The Art of Uncertainty: How to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It [Paperback]

Dennis Merritt Jones (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 9, 2011

What if we could learn to accept I don't know and embrace the possibility that the future is full of mystery, excitement, and unlimited opportunity?

The Art of Uncertainty is an invitation to the reader to consider its essential message: learning to love the unknown by staying present in the moment. If the difficulties of recent years have taught us anything--particularly those who "did everything right" and still saw it all fall apart--it's that none of us has as much control over our lives as we believe. The only thing we can control is our next thought.

What if we could learn how to be at peace with uncertainty and embrace the possibility that the future is full of mystery, excitement, and unlimited opportunity? What if we discovered that a new paradigm can be more fulfilling, more rewarding, and more peaceful than what we have known? Living in the I don't know and loving it is an art form we can all master and The Art of Uncertainty is the perfect guidebook.

Editorial Reviews

Review

With The Art of Uncertainty, readers can chart a course for learning how to live in the "I don't know" while maintaining a sense of inner-peace and optimism. This simple but beautifully wise and practical book is a gem. Don't step into the unknown without it.

Claudia Abbott

Editor, Science of Mind magazine

With warmhearted clarity and transcendental common sense, Dennis Merritt Jones addresses the complexities, obstacles, joys, and ultimate fulfillment of walking the spiritual labyrinth home to the True Self. This is a book to read, reread, practice and embody.

Michael Bernard Beckwith
Author of Spiritual Liberation~Fulfilling Your Soul's Potential

Masters throughout the ages have taught us to come to the edge of our current belief system and take a leap of faith beyond the known...If you are ready to expand your vision of a life worth living this is a book you will want to read.

Gay Hendricks
Author of The Big Leap

Dennis' new book arrives with divinely right timing in my life and in the life of anyone contemplating next steps. How good it is to have this guide to leaning wholeheartedly into the mystery of change and walking in faith toward the full expression of one's potential.

Dr. Kathy Hearn
Community Spiritual Leader, United Centers for Spiritual Living

Dennis Merritt Jones is a brilliant and gifted teacher. His newest work is not only insightful, but gives great tools for each of us to live a life of joy: No Matter What!

Mary Morrissey

Author of No Less Than Greatness

From the Back Cover

"The Art of Uncertainty inspires and provides practical tools that can benefit all." ~ Gary Zukav, author of The Seat of the Soul

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; Original edition (June 9, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585428728
• ISBN-13: 978-1585428724
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.8 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dennis Merritt Jones has been involved in the human potential movement and the field of spirituality for the majority of his life as a teacher, author and keynote speaker. His most recent award winning book is "The Art of Uncertainty ~ How to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It." Jones is also the award winning author of "The Art of Being ~ 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life" and "How to Speak Science of Mind." Dennis writes a free weekly MindfulPurpose E-Message available through his website, www.DennisMerrittJones.com, and is a regular columnist for the Huffington Post.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely Perspectives for Turbulent Times June 23, 2011

By James Cope

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dennis has put together a piece of work that, to be honest, just may have pulled me back from an emotional brink. The amazing part is how I found key phrases, metaphors, and visualizations that had me scrambling for a pen (okay... okay... I used the notes feature on my Kindle, but you get the idea) so I could get my thoughts and feelings into a form for future reference. In fact, the book will require another reading in the near future, as I am sure the material will strike different chords with different people in varying situations.

As I am currently undergoing a lot of changes in my life (financial status, living situation, marital strife, self-employment), this book's message made so much sense on so many levels. While I avoid spoilers in my reviews, you should know this: You will not view your station or path in life the same when you shine the light of this material on them. Living in fear has so many of us curled into virtual balls of inactivity where we believe that we are safe - when the opposite is true.

Off the top of my head (as my notes would be too extensive for this review), I can list a few concepts discussed by Dennis that will have a lasting impact on how I view the changes and the unknown future in my life:

1. Habit energy's ability to carve ruts into our minds that can set us on auto-pilot when it comes to how we live our daily lives. More importantly, there is a poignant discussion on how habits themselves are neither good or bad and must be judged their relative merits: Whether they moves us closer or further away from our visions of our ideal selves.

2. The campsites that have been set up along the path to the top of the mountain where others ceased their journeys and decided (whether consciously or subconsciously) to abandon their dreams.

3. The great influence and power of the Collective Unconscious to affect the lives of those who do not live consciously and brave the edge of the unknown - where real growth takes place. For me, this was a big one, as I have been living with an excess exposure to the media in the past few years. It is no wonder I am paralyzed. The media exerts a great influence on the Collective Unconscious - an it sells the worst news to us in massive doses.

This is by no means a "top three" list. There are many others that had just as much impact on how I am now viewing my world. I will be forever keeping so many of these concepts in mind as I forge ahead with my life. This should be required reading for anyone who wished to live their life more fully and avoid the pitfalls of negative group thinking that permeate the airwaves.

Thanks, Dennis. I owe you one. :)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book you will love and go back to many times in your life! June 19, 2011