Moved by the Spirit: Discovery and Transformation in the Lives of Leaders [Paperback]

Jeffrey A., PH. Kottler (Author), Jon, Psy.D. Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2007

Interviews with some of the most prominent spiritual leaders, writers, and healers on the planet revealed stories covering every imaginable variation of the phenomenon of spiritual transformation. These experiences took place in chapels and Buddhist temples, on a walk in Ireland or in the African jungle, alone or at the feet of a great teacher. They were precipitated by trauma, tragedy, and adversity but also by moments of great joy. A few fit the template of a formal religious conversion but many were far more secular. What they all had in common is that they resulted in a life-changing path that gave greater meaning, purpose, and fulfillment to the person's life.The focus of each chapter is a story, a vivid and dramatic narrative reflecting the single most transformative experience of their lives, the single experience that set them on their current path. Asked to discuss their most cherished beliefs about being "moved by the spirit," the interviewees offered great insight into how each of us can make spirituality more a part of our individual needs, interests, and lifestyles.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...I found this small book very easy to read and easy to use as a contemplative tool." -- PsycCRITIQUES - APA Review of Books, August 2007

"...I was deeply impressed by the spirituality of these leaders. The passionate spirit of each individual shines through, especially in their quoted words." -- Counseling Today, Resource Reviews, October 2007

From the Back Cover

(Jack Canfield, Co-creator of THE CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL series)
"A useful book that offers methods, insights and anecdotes to help the reader to awaken and transform. The contributors tell their stories -- not just any story, but the most significant story of their lives, the one that set them on their particular path of spiritual enlightenment. Honest, wise and useful."

(Deepak Chopra, M.D., Author, LIFE AFTER DEATH: THE BURDEN OF PROOF)
"The stories contained in MOVED BY THE SPIRIT describe the many ways to spiritual transformation. Each resulted in creating a life-changing path that gave greater meaning, purpose and fulfillment to the person's life."

(Larry Dossey, M.D., Author: THE EXTRAORDINARY HEALING POWER OF ORDINARY THINGS)
"This book demolishes the idea that there is a formula for 'getting there.' The remarkable variety of these experiences reveals that each life, each path, is uniquely different and original. An inspiring, fulfilling read."

(Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., Author: GETTING THE LOVE YOU WANT)
"Anyone reading the stories in this book will have their own consciousness of spirituality expanded and will be invited to consider that there are many doors to the transcendent. I recommend it to everyone with an interest in the subject."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Impact Publishers (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886230684
• ISBN-13: 978-1886230682
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,194,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crossroads ahead -- spiritual works in progress!, February 6, 2007

By 

Cricket in the Corner (Virtual North Woods) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moved by the Spirit: Discovery and Transformation in the Lives of Leaders (Paperback)

This intriguing collection of essays offers a way to connect with your spiritual core. It's much more than a self-help guide to finding God in challenging times - though it does celebrate the positive effects of trusting a higher power. Maybe you're not sure what that higher power is, or if somebody else's idea of God matches yours. That doesn't matter. The spirit has many faces in these pages, as varied as the world's religions, and as personal as whatever moral truth or compassionate principle you choose to honor.

Kottler and Carlson -- seasoned, respected psychologists each on his own spiritual journey -- approached this project with open minds and hearts about where a quest of this nature might lead. But they also brought along their expertly forged psychological tools for exploring and making accessible to all readers the philosophies they encountered. That opens wide the possibilities for anyone hungering for something more in life. Readers can experience the rush of life-changing mysterious influences as described in the essays, then apply the valuable insights emphasized by the authors to their own experiences, needs, and existential questions.

If you feel spiritually adrift, at a loss for a way to ease your distress and fill voids that material stuff just doesn't satisfy, this book can help you get focused and real. It offers lists of stimulating questions you can use to begin examining your own beliefs and purposes in life, along with key ideas, clearly stated, for genuine transformation. If you're looking for a way to use your faith to help make the world a better place, the voices in these personal accounts will inspire you toward fulfillment.

The story format resonates on a universal level, making this an extraordinarily inviting read. Because the essays are so personal and vary so widely in the definition of spirituality, they immediately broaden your perspective on faith and how to manifest it in your daily life. All of the contributors found themselves at a spiritual crossroads, and went off-road to pursue enlightenment. If this sounds too religious or New Age-y to you, be assured that following the spirit requires pulling up your bootstraps. The connecting theme is about discovering what's essential to your spirit -- and then acting on that realization. Real transformation, as this fine collection demonstrates, happens when the many crossroads you'll encounter lead to lasting changes in your behavior.