writing; I feel it definitely is thought provoking and could be instrumental in helping people to achieve goals in their lives if they would implement what is put before them.

Shirley Johnson
MidWest Book Review

We are encouraged to explore further within each aspect and relate them to our individual way of life, current and past. Ms. Brady explains how a better understanding of how we think and behave is achieved by examining the significance of our common reactions and beliefs. Providing some useful examples and ideas to put into practice, we can implement strategies to help us to look into the future and work towards our goals and live our dreams!

I found myself submersed in this book, discovering it a true source of encouragement, that however overwhelming life becomes, we should stay aware of what we want, never forgetting where we come from or what our dreams are.

If you want something, go out and get it, with the help of Tami Brady and her enlightening book, of course! The Complete Being should be on everyone’s virtual bookshelves.

Tracy-Jane Newton
An Alternative View

The Complete Being is meant to aid you in the further exploration of your wants, needs, and desires as well as your hopes and dreams. It is a very suitable guide for those painful first steps toward self-knowledge. Language is lucid and clear, with easily discernible logic to the argument. This is no stuffy academic work, but a lady chatting to you in a way you can understand.

To use just one example, there is an excellent discussion of what it means to be ‘normal’. The meaning of the word is ‘like the average’, ‘like everyone else’. But, as Ms. Brady points out, everyone is unique and different. In modern society, we are no longer uniform in the way that communities used to be in the past, so it makes no sense to try conforming to someone else’s norms. You need to develop your own instead of copying that of anyone else. This undoubted truth then leads to implications for tolerance of differences in others, as well as independence from those who would have you betray your own nature by conforming. I like the way that the author uses little stories and analogies to everyday situations in order to explain her points.

Dr. Bob Rich
http://bobswriting.com

Anyone who wants to change their life for the better should pick up a copy of THE COMPLETE BEING by Tami Brady. Reading this 136 page e-book will not automatically make life better, but it will definitely alter your outlook and give you the tools you need to make your life exactly what you want it to be. Tami Brady writes in a conversational tone that isn't preachy or condescending, it's like reading a letter from a dear friend. She shares her personal experiences throughout the book, giving you a feel for the life of the author, and bringing a depth of real life to a book that would otherwise be 'just another self-help book.

I would suggest that anyone who reads this ebook set aside the time needed to properly digest all of the information and finish all of the suggested activities. The author frequently recommends looking to other books and materials for more in depth information; but, despite that, there is so much information in this e-book that reflection is a vital part of digesting it all. With its focus on balancing mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects, THE COMPLETE BEING will help you build the foundation to a happier and more complete life.

Tamra Dickey
Roundtable Reviews

If you have been thinking there must be more to life than what you have; or you find you tend to say one thing in public, whilst being of another opinion in private, then this book may be for you.

Arranged in four parts that may be read in more or less any order, The Complete Being by Tami Brady is a guide to working out just who you really are and how to use this to enhance your life in all areas. The sections are neatly divided into Mental, Spiritual, Emotional and Physical aspects and the exercises and suggestions are designed to help you get at the individual, special person that lurks inside us all, but rarely makes an appearance because of hang ups, social moires and lack of self belief.

Despite being placed firmly and correctly in the Psychology/Self Help category, the narrative is straight forward and wonderfully free of jargon. One could almost imagine the author is sitting in an armchair nearby with a cup of coffee as she explains how to tell the difference between learned behaviours and instinctive reactions. Perhaps if enough people read this book, the world really would be a better place.

Recommended..

Sue Phillips
Spiralthreads

Author, Tami Brady, discusses the key aspects of understanding yourself in her book, "The Complete Being". The book is organized into four main sections to expound on the mental, spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of the complete being. The mental aspect explores the necessary knowledge, formal and informal, to realize your dreams. Spiritual aspects encompass your belief systems, which may include formal religion. Emotional aspects are your personality traits and responses to the world around you. The final aspect, physical, attends to biological health.
"The Complete Being" discusses the evolution of social conformity and transference of information from a group orientation to the current emphasis on individuality and discovering your true self. Each section includes a dynamic and interesting exploration of how each aspect has evolved in our culture. How, for example, education used to be limited to what you needed to know to run the family business or what was culturally required for a typical man or woman. Exercises at the end of each section guide the reader to explore and incorporate the discussion.
Brady's goal is to have the reader explore their true self. In chapter 2, the author states, "Often people fight the most vigilantly against the viewpoints of others when they have never actually analyzed their own values let alone assessed their own life philosophies against other possible systems." (p.51) She goes on to call attention to our penchant to live by "expectations that our not your own." (p. 51)
I appreciate Tami Brady's intent to help people discover their truth so that we all can live authentic lives. She presents ideas in an organized format and provides both background information and tools to incorporate new knowledge. Brady's own background is so interesting that I kept wishing she would share the detail of her personal story and how she re-learned each aspect including her obstacles.
"The Complete Being" is a helpful book for those at the beginning of the journey to their truth. The compartmentalized aspects allow the reader to think about one part of their self at a time. Someone further along in their personal journey might be disappointed by the missing discussion on how the aspects overlap and interact. The book's presentation of the aspects might lead a reader to believe that in real life, your mental, spiritual, emotional and physical aspects can be addressed separately and in order. I love that the author acknowledged and welcomed all parts of a person and encouraged us to love our whole selves when she said, "Ignoring your talents and limitations invalidates a part of you." (p. 119)

