I AM A SEED

A guide that presents journaling as a way to pursue new paths in life.

Debut author Doucet writes that he was fired in 2002 from the business he helped found,and a nine-year court battle followed. He got through it, he says, with the support of friends, which helped to solidify his notion that everyone is like a seed; a person can grow a rewarding life if they receive love and encouragement from others and give love and encouragement in return. The key to this way of living, he notes in this book, is practicing introspection, including journaling, in order to forge a path in life. Over the course of the work, he reaches back to his occupational travails to give his points context. But although the book is clearly a catharsis for the author, it’s primarily a teaching tool, intended to spur reflection for 66 consecutive days. Most chapters are brief, ending with a relevant question and leaving space for readers to answer: “Can you journal about the things you love to do, remembering how they made you feel and how energized you were?” Doucet covers most of his concepts lightly, and although the seed metaphor is a connecting thread throughout the work, the lessons are varied enough that one can usefully treat each day as a stand-alone essay, such as Day 2’s “It’s the Voices That Trap You, but It’s the Reflection That Frees You” and Day 18’s “Masters Deal with Their Reactions.” Indeed, the table of contents is a handy resource, as the titles make each day’s lesson very clear, and readers can go straight to what interests them. There are some occasionally ponderous topics, but the book as a whole is a breezy read, thanks to its intuitive structure and Doucet’s uncomplicated, down-to-earth prose style.

Useful nuggets of wisdom and inspiration for readers interested in personal growth.