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The Presence Process<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nby Michael Brown<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you uncomfortable with feeling?<\/li> Do you sedate or control situations or emotions?<\/li> Would you like to be more present in your life’s experiences?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nMichael Brown would suggest that we are all emotionally underdeveloped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharing the seven-year cycle, he explains that between infancy and seven years old you learn to use your emotions to get what you want, but then between 7-14, you get enrolled in school and start to focus on your mind. At 14-21, the focal point moves to the physical body as you become interested in your body and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A presence process, learn to feel what you feel without masking it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 12-week experiment. You could give it a try right away or read it in its entirety. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Miracle of Mindfulness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Thich Nhat Hanh<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nEvery day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black curious eyes of a child- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen I lived in San Diego, CA, as often as I could go, I would attend Sunday mornings at Thich Nhat Hanh’s donation-based monastery, Deer Park<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTucked away on a hillside, upon arrival a monk in a dark brown robe would share a concise intention and slowly, without talking, a large group of us would walk through nature taking one mindful step at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are completely incapable of realizing the miracle of life…”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe teachings, influential stories, and personal check-in to acknowledge if mindfulness is displayed in your actions with tools to aid you, will wake you up to life. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Book of Joy<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nby Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Abrams <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Book Club favorite! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all want to be untroubled. It doesn’t matter your race, upbringing, or where you live in the world, we all wish to be happy but we often self-sabotage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This book is about the Dalai Lama (Buddhism) and his friend Desmond Tutu (Christianity) coming together with writer Douglas Abrams (Judaism) to share their life experiences, teachings, have a giggle at each other, and discuss how are we to find joy in the face of life’s inevitable suffering? <\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\nA girlfriend advised, “everyone should read this book!” <\/em>and I completely agree. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe four pillars of mental immunity: perspective, humility, humor, and acceptance particularly made a lasting impression on my life. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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One Day My Soul Just Opened Up: 40 Days and 40 Nights Toward Spiritual Strength and Personal Growth <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Iyanla Vanzant<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My friend suggested it. We were in our mid to late twenties, fresh into yoga and diving into our depths of personal growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s an interactive book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every morning and night for 40 days you are prompted to read, highlight, and journal write within the pages to heal, unwrap and recognize who you truly are and want to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is more religious than spiritual, but you can adjust it to your own interpretation and beliefs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other suggestions: Until Today: Daily Devotions for Personal Growth and Peace of Mind <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n
Attitudes of Gratitude<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nby M.J. Ryan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the past couple of years, we’ve been living in a pandemic, and like most, I have been feeling the mental and emotional sadness and tiredness it has brought. This is why I have decided to pull out my book Attitudes of Gratitude to charm me out of this depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity…”<\/em> -Melody Beattie is quoted in the book to have said. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn small passages, M.J. with sweet guidance reminds you of the ways gratitude boosts health and suppresses worry. She’ll aid you to foster the mindset to recognize what is right and work in your life as you move through this devastating time. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Sarah Ban Breathnach<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The book image is the female copy, but she too also has this book for males. This Book Club suggestion is highly suggested. It offers quotes, lessons, stories, insight, creativity, I LOVE THIS BOOK.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nWithin its pages, you’ll be stimulated to make your authentic self visible, declutter what no longer serves you internally and externally, you’ll remember what’s important, and come to know and live a life of Simple Abundance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on where you reside in the world, you may have to go to the month that fits your season as Sarah moves through them. I would however suggest starting with January to set the tone of the Simple Abundance Journey and then go to the month that fits after.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Rick Hanson<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can devour books on love, mindfulness, and forgiveness but to understand why I do what I do is a different story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To gain an understanding of yourself it would be encouraged to acquire knowledge about the operations of your brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Providing psychology, neurology, and introspective practices, this book supplies sensible tools and skills to help you understand, and restructure your brain for your greater good.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Attached <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Dr. Amir Levin and Rachel S.F. Heller, M.A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you Anxious, Avoidant, or Secure? How the science of adult attachment can help you find- and keep- love<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nI teach a weekly private yoga class to a Senior Clinical Social Worker who holds a Ph.D. and specializes in Trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As she and I do, we transparently share our present experiences with life, and with COVID, I’ll say I’ve been learning a lot about myself and holding space for my partner, to have patience, be supportive, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was reading Attached<\/strong> and suggested I too give it a look. I haven’t finished it yet. Science-based, I’m benefiting from it not only helping me to learn about myself (Anxious attachment) through its research and quizzes but appreciate as well that it opens up a dialogue with my partner (Secure attachment) for us to understand each other. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n
