Author’s emotional guidebook helps ID negative feelings
By Denise Baran-Unland For The Herald-News September 20, 2012 1:44PM
Former Joliet resident Michelle Bursell, psychotherapist is the author of "F.E.E.L.: Turn Your Negative Emotions into your Greatest Allies." Bursell's book is one of four that were to be included in the Emmy Awards gift bags.
Updated: October 22, 2012 6:02AM
When a spontaneous 4:30 a.m. urge to write seized former Joliet resident Michelle Bersell, she never considered those words might one day travel to the Emmy Awards.
“I suddenly had this insight into emotions; I understood the purpose of feelings,” said Bersell, a Wisconsin psychotherapist. “To me, emotions felt like nuisances. They got in the way of living life to the fullest.”
Five months later, Bersell had written her first book, “Emotional Abundance: Become Empowered.” At the end of September, Bersell will release her second book, “F.E.E.L.: Turn Your Negative Emotions Into Your Greatest Allies,” which is one of four books chosen as a featured gift of the Emmy Awards gift bags.
“Having my book as a part of the gift bag of the Emmy Awards increases the book’s ability to positively impact more people’s emotional lives, which is why I created the book,” Bersell said. “The book is about supporting more people to recognize how they have a choice to view their negative feelings from an empowered perspective. Knowing that changes your life.”
“F.E.E.L.: Turn Your Negative Emotions Into Your Greatest Allies” is a guidebook as well as a reference tool. Inside, Bersell details the process for identifying negative emotions and transforming the fear behind them into positive assets.
“We all get blasted by what I call ‘shame themes,’” Bersell said. “Fear tells us that we’re not good enough or smart enough. Our fear fuels from this.”
Bersell teaches how to “read” negative emotions correctly in order to see the fear and shame driving it. She then shows how to react with love.
Each time a person chooses to act instead of react, he or she feels empowered. The more one practices Bersell’s method, the easier it becomes.
“You learn what your core fears are and become more aware of them,” Bersell said. “As they keep showing up over and over again, they get old; they become boring. The emotional pain that accompanies those negative feelings causes you to wake up and say, ‘Is it worth it to keep choosing this path?’”
Bersell is not promising “F.E.E.L.: Turn Your Negative Emotions Into Your Greatest Allies” will prevent negative emotions from entering your life. However, she does believe that if you apply her principles you will experience greater emotional energy and happiness.
“We’ll be acting from our true self and reach our true potential,” Bersell said. “You’ll be able to meet your highest expectations of you.”
Several media outlets have featured Bersell: Women’s World and Parents magazines, along with Fox television. Bersell is part of the upcoming film documentary “The Secret 2 Luck.” She received national recognition as one of “50 Great Authors You Should Be Reading” for her first book.
Bersell also conducts seminars, retreats and speaking engagements. Visit her at www.MichelleBersell.com or www.feelthebook.com.
