Includes index.

Introducing Self-Talk -- The Friendship Expectation: "I've Always Got My Girlfriends" -- The Dating Expectation: "I Can Find the Perfect Partner (but If I Don't, I'll Be Just Fine without One)" -- The Sex Expectation: "I'm Healthily, Happily, Wildly Sexual" -- The Marriage Expectation: "I Can Achieve the Marriage I Want (but If I Don't, I'll Just End the Marriage)" -- The Child-Rearing Expectation: "I'm Raising a Perfect Child, and Loving Every Minute of It" -- The Work Expectation: "I'm Happy with My Career (or Happy without One)" -- The Money Expectation: "I Have My Financial Life Well in Hand" -- The Balancing Act Expectation: "I'm Running My Life, It's Not Running Me" -- The Appearance Expectation: "I Love My Body Just as It Is" -- The Self-Esteem Expectation: "I Believe in Myself" -- Self-Talk among Friends: Beginning the Conversation.

Helping women recognize and realize their true desires. In this remarkable new book, a team of highly credentialed psychologists shows women how to overcome unproductive, blameful thoughts and unrealistic expectations -- the things they tell themselves about how their marriages, friendships, children, and careers should be. The book encourages women to counteract idealized images by using self talk to sort out where those "should" messages come from, isolate their own voices, and then take steps to meet their unique needs.

John Wiley and Sons Wiley eBooks