Book review: Where Do You Spend Your Heartbeats?

The title of this book immediately got me thinking, so I couldn’t wait to read it. Here is my review of Where Do You Spend Your Heartbeats? Design the Life You Desire, One Heartbeat at a Time by Stacey Aaron Domanico.

Disclosure: I was gifted a paperback copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission on any purchases made through the links below at no extra cost to you.

More than a self-help book

Where Do You Spend Your Heartbeats? certainly can be in the self-help category, but it is so much more than that. I appreciated how the author shared her own experiences throughout the book to bring to light many lessons learned and, in turn, help others. In this way, it had the characteristics of a memoir.

The way author Stacey Arron Domanico explains her history, from an unhealthy marriage to cancer diagnoses, in a way much like a friend would talk to me. It is a genuine voice with details that tug at the heartstrings. She gives intimate details and admits when she struggled to find answers and guidance in different life situations.

I feel close to her after finishing this book, although the only interaction I have had with her is an indirect one, reading this book. That feeling of connection by reading a book, to me, is the mark of a good memoir writer.

As Domanico explains near the start of the book, she is not a “guru” but instead a human being trying to figure out this experience called life. She is a former Fortune 50 executive turned life coach.

About the title Where Do You Spend Your Heartbeats?

How great is this title?! It is both fantastic and scary as it brings to mind the shortness and preciousness of life. Each heartbeat is another moment of life done.

The title, as the author explains, intends to help the reader determine what and who matters most in life. To spend time with those people and do the things that bring a fulfilled life. The title Where Do You Spend Your Heartbeats? leads to questioning if you are living a content life and, if not totally happy, why not.

Are you spending your life doing what you want to do? The author asked herself this question, and as a result of her answer, she left her corporate job to become a life coach and write this book.

The book encouraged me to look inside as the author did in her life. She made big changes to her life upon realizing her heartbeats were limited, a realization that came after her second cancer diagnosis.

Looking within

I had to take a good look at where I spent my heartbeats. This book gently encourages it, and I wanted the full experience.

What I realized is that I need to get a handle on my anxiety. I am spending a lot of heartbeats worrying.

If you want to change something about your life, to create a road ahead that brings you more satisfaction, then this book might be the right one for you. While change can be scary, it can also be amazing, as Stacey Aaron Domanico demonstrates in her personal life by comparing her life now to her days past.

Taking action

Yes, you can take action to have more moments of joy and contentment. If you are unsure how to do so, try reading Where Do You Spend Your Heartbeats? for tips. The author offers useful ways to begin to step out of the fear and into the life that you want.

There are key reminders at the end of each chapter, which summarizes what was read. This feature provides for a quick read of what was learned and also can be an easy way to remind ourselves of key points later.

At the end of the book is also a toolbox that contains all the tools the author shared in the book based on what worked well for Domanico. This section of the book is useful for putting into action your path ahead.

I give 5 out of 5 stars to Where Do You Spend Your Heartbeats? by Stacey Arron Domanico.

 

Top photo: My paperback copy of the book