Customer Reviews

Living in Balance: A Dynamic Approach for Creating Harmony and Wholeness in a Fragmented World

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not being a "new-age" type of person, I was cautious when I first heard about Joel and Michelle's work -- then I was fortunate enough to get to work with them personally. Wow. They approach everything from a scientific perspective, explaining the effects breathing has on the body, how meditation affects brainwaves (and how you can control them!), and demonstrating techniques on expanding awareness that really work. Some of the Leveys' teachings seem so obvious in retrospect that one has to wonder how we move about daily without tripping on them. I recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their awareness (and thus, choices and control) of their own lives, manage stress, expand their potential, and live in a more balanced manner with the crazy world around us.

This book was difficult for me to put down. Initially I borrowed it from the library but realized after turning down the corner of every other page because the information was so vital, so profound, so inherent to living a spiritually healthy life that this book is a must have for my own library. It is like having a conversation with a valued friend. You will find the Leveys know their stuff, and yours too! A terrific gift for the seasoned explorer of the spiritual path as well as the novice.

I too found this to be a great book and, after reading a library copy, bought it for myself. After losing nearly all of my family, I was undergoing counseling for stress, anxiety and depression and trying to select a future direction for my life. In just the first few chapters, the Leveys showed me that even though I thought I no longer had any support in my life, I am actually blessed with a wonderful, supportive network of friends and business associates -- and then went on to show me how to improve the supportive relationships which are already in my life and gain new ones. This book has brought me peace and comfort. If life's stresses have caused you to temporarily lose your way, this book can guide you back and bring your life back into balance.

Other reviewers have commented on the focus on mindfulness, which permeates the entire book (in very accessible ways).

The other theme is that establishing balance in life (which is full of change) requires an appetite for lifelong learning.

To quote from Chapter 3: "balance, when properly understood, is a cyclic dance of learning, meeting challenges, more learning, more accomplishments," whereby at "each step, you are able to bring a higher order of understanding to handle a greater degree of complexity in the challenge....if we stop learning and get stuck in the familiar, the integrity of our nervous system diminishes, like a once-strong muscle that weakens after a period of disuse."

There is a nice graphic to go along with this discussion, which identifies zones that range from "burnout" (lots of challenge with too little capacity to adapt) to "learning" (adequate challenge and resources to adapt) to "rustout" (insufficient challenge with an abundance of untapped skills and capacity).

I highly recommend this book, whether you or someone you care about is feeling "out of balance" and wants a more whole approach to being able to flow with changes in life.

I'm amazed this book is out of print!! I agree with comments of other readers. A wonderful book, with an abundance of simple techniques to help in developing focus, discipline, serenity. My copy is also dog-eared and I find myself re-reading chapters to ingrain messages. The Levey's are more accessible to me than some other authors in this genre (eg. Dyer, Williamson). Just a great book!!! Thank you, Joel and Michelle.

I also can not believe that this book is not still in print! Can't someone do something? this is one of the BEST books I have ever read and love to recommend.

I have just started this book, but so far I am loving it. It makes perfect sense and I can't wait to finish.

The Leveys have a few books out and they are all good, filled with good practical information presented in an easy reading style. They seem to be good folks trying to do some good in a world that needs it terribly.

I love this book and keep it close to read and re-read. Many good techniques for meditation all rolled into one loving, gentle book. Nicely written - highly recommended.