Meditations From The Mat <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yoga is not a workout, it is a work in. Though it may have started that you got on your mat to get toned and become more flexible, as you return you soon realize the practice is much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With self-direction, discovery, and understanding, you begin to take a look at yourself and experiment with the inquiry: Who am I? How do I conduct myself towards others? How profound is the breath on my body and mind? Where can concentration and meditation take me? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The time for asking questions will be temporary. The questions will be followed by answers, the answers by action, and the action by growth.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nInspired by a quote from a philosopher, or author, musician, yoga influencer, or a positive difference-maker, every day entwined in Meditations from the Mat are reflections to aid you on your personalized journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” <\/em>-Hopi elder <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n
You are a Badass<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nby Jen Sincero<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’d rather do what’s expected of us than give ourselves permission to be, do and have what feels good and right and awesome…Get really good at listening to your intuition and your heart, and following your happiness- it’s critical.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhitty, spicy, a firecracker, Jen Sincero will build you up and let you know that if she can do it, you can do it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This lighthearted, intoxicating read offers stories, exercises, and advice to pep you up, give you a giggle and entice you to be the best you can be. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Mastery of Love <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Don Miguel Ruiz<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“To master a relationship is all about you.<\/em>The first step is to become aware, to know that everyone dreams his own dream. Once you know this, you can be responsible for your half of the relationship, which is you.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nEasily, this book can be completed in a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Intriguing, and comprehensible, get a glimpse of your mind and the workings of it in a way that will help you perceive your hesitation to love, why you clench onto love, and in consequence, why loving yourself is imperative to master love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other suggestions: The Four Agreements, The Four Agreements: Companion Book <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n
Moving forward: Taking the lead in your life <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Dave Pelzer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Would you walk, drive, eat, watch TV or go on a date with a duffle bag of your smelly shit next to you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people do. Swung their shit over their shoulders and transport it with them everywhere they go allowing it to negatively impact every angle of their life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If you’re forty, and still brooding over something that happened in your mid-teens, have you in fact wasted more years of your life than the event itself occupied?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nLearn to let go and move forward from the author that wrote the bestselling memoir A Child called ‘It<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Deepak Chopra<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Law of Pure Potentiality, <\/li> The Law of Giving<\/li> The Law of “Karma” <\/li> The Law of Least Effort<\/li> The Law of Intention and Desire<\/li> The Law of Detachment<\/li> The Law of Purpose in Life<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\nThese are the Seven Spiritual Laws.“Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind…what we sow is what we reap.<\/em>And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n-The Law of “Karma” or Cause and Effect<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just a bit over 100 pages, quiet down the mind, become more wakeful in consciousness, and acquire knowledge through these Laws and Applications to be your true self. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I listened to this book on audio and what an inspiration it was! It was the way he shared his story, his descriptions, and the vulnerability in his voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wrote a blog about an insert from it where he shared a time we went on a road trip with his son, Sam, and the lesson he was trying to convey to him surprisingly he learned from as well, and maybe you will too?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Many Lives, Many Masters <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nby Brian L. Weiss, M.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My fiance’s friend was murdered. I had been reading this book before the horrific incident and I concluded it on a holiday after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I never considered the afterlife but reading this book immensely helped my heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This book will change not only how to see death but you’ll question how old your soul is, where you’ve been, who you’ve been, it will widen your perspective if you deal with an unnerving characteristic, and it will have you think about how we all may be linked. Fascinating read! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA movie based on Francois Lelord’s novel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you feeling confused about what the purpose of life is? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you feel like you getting lost in the pursuit of being someone of importance and rich? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This movie reminds us what happiness is: spontaneity, not pretending, being up for change, and loving as you’ve never loved before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.\u201d <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Reading is a hobby I’ve been entertained by since childhood but it wasn’t until I … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":723,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"Open SansOpen Sans,,Open Sans","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\n
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