Antonia Pont’s Plain Life: On Thinking, Feeling and Deciding is a thoughtful, grounded exploration of what it means to live well—not in a grand, performative, or productivity-driven sense, but in a steady, attentive, deeply human way. For counselling clients, especially those navigating stress, decision-making, emotional overwhelm or the pressures of “getting life right,” Pont’s writing offers a refreshing alternative to many self-help narratives.
What the Book Is About
At its heart, Plain Life examines how our thinking, feeling and decision-making processes shape our day-to-day experience. Pont invites readers to slow down and observe these processes rather than react to them automatically. She blends philosophy, personal anecdote and gentle provocation to encourage a practice of noticing—how we respond to pressure, where our habits come from, and what happens when we pause before choosing.
She challenges the cultural expectation that a “good” life is big, busy, or impressive. Instead, she argues that the ordinary—what she calls the “plain”—is not only enough, but often the most sustainable and honest way to live. The book gently encourages reflective practice: asking better questions, listening to one’s body, and cultivating a quieter, more deliberate relationship with oneself.
Why It Matters for Clients in Counselling
For many people coming to counselling, there’s a sense of needing to fix things quickly or change themselves dramatically. Pont’s approach offers a counterbalance. She encourages readers to trust small steps, to recognise their inner resources, and to see decision-making as a practice that becomes clearer over time.
The book is particularly helpful for:
- People who struggle with overthinking – Pont offers ways to soften the mental grip and turn towards curiosity rather than control.
- Clients dealing with emotional overwhelm – her reflections normalise emotion as information rather than a problem.
- Those navigating big life transitions – she frames choice as a series of experiments, not all-or-nothing decisions.
- Clients feeling pressure to “perform” life – Pont provides a gentler path, grounded in authenticity rather than external expectations.
A Counsellor’s Perspective
Reading Plain Life feels a bit like sitting with someone who gives you permission to exhale. As a counsellor, I appreciate the way Pont articulates subtle internal experiences that many people struggle to name. Her writing doesn’t offer quick fixes, nor does it lean on clichés. Instead, she encourages a mindful, reflective posture—an attitude very much aligned with therapeutic work.
What stands out is her emphasis on practice: that living well is not a state we finally reach, but something we keep showing up to, moment by moment. This mirrors what many clients discover in therapy—growth often happens quietly, through repeated small choices that gradually shift how we relate to ourselves and the world.
Final Thoughts
Plain Life is a valuable companion for anyone seeking more ease, clarity, or self-understanding. It’s not a traditional self-help book; it’s more like a philosophical friend offering thoughtful reflections that help you slow down and reconnect with yourself. For counselling clients, it can be a supportive complement to therapeutic work, offering language and ideas that deepen personal insight.
If you’re looking to cultivate a gentler, more intentional way of living—one that allows space for uncertainty, feeling, and genuine choice—this book is well worth your time.
If you’d like a session with John Belchamber, you can book a counselling session here.