How to Love and Be Loved

Do you feel you can't go on like this, that something has to change?

Are you lacking in energy, motivation, direction?

Do you wish you could do more smiling, laughing, loving?

How to Love and Be Loved is a step by step guide to re-connecting with life and rediscovering a love for life. A book to inspire anyone who has ever wondered 'what's the point?'. A workbook to put them in the position to find the answer.

From a background of lived experience and PTSD, with a curious mind and a training in product design, Mikyla's gentle and unique approach encompasses storytelling, coaching, spirituality and scientific explanation.

The book uses beautiful ink drawings by the author to illustrate the text and to pace the reading of the book, providing a gentle, supportive and calming experience.

Over one hundred and thirty ink drawings are featured to lift your spirits. The cheeky ink-drawn character, 'Indigo Violet' introduces every chapter and sub-section. 

Storytelling and coaching techniques are used explore well-being concepts others call meditation, mindfulness, self-love.,p>

Throughout the book there are spaces to journal your own thoughts in response to ideas explored. At the end of each chapter is a page designed to be used as an aide-memoire, for any points that resonate specifically with you. The final chapter shows how to create a Life Manual, unique to you, by cutting and sewing pieces of paper into a book, to record the key tips and techniques that you found worked for you. The Life Manual you create is designed to keep you moving forward, even after finishing reading How To Love and Be Loved.

The book is printed on cream paper and uses a specific font and layout to improve readability, relevant to anyone with dyslexia, or visual processing issues common with Autism and ADHD, or who are currently struggling to concentrate due to mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety and mental exhaustion.

How To Love and Be Loved was written and designed as a gift of love to the world. It has an inscription plate on page one so you too, can use it as a gift to send to someone you love, who needs to feel love, or to reconnect with loving. The gift of a well chosen book is more meaningful than a greetings card. The author dreams that How To Love and Be Loved will also be bulk purchased as gifts for community groups focussing on wellbeing.

"The illustrations make the book stand out amongst self-help books and brilliantly showcase the author's credibility as both an artist and a person with a high awareness of, and perceptiveness about human emotions" (advance copy reader)

"My attention was held throughout the book and I felt buoyed up by the ideas and the choices to take action" (advance copy reader)

"The author is so generous with all her tips and open about her own challenges. Her passion and belief in what she says comes through so strongly." (advance copy reader)

"The author has obviously been through the wringer of life but has been able to emerge smiling and is reaching back to encourage others to find a ways through to the same place. The advice is practical, down to earth, simple and easy. I will be definitely recommending this book to my friends - I love it!" (advance copy reader)

"This book is so much more accessible than most self-help books. It provides really helpful steps - the author made it seem very doable." (advance copy reader)

"The tips resonated with me and reminded me that I have a choice about happiness" (advance copy reader)