Do One Thing Different
and other uncommonly sensible solutions to life's persistent problems

By Bill O'Hanlon

Witham Morrow & Company, Inc. 1999, New York, NY.

My favorite activity (akin to an amusement park excursion by a child) is a trip to the bookstore. I'm one of those readers who, when the pile beside the bed gets too low, goes out and purchases more. So, when I spied the title, Do One Thing Different, while browsing one afternoon in the self-help/psychology section, I immediately picked it up. It appeared intriguing and provocative. And it was.

Bill O'Hanlon is a certified professional counselor and liscensed marriage/family therapist who has written 17 books and conducted more than 600 worl-wide seminars on solution-oriented therapy. And that is the reason I am so fond of this book. It is solution-oriented and possibility driven.

It is divided into three parts:
I. Changing the Doing of the Problem: Insanity is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results.

II. Changing the Viewing of the Problem: There's Nothing As Dangerous As an Idea When It's the Only One You Have.

III. Applying the Solution-Oriented Therapy to Specific Areas of Your Life.

Bill O'Hanlon states that explanations are booby prizes; when we have a problem, we want solutions. And his solution-oriented therapy focuses on/highlights what is right with the person, what has worked in the past, and what the person can do right now, this minute, to change things and make them better.

One suggestion he made was very helpful personally. I love sweets- cookies, candies, marshmallows. Yum! But I am also health conscious and recognize the importance of what I consume and how it affects my productivity level as well as my weight. So his recommendation for one way to break this "habit of consuming huge quantities of sugar" would be to change the "hand" with which you normally eat sweets (i.e., if you are right-handed eat everything that is healthy/nutritious with that hand, but eat sweets/desserts/candies with your left hand only). Or try eating cookies in the garage instead of in the kitchen, or "dress up" before you allow yourself to eat cookies. For me, this technique/strategy worked. I lost five pounds in about six weeks. I also loved his suggestion to arguing couples. My friends report that it works every time. Check it out.

So if you are looking for practical approaches to _________ problems (i.e., chores, arguments, lateness, procrastination, etc.), this is a book that will help you to begin to break old habits and institute new patterns. Happy reading!

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