Erika K. Oliver
Reader Views

The Complete Being is a perfect and simple way to begin the process of transforming one's life and living the unique purpose that resides within the soul.

From Richard A. Singer Jr., MA, CAC
Author, Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present

“If you try to compete with others, you are destined to fail

Someone will always be richer, better looking, or faster.

However, if you strive to be yourself, you can’t help but succeed.

You are the only person who can be you.

You are the only one who really knows who you are and the true

depth of your dreams.

Therefore, in order to be truly successful,

You need to explore who you are

And follow your most heartfelt desires.”

-Tami Brady

This is great advice from the author of The Complete Being. Brady’s work is truly down to earth, intelligent and remarkably practical in today’s society. If, for whatever reason, life is not what you want it to be, this information can help you make the changes in order to transition into a new and beautiful way of living. It is one of the best guidebooks I have read and yet it does not overwhelm the reader with daunting tasks and unrealistic expectations.

Brady addresses the mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of making the shifts necessary to live a life that is authentically you. Historically informative, she explains how societies of the past operated; the importance of like minds and the danger of differing views. As we have evolved, we are becoming more aware of our unique desires and needs. Brady writes, “In the modern world, there is no common indicator of job success, no right way to live, and no single interpretation of life, death, and the world at large. This shift in attitude is due to the overall transition from small homogeneous ethnic populations comprised mostly of likeminded individuals that share like norms, values, and lifestyles to a larger more global culture containing a variety of different viewpoints in these areas.” It is now up to us to decide how we need to live in order to be balanced and at peace. Exercises are provided to zero in on what changes we desire and what dreams can fuel our passion. The author shares her story and what she has accomplished by simply giving herself permission to ask “why not?”.

Spiritually we are quite a diverse group and the subject is addressed respectfully and with terrific insight. “The perfect mixture of sacred traits will allow you to determine the purpose of your life. It will give you the wisdom to understand all of the hows and the whys about life and your place within this world.” She also states that there is no absolute truth that is right for everyone. We are indeed on a journey to find our own truth.

We all have specific personality traits and emotional behaviors and conditioning. Society is unforgiving if you happen to display certain types of traits and behaviors. “Ultimately, no matter how much you want to please other by adapting your behaviour to suit their needs you will fail in the attempt. In order to succeed, you need to find your own personal version of right emotional traits.” Accepting yourself will bring you true liberation. What a great message.

We all deal with our own judgment of our body good and bad. It all seems to return to the issue of self acceptance. If there are goals to meet, this book is a great launching pad.

The Complete Being is a recommended read for those in a rut or at a crossroads. Either way, change is in the air!!

Reviewed by Angela Hutchinson
Spirit-Works.net

Resonating Your Own Unique Personhood

Tami Brady has provided a template to help the reader see life as a whole. The book is divided into four sections: mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. First Brady explains specifically the aspects of each. She moves on to ask the questions: How do these aspects affect daily life? What does this mean for me in particular? How can I go about changing or altering my current mixture of aspects? She then guides the reader to ask the question: What next?

As a part of this journey in self discovery Brady helps the reader explore predetermined conditions, genetics, and learned behavior patterns. Each section of the book includes practical, innovative exercises with specific questions to aid the reader in personally applying the principles discussed.

These exercises are especially valuable for use during times of extended contemplation and reflection. The book is introspective and individualistic. I found Brady’s suggestions regarding active journaling especially helpful. A comprehensive bibliography and resource list enhance the future value of the book as a source of future study.

This work is an excellent choice for inclusion in the Spiritual Dimensions Series published by the Loving Healing Press. I found it helpful for self examination and analysis. The author helped me gain insights into my personal behavior patterns and in understanding myself in relation to the world around me.

Tami Brady is very articulate and an excellent communicator. The book is designed to help the reader discover for themselves an understanding of their own unique personality.

Richard R. Blake

Ms. Brady has written a well-rounded and insightful guide to help you become the real you. She has set the book up in sections, making it easier to work through, has explained each aspect of what it takes to be who you want to be and has included exercises to help the reader through the changes they want to make.

