55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound Self-Help Advice Based on Mind-Body Research!, July 10, 2001
Many people report that the more they succeed or have materially, the less at peace they feel. Yet they feel driven to do more and more. Dr. Borysenko has written a practical book that draws on the latest mind-body connection research to show you how to balance using stress to focus your attention with bathing your life in tranquility to bring satisfaction and joy. The book is greatly improved by her many self-deprecating personal examples of being a perfectionist overachiever with many demands upon her. Having been on the front lines of being overcommitted, she definitely knows what she's talking about! Anyone who is feeling less than satisfied with meeting their responsibilities will find this book to be a refreshing and valuable guide.
The book is divided into sections based on strategies for guiding your life overall, taking care of yourself, changing your relationship with time, managing your state of mind, developing the quality of your emotional connections, and adding meaningful purpose to your life.
The book has 52 sections, which I would normally describe as overkill. But Dr. Borysenko takes a gradual, step-at-a-time approach that makes these like desserts to be sampled over time rather than rigid prescriptions to apply every day and immediately. Even if you only read the first six sections and remember their lessons, you will probably end up taking a lot of unhelpful strain out of your life. So use as little or as much as you feel comfortable applying!
I read a lot about mind-body research to understand how physiology affects psychology and vice versa. These connections are well documented in the medical research literature, and are explained in simple, compelling ways in the book.
Personally, I can report enormous benefits from meditation, which is just one of 52 concepts in the book. Although this book will help you understand why taking time to meditate makes the rest of your day go better, you will probably want to get another book or some personal instruction to actually begin doing this practice in the most satisfying way for you.
If your spouse, child, grandchild, or friend shows signs of too much stress, this book may also make a wonderful gift to show your compassion and understanding.
After you finish this book, I hope you will take some quiet time to reflect on what the purpose of your life will be in the future. How can you shift your attention to make that purpose come true in ways that are more emotionally rewarding for you and others?
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific, As Usual, August 5, 2001
Joan Borysenko, who is possibly the smartest AND nicest woman in America, has done it again with this gem of a book. For those of us with To Do lists that appear to be on steroids,(and sadly that's just about everybody, right?) this is the book. Practical, helpful, based in grounded psychology and integrated spirituality, eminently readable and instantly translatable into action... what can I say? Read it, use it and benefit from it.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clarity, wit, and compassion, January 10, 2002
By A Customer
This is a beautifully written book: simple, clear, funny, and brief. The author shares lots of personal experiences that make it interesting to read and easier to relate to. There are 52 very short (2-3 pages)chapters, one for every week of the year if you want to use it that way. Even an insanely busy person like I used to be can read 3 pages a week!
There are so many chapters in this book that have helped me to get my life under control: Practice Patience, Understand What Saving Time Really Means, Make the Mind Your Ally Instead of Your Enemy, Try Power Whining, etc. Some of the suggestions you will have heard before, but Joan restates them with such clarity that they resonated with me for the first time.
I approached the age of 50 with the determination that I would finally quit making my life miserable with stress and over-work, and this book has given me many insights and helped me make some very significant changes. I recommend it without reservation to anyone who feels they are "too busy" and "have too much to do."
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