Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires And Elevate Your Life is a nonfiction inspirational health/fitness book written by Colin Zhu, DO. Zhu is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a graduate of the Culinary Arts Institute who specializes in Culinary Medicine, and a heath coach who studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. He is also a dedicated triathlon and marathon athlete. Zhu was once one of the millions of people who get wrapped up in the demands and desires of modern life, but he began to realize that he was not happy with the choices he had made and the decisions he was about to act upon. He was able to make the necessary changes in his approach to life to enable him to craft a life that kept him fulfilled while also helping others to find their own paths. Thrive Medicine shows readers how they can learn more about themselves, who they are and what they want out of life. Each chapter is followed by recommended Action Steps which reinforce the topic covered, and help the reader grasp those essential aspects and apply them to their own Thrive strategy.

Colin Zhu’s Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires And Elevate Your Life offers the motivated reader a blueprint for thriving that is easily followed, no matter where you are on your life’s journey. Zhu shares his own life journey throughout this work in an honest and matter of fact fashion that makes it quite easy to see him as both a coach and confidante while working through the Action Steps questions at the end of each chapter. His writing style is conversational and smooth and, while his approach to his subject is educated, it is presented in informal language that keeps it accessible. I was especially interested in his stories about his mother, who is a Chinese physician, and the influence she has had on his personal and professional life. Some chapters in this book are great fun to work through and help to illustrate that the sky is indeed the limit for what you can achieve, while others, such as the one on forgiveness, may be a bit harder -- but they all seem quite worth the effort. Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires And Elevate Your Life is most highly recommended.

Thrive Medicine by author Colin Zhu is a well written book that encourages the reader to do more than focus on their issues, and shows how to move past an issue that may be holding you back. Many people, it seems, are just trying to survive life and make it through. The reader quickly sees there is more to life than just survival. We have an opportunity to thrive within the journey called life, yet much of that depends upon our needs, mindset and ability to not be held captive by issues that appear larger than typically they truly are.

Author Zhu, founder of The Chef Doc™, gives very encouraging and insightful wisdom to help the reader move past their obstacles and enjoy life to the fullest. Many times, the reason an individual doesn’t make changes within their life is because after receiving information and instructions on what they must do, they must then “Do”, meaning put into action what we know, what will help us in our situation. When this occurs, we must also learn how to love ourselves as well as others. Without learning to love, we can’t truly learn how to thrive and be all that we are enabled to become.

There are action steps at the end of each chapter which help the reader to put into action what the chapter encouraged the reader to put into practice within their life. The bottom line is that after all the information has been read and digested, it is up to the reader to apply and put that information into practise.

If you feel you are stuck in life, or have lost your way and feel confused, then Thrive Medicine by Colin Zhu might just be what you need. Chapter by chapter, you get all the information and ideas you need to turn your life around or to simply adjust it a little. There are plenty of exercises, questions to answer, and concepts to think about. Colin Zhu himself was once at the stage during which he was mindless and just part of the usual rat race. A rather sad encounter with a deer changed this - and from that moment on, his life changed. Now the doctor puts his knowledge into a well written book to share his wisdom, so that readers can also lead a happier and calmer life.

When I started reading Thrive Medicine by Colin Zhu, I was worried that it would be all about the author and his life story, but that was not the case. You do get a fairly good idea about things that made him think and change his life, but it's not as egocentric as other self help books that seem to be more therapy for the author than true help for the reader. While I am familiar with the concepts described in the book, it is always very good to have a reminder, especially if you feel that you've somehow lost your way.

The concepts are presented in an easy to follow manner and if you do all the exercises and think about the questions honestly, then you won't be able to NOT see a difference in your life. However, if you are not consistent and not honest, then no self-help book in the world can move you forward. I would recommend you to have pen and paper ready when working with this book, then you can IMMEDIATELY work on the exercises instead of thinking, "Ah, well, I need something to write - I will get back to those later." So, arm yourself with this advice: this book, an open and honest mind, pen and paper, and the will to WORK a bit ... and you will see results.