IF
Coming Soon
A Guided Exploration of Character and Self-Mastery
About This Edition
Rudyard Kipling’s If— has endured for over a century as one of the most recognizable poems in the English language—a father’s meditation on courage, balance, and moral endurance. Too often, however, it is read as simple moral instruction rather than a map of psychological development. This guided reading edition reframes If— as a study of self-mastery, tracing the emotional and moral capacities required to remain composed, just, and whole in a fractured world.
Through reflective essays and structured prompts, readers are invited to examine their own patterns of strength and avoidance—their ways of meeting triumph and disaster, of trusting themselves when doubted, of holding on when nothing remains but will.
Themes of composure, integrity, humility, and perseverance feel newly relevant in an age defined by distraction and reaction. Kipling’s vision of maturity speaks not only to manhood, but to the universal challenge of becoming a steady, grounded self amid the noise of modern life. This edition is designed for readers who seek not just to admire If—, but to live it—turning a poem into a practice of resilience, insight, and character.
An exploration of Character and Self-Mastery
A reflective edition of Rudyard Kipling’s classic poem, reimagined as a guide to character and self-mastery. This guided volume combines the full, unabridged text with original psychological insights and structured reflection prompts, transforming a work of literature into a practical tool for inner growth.
Readers are invited to explore themes of resilience, composure, humility, and perseverance while examining their own responses to challenge and uncertainty. Whether read for study, discussion, or private reflection, this edition offers a unique way to engage with a timeless work and use it as a catalyst for strength and insight.
Kindle Scribe Edition
Designed exclusively for Kindle Scribe, this pen-ready PDF journal lets you write directly on every page. Each section of the story is followed by open-space reflection pages and guided prompts formatted for handwriting—no extra apps or forms required.
The layout preserves the look of a classic text while providing generous ruled areas for note-taking, free association, or sketching. Whether you prefer margin notes, paragraph-length reflections, or visual responses, the Scribe edition transforms reading into a tactile experience of insight and self-exploration.
Optimized for Kindle Scribe’s 8-inch display, this version includes light gray guidelines for smooth writing and balanced white space for deeper journaling. Perfect for readers who want to read, think, and write—all in one place.
Coming Soon
What’s Inside IF: An Exploration of Character and Self-Mastery
A Path Into Reflection
This edition begins by guiding you to read not as a student of poetry, but as a participant in its message. You’ll learn to approach Kipling’s lines as a living dialogue with your own temperament—an invitation to explore how composure, restraint, and inner strength take shape within you. Each page asks not only what the poem means, but what it asks of you.
Themes That Demand Attention
As you move through the text, you’ll be guided to notice five psychological dimensions of maturity: composure under pressure, patience in uncertainty, humility in success, endurance through fatigue, and integrity when tested by power. Each becomes a mirror for emotional discipline and moral steadiness—the foundations of character that transcend culture and time.
The Poem in Full
The complete, unabridged text of If— appears in a carefully designed reading format that slows the pace and centers reflection. Visual spacing and collage-inspired imagery invite you to experience the rhythm of each stanza as both poetry and philosophy.
Essays That Open Doors
A series of companion essays explore the psychological architecture of Kipling’s vision—how self-trust forms, how emotional regulation matures, and how endurance transforms adversity into depth. These essays connect early 20th-century ideals with modern psychological insight, turning moral instruction into a lived, reflective practice.
Writing as Discovery
Throughout the volume, reflective prompts and expressive writing exercises transform reading into self-inquiry. You’ll trace your own responses to triumph and defeat, strength and humility, doubt and resolve. Writing becomes a practice of mastery—translating Kipling’s timeless ideals into personal growth and present-moment awareness.
The Wider Horizon
The journey concludes by situating If— within a broader lineage of archetypes—the Warrior, the Sage, the Builder—revealing how Kipling’s meditation on character belongs to a universal pattern of human development. Across eras, the challenge remains the same: to hold fast to one’s center, act with integrity, and remain whole in the midst of life’s demands.
Why Read If— This Way?
Most presentations of Kipling’s poem end at admiration. This edition goes further. By combining the full text with psychological interpretation, it transforms a moral exhortation into an active exploration of self-mastery. Rather than merely absorbing advice, you are invited to test it—to examine how these virtues operate, falter, and mature within your own life.
Where a standard reprint inspires reflection on an idealized “man,” this guided reading edition brings the focus inward. It shifts the question from What is strength? to How do I build it? Through reflection and writing, the poem becomes not a set of instructions but a living discipline—a way of meeting challenge with steadiness and grace.
Psychological Constructs Explored
This edition highlights key psychological themes embedded in Kipling’s vision of maturity, each connected to modern emotional and behavioral insight:
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Self-Trust Amid Doubt — The capacity to rely on inner guidance when external approval falters.
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Emotional Regulation Under Strain — Holding composure and clarity when surrounded by confusion or blame.
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Humility in Power — Retaining balance when influence, admiration, or success invite inflation.
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Endurance Beyond Fatigue — Continuing to act with integrity when energy, certainty, and motivation fade.
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Moral Integration — Aligning thought, feeling, and action into a coherent sense of self, grounded in restraint and principle.
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Each construct bridges literary insight and psychological practice, allowing Kipling’s century-old meditation on manhood to serve as a timeless framework for personal development.
Editor in Chief
Cody Thomas Rounds is a licensed clinical psychologist- Master, Vice President of the Vermont Psychological Association (VPA), and an expert in leadership development, identity formation, and psychological assessment. As the chair and founder of the VPA’s Grassroots Advocacy Committee, Cody has spearheaded efforts to amplify diverse voices and ensure inclusive representation in mental health advocacy initiatives across Vermont.
In his national role as Federal Advocacy Coordinator for the American Psychological Association (APA), Cody works closely with Congressional delegates in Washington, D.C., championing mental health policy and advancing legislative initiatives that strengthen access to care and promote resilience on a systemic level.
Cody’s professional reach extends beyond advocacy into psychotherapy and career consulting. As the founder of BTR Psychotherapy, he specializes in helping individuals and organizations navigate challenges, build resilience, and develop leadership potential. His work focuses on empowering people to thrive by fostering adaptability, emotional intelligence, and personal growth.
In addition to his clinical and consulting work, Cody serves as Editor-in-Chief of PsycheAtWork Magazine and Learn Do Grow Publishing. Through these platforms, he combines psychological insights with interactive learning tools, creating engaging resources for professionals and the general public alike.
With a multidisciplinary background that includes advanced degrees in Clinical Psychology, guest lecturing, and interdisciplinary collaboration, Cody brings a rich perspective to his work. Whether advocating for systemic change, mentoring future leaders, or developing educational resources, Cody’s mission is to inspire growth, foster professional excellence, and drive meaningful progress in both clinical and corporate spaces.