Coming Alive by Barry Michels & Phil Stutz Summary
Overview of Coming Alive
Discover the antidote to your inner saboteur with "Coming Alive" - the breakthrough guide endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Drew Barrymore. Therapists Michels and Stutz offer four transformative tools that sparked a Netflix documentary and promise to unlock your soul's potential. What's blocking your greatness?
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Key takeaways
When Your Inner Saboteur Holds You Hostage
Ever notice how you can know exactly what you need to do - call that person, start that project, have that difficult conversation - and yet find yourself paralyzed? It's as if some invisible force is draining your resolve before you even begin. Two Hollywood therapists discovered that this isn't weakness or lack of willpower. It's something far more insidious: an internal saboteur they call "Part X," and it's waging war against your potential every single day. Their approach became so transformative that A-list actors and executives now wait months for appointments, willing to pay $1,500 per session. But here's the revolutionary part: you don't need endless therapy sessions to fight back. You need tools that work in ten seconds, right when Part X attacks. Think about the last time you felt truly unstoppable. Maybe you were creating something, deeply connecting with someone, or facing a challenge with surprising courage. That wasn't a fluke - it was your Life Force breaking through. Throughout history, humans have recognized this animating energy: prana in Indian philosophy, chi in Chinese medicine, ruach in Hebrew scripture. It's not metaphorical. It's the force that pushes weeds through concrete, drives salmon upstream, and fills new parents with superhuman endurance. Phil Stutz first felt this power on a college basketball bench. Physically underdeveloped and never playing, he discovered he could contribute by throwing his entire being into the game mentally - jumping, screaming, calling plays from the sidelines. When his enthusiasm spread to teammates and sparked unprecedented performance, he felt most alive. The tragedy is that most of us experience this force only in fleeting moments - during childbirth, falling in love, or sudden creative breakthroughs - then quickly return to "normal" life focused on limitations rather than possibilities. The Life Force isn't something you need to earn or deserve. It's already inside you, waiting. But accessing it requires understanding what's blocking it: a force that doesn't want your money or possessions but something far more valuable - your passion, inspiration, and potential.
Meeting Your Internal Enemy and Its Deadly Weapons
The Black Sun: Reversing the Energy Drain
The Vortex: Tapping Into Boundless Spiritual Energy
The Mother: Transforming Despair Into Unshakable Faith
The Tower: Breaking Free From Victimhood Through Death and Rebirth
Living Between Two Worlds: Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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