Online for Life: The 12 Disciplines for Living Your Dreams

Robert B. MacIntyre, a former professor of psychology at the Ontario
Institute for Studies in Education, is head of the Centre for
Relationship Therapy and Education in Orangeville, Ontario.

This self-help workbook, written by a professional motivational speaker,
provides a general outline of a process for developing and accomplishing
specific goals in life. The format—relatively brief motivational
segments and a series of forms—makes Online for Life a workbook for
life planning. Most of the inspirational anecdotes are drawn from the
author’s own life and are supported by a variety of one-line
aphorisms. The aphorisms, taken from sources ranging from Confucius to
popular song lyrics, are heavily dependent on other motivational
speakers and self-help authors.

The process outlined by the author includes 12 steps that he calls
disciplines. Three steps have to do with examining and changing mental
habits that can limit effort and reduce self-empowerment. Five steps
deal with defining and formalizing personal dreams and goals. Three
further steps concern implementing plans and tracking progress. A final
step involves the practice of gratitude.

The writing is accessible and the workbook pages are simple and clear.
The insights could be summed up as, “You are in control of your life
and you can accomplish what you want if you think you can and take steps
to make it happen.” It is left to the reader to provide depth and
specificity—but then, isn’t that what workbooks are for?