Downside Up by Tracey Mitchell

Downside Up: Transform Rejection Into Your Golden Opportunity by Tracey Mitchell is a self help book written from a Christian point of view, that targets itself directly at overcoming dysfunctional relationships.  Initially when I first took a glimpse at this book and its title, I assumed the author was writing about rejection in general.  I prepared myself to read a pep talk about career change, finding motivation and the typical skills assessment quiz needed for landing a perfect job.  All this would have been find as I find myself currently unemployed due to job lay offs.  Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book to be about another very relevant issue- interpersonal relationships as well as the related topics such as self esteem, codependency, and jealousy.  These problems,  in the context of every possible dysfunctional human relationship conceivable is covered: mother- daughter, mother- son,  siblings, boyfriend- girlfriend, and husband - wife.  The cheerful cover is perfect in dealing with an emotionally difficult subject- perhaps in an attempt to make light of the shame and humiliation and pain often associated with dysfunctional familial and romantic relationships.   Mitchell discusses the basic human needs for love, companionship and acceptance.  Furthermore, she explains that from childhood, maladaptive coping mechanisms may have been created and reinforced.  As a result, problems with relationships surface and are doomed to repeat themselves.  The reader may find herself suddenly alone and rejected by a boyfriend or even husband.  Rather than to languish in self pity or depression, the author challenges the reader to reach for self confidence and to try and correct the problem.  Rejection is a springboard for change- either in removing a toxic individual from one's life or in changing the reader's own toxic habits and reactions.  Rejection is a good thing in that it often ends a destructive relationship and allows us to start from square one.  The author starts off presenting her faith in God in the spirit of full disclosure.  Yet I feel all readers, religious and secular alike will benefit from this book.  And in the end only God can fill that void- not other people or relationships. This book is perfect for those readers who cant break free from destructive relationships.  It would also make a good gift for anyone in need of a wake up call.  As a blogger for Booksneeze I received this book published by Thomas Nelson for the purpose of writing this review.