Customer Reviews

Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much - Revised edition

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
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As a university student I often find myself loaded with work, worries, and rushing. I read a few passages from this book every night to clear my mind, center my thoughts, and see that there is more to life than always being busy. It is wonderfully written and compiled. It applies to many aspects of a woman's life. You don't have to be religious, a mother, or a working woman to get great value from this book.

We women are raised to take care of the world instead of ourselves. Kids, spouses, jobs, parents, organizations, volunteerism all take precedence in our lives over looking out for number one. What women don't realize that if we don't cut back some and take care of ourselves, we will crash, and who will be there to take care of all that we take care of now?

I bought this book after I coordinated a mini-convention, discovered my mother has cancer, my older cat had breast cancer surgery, and I was attending a class on how to deal with my husband's diabetes. With the holidays coming up, my stress levels were raising more than my cholesterol. Something had to give.

Every night this little gem of a book tells me that it's okay to let go, which was the same advice my best friend gave me the night I purchased it. I am not Wonder Woman, so why am I trying? Why do I feel the need to fix everyone and everything in my life except myself? This book will helps me uncover the behaviors affecting my life and then helps me change them.

You need this book. I'm buying three more copies for other women who need them.

This little day-to-day book may help explain to us why as women we often make life choices that leave us over-worked and feeling bitter and unfulfilled. Using a combination of quotes, questions, and tough-love talk, Anne Wilson Schaef's book sheds some 12-step spiritual-style and common-sense light into the dark corners of the busy-rushaholics- work-aholics life. Give this book to a woman you love or admire who "does too much" and then buy a copy for yourself.

This book was a gift from my husband- and every day I realize how wonderful a gift it is. I try to read daily some passage from the book, and it has definitely helped me prioritize my responsibilities to myself and my family.I can focus my spiritual energy anytime thanks to this book. It's an excellent way to spend time on a stationary bike! I have bought several copies and given them to several of my close friends and women who work for me as Christmas presents.

What I love most about this book is that it is small enough to bring with you anywhere you go, and the wisdom large enough to calm and soothe you no matter where you are. It's the type of book that you can open to any page, and find wisdom ranging on topics such as: Being present to the moment; Busyness; Exhaustion; Goals; Honesty; Wholeness; Live life fully/Curiosity; Forgiveness; Feelings/Control; and the great list goes on - all 365 of them.
If you feel harried and rushed, are in a long supermarket line, or stuck on traffic, this is the perfect book to open up and get you to feed your mind with wisdom to bring you more inner peace. A wonderful book, and I think it is great for men too.
Barbara Rose, author of "Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE" and 'If God Was Like Man'
Editor of inspire! magazine

I own the first edition of this book and have found it to be very helpful over the years. I recently bought the new edition and was very disappointed with the quality of the book. It's clearly not made for daily use, much less use over many years. The binding is stiff, hard to pry open and easily broken; the paper is the equivalent of cheap newsprint that will yellow within the year. It's clearly not constructed for daily use, but designed to be one of those quickie, "I know how you feel" gifts that you buy for someone you think is doing too much.

It's a pity because the book deserves a better presentation. It makes you think about the far-reaching effects of perfectionism, workaholism, and "busy-ness" on your emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health. Not every day is a perfect meditation, but every couple of days the alignment of the meditation with the events in your life creates a moment where the lightbulb goes on and you're jolted with the truth of who you are. With that revelation comes the possibility of change: a different decision; maybe a better decision.

I'd love a high-quality version with a daily marker ribbon sewn into the spine. It's a good book and deserves better from its publisher.

I received this book as a freebie, connected meditations to religion and thought I'd never read it.Now after having a brush with depression brought on by extreme work related exhaustion I dip into this great little book on most days. The meditations have a date attached to them and one can read strictly according to date and/or look up the subject index at the back and just go to the page that reflects what you need.It's so good I can't bear to lend it out.Great gift to give.

I enjoyed listening to this tape in the car, after a stressing day. Often, it makes me cry. It speaks to my soul while my rest is still doing the things it is used to do, (eventhough they do not make too much sense). The acoustics could be improved.

When I stumbled upon an earlier version of this little daily meditation book almost 20 years ago at the age of 30, I was working full time in downtown Boston, a small son in daycare, and a traditional husband at home. I ran from the moment I woke up til the moment I crashed at night. Duty ruled my life, doing ruled my mind, and I could barely breathe I was running so fast.

Daily meditation books are common-place now, but at the time, this was an absolutely fresh and visionary book for me. It spoke to my life so effectively that I would carry it with me in my shoulder bag, the way some people carry aspirin or anxiety pills. I would read it on the subway, and sometimes at stop lights when driving. Often it would only take a page to shift my perspective, but if I was especially stressed, I would read several pages. Anne's words would quickly remind me that I needed to take it easy. My breath would deepen. I'd start to feel my heart soften and regain perspective.

What a tremendous contribution to the inner lives of women this little source of wisdom has been! If you're running around crazy, overworked and over-committed, do yourself, and those who love you, a favor, and order this book. And if you know of a woman who is living in the danger zone of anxiety, pick up a copy for her.

In 2010 through Facebook I reconnected with a friend from 1986 to whom I'd give a copy, and she told me she'd read it cover to cover when she got it, and would come back to it every few years and find it just as valuable.

This is truly a gift that keeps on giving; a guide to living a happier and more balanced life.

I am an over-producing, stressed-out Mom and business owner. And I found I was taking out my stress on the people that deserve it least--my family and me. I needed to change for all of us. I received this as a gift a long time ago, and just didn't get around to opening it. Then for the new decade I decided to make time for myself (nearly) everyday to get on my yoga mat, or any quiet spot, and take a few minutes to listen to my mind and body.

On January 1st I opened to the first entry. Almost every entry gives me pause, and I think about what i throughout the day. The meditations bring me into a calm place, and make me be very honest with myself. Sometimes so honest I know I am not ready for it and I hope next year when I re-read it I will be ready to that honest and forward.

Very, very good book. I am learned to talk from my heart space.