If you could come home "refreshed," or like what you do for a living, this book may be of some help. Perhaps you want to change your "belief system" and do not know where to begin. This book is for you. But, normal is a "myth" and Ms. Brady writes that no one is "normal" --not even our parents. She offers her perceptive thoughts as an explanation, never to leave you wondering.
The very first chapter offers a sound beginning -- deciding your needs, ambitions, and what guidance is necessary to achieve that refreshed or I-like-my-life you. Ms. Brady has included an exercise that will help you determine what you enjoy, value, take pride in and get pleasure from. It further guides you to examine the causes for your emotional pain or the reasons you may feel invalid or inferior. After working through the nine-step exercise, you will be instructed to make a timeline or business plan so that you can put the outcome into action.

This is a complete head-to-toe handbook that includes a chapter of the mental, spiritual or belief system, emotional, and physical. You are asked to be totally honest with yourself as Ms. Brady walks you through the process.

In the "how can you figure out what your particular emotional aspects mixture should be?" chapter, Ms. Brady assures the reader that all emotional aspects are not necessarily "faults." She writes, " As noted in the previous section, the prospect of exploring your emotional side may seem extremely frightening and completely overwhelming. Yet, you could easily come up with a handful of traits that you deem your emotional faults. Perhaps you think you cry too much. Maybe you see yourself as needy. Possibly you find it difficult to communicate with others. Conceivably you find it difficult to commit. Maybe you feel intimidated, unsafe, or afraid of spiders."

She goes on to say, "In fact, none of these fragments are necessarily faults or automatically wrong behaviours." She breaks down the difference between being afraid of being trapped with a nest of spiders to one "scurrying across the floor of your kitchen." She suggests exploring the emotion to learn if it is "your unrealistic fear" which "may represent a learnt behaviour that you may be able to change."

In conclusion, Ms. Brady sums up that the book is intended to give "you some ideas about where and how you may tailor your mental, spiritual, and physical parts to become more relevant for your own personal needs." She states that the information contained in her book "does not represent a cure all or some sort of absolute truth. The information and methods set out in this book are merely tools."

In essence, "you are the only one who can decide how to live your life" and "you are the only one who can ultimately change your life." But, if you need a starting point and helpful exercises to find thereal you, this is a must read.

Ms. Brady is a wife and mother who took her own advice. She could "stretch a dime into a dollar," clean up messes, reread stories to the children, and play with bugs in the park. But, Tami longed to be something more. She wanted her degree in archaeology. Every reason was an excuse until one day when she "had an epiphany." Everything else, as they say, is just history.

Today, Tami Brady "holds an M.A. in Archaeology and Heritage (earned with distinction from the University of Leicester, UK) and has her own archaeological consulting company." She continues to write.

Sue Vogan
Book Pleasures

Many of us are caught in a web of living an unfulfilling life. We go through each day with no goals or ambitions to help challenge our minds. The comfort zones that we cocoon around our existence hamper our growth. There are those who fantasize of the perfect life where all their innermost dreams become a reality.
Wake up and break free of the invisible chains that are holding you prisoner. You are your own individual and are able to have the life you see in your mind's eye. You may be questioning how this is possible; there is no hope in your current situation. Through the inspirational revelations of Tami Brady's The Complete Being: Finding And Loving the Real You, you will discover a special person exists right before your eyes every time you look into the mirror. Through her words of motivation and encouragement you will quickly be heading on the pathway of success. Each word of wisdom was like a bright ray of sunshine. It gave me the opportunity to see all the talents I had been missing. It also showed me how to use these wonderful talents to achieve that which I most desired.
This book is a truly unique self-help book that will take you on a self-actualization journey to find yourself. The author has used her own special touch to make this book shine. You can almost feel the warmth of her words radiate throughout your body as you allow each one to absorb deep into your soul. Allow her to come into your life and you will discover the person you were truly meant to be. By doing so, you will have taken the first step in finding a life so full of rewards.

Suzie Housley
MyShelf.com

The Complete Being: Finding and Loving the Real You by Tami Brady is an inspirational self-help book about allowing yourself the freedom to grow and change. The book is well-written and easy to follow. Each chapter includes information and exercises for putting this knowledge into practice. Brady explains the role of cultural and environmental factors in our development as individuals and puts an emphasis on using all available resources to help you achieve personal satisfaction. Brady encourages readers to avoid being locked into a particular theory as it relates to their development. An example of this is in chapter 1; Brady asserts that ”you’ll have to learn new ways of undertaking tasks, be open to alternative interpretations, and perhaps even discover different ways of living.” As an avid self-help reader, I found Brady’s book to be one that you absolutely must have on your personal growth bookshelf. A great…and helpful read.

Rebecca Benston
Sime~Gen Reviews