Why Good People Do Bad Things: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy by Debbie Ford

In Why Good People Do Bad Things, Debbie Ford focuses on the two sides of our personalities, the light loving side and the dark destructive side, that exist in each of us and how these sides influence our daily decisions and actions. She also describes the masks people wear in public and private lives that act as shields against danger. In the second section of the book that deals with healing, Ford gives the reader some direction for mending ourselves.

This book was enlightening and extremely interesting, but hard to read at times. It forces the reader to look inward at their dark sides and confront the ugly aspects of their personalities. At first, I didn’t think the book was going to be that useful for me because it started out with examples of cheating, adultery and abuse. I haven’t had experience with those things. However, once the author got into more general items like cheating on your diet, acting out in anger, telling that little lie, negative self-talk, and other self-sabotaging things, I was pretty sure I was going to like this book. These are things to which I relate.

This isn’t self-help book that offers a series steps to follow. Instead Ford explains how our dark sides operate and how they came into being. She then presents some “signposts” to look out for, which indicate destructive behavior and “antidotes” for dealing with them. In the healing section, she stresses the importance and power of forgiveness. I wish she’d spent more time on healing, but she did give the reader a good start.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the story of the chief describing his “inner wolves” to a young brave. One good wolf, one bad wolf. The chief knew that each had its place and each needed nourishment and attention. Very interesting story.

Several times throughout the book, I suddenly felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders. I think I was really meant to read this book. There’s so much to take in, I’ll have to read it again.

I’ve already mentioned this book to a few people and each of them has expressed an interest in reading it.

Recommended.