Alexi Panos

50 Ways to Yay is self-help for the kind of person who considers the self-help section way too New Age. Filled with fifty short chapters that include a lesson on things like hope, love, creativity, kindness, and ambition, followed by questions to ask ourselves about where we are right now and how we can put the lessons into practice in our lives.

You could read the entire book in an hour or two, but I think it's best read one chapter at a time as a daily ritual. There isn't much that's new here for those already familiar with the world of inspirational personal growth books, but it's short and sweet and a nice reminder for those people. For anyone new to self-help, it's an excellent jumping off point to start to consider life with more joy and intention.

I received this title courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher and thank them for making it available.… (mer)

Have you ever been told you cannot do something or felt like you can't reach your dreams? Have you ever lost motivation to accomplish your goals and are looking for something to get you back on track? Everyone at some point in their lives has felt this way, including myself. I picked this book up and my life changed forever.

I was completely blown away by Riana's empowering and strong messages throughout her book. This is one of those books that everyone should be required to read just for the fact that it WILL help you. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. It will help you put aside your fears and anger and focus on believing in yourself and achieving what everyone wants, success.

If you are finding difficulties in reaching your goals and dreams, then this is the first book I would suggest you to pick up. Riana will guide you through the obstacles in your life to overcome them and Live Beyond Your Dreams. Anyone of any age can profit from this highly informative book, and should be part of regular curriculum in schools growing up.

I have heard great things about Riana Milne's public speaking, and I can only hope that at some point I will get the opportunity to see her speak. Overall I give this book 5/5!… (mer)

This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaway

Authors Riana Milne and Alexi Panos have written a self-help book, Live beyond your dreams : from fear and doubt to personal power, purpose, and success using techniques that Milne has used in her private practice and pastoral work to support the attitude that you can do anything. Her code words are “Watch me!” when someone says she can’t. She also lists five D’s that were shared by her father: desire, determination, dedication, devotion, dare to dream. She covers the self, relationships and all age groups, including teens. Panos, her daughter, shares some of her experiences with the “Watch me!” mindset.

Milne uses many examples from her own life, from her childhood, through her modeling career, marriage and divorce, college, paying massive debts from both husbands, as well as her wedding business and being a licensed minister of the Universal Life Church. She includes an excellent worksheet on setting goals. There is a bibliography for further reading, listening and viewing that includes some good suggestions. She also has a disclaimer that the book is to educate and entertain only.

After reading the testimonials in the book and on the internet, I expected so much more. I was not prepared for Milne’s disclosure of so much personal information. The hit man incident was totally irrelevant. But what really was a problem is that “perfect” Riana wrote so many times about “perfect “ Alexi and “perfect” Stephana, her other daughter, that it wore thin very quickly. She also shared that sports for children were not desirable (really – the teamwork taught isn’t relevant?) but modeling and drama were “perfect.” It is the cheerleader/beauty queen mentality and totally inappropriate for a book of this type. And Milne has no theological education; her license is from the internet where anyone can sign up. Approval takes just a few minutes and you are “ordained.” (To be fair, she does have a college degree in counseling from Rowan.)

I have now read the book twice and my impressions have not changed. There are many good books on self improvement; this is not one of them.… (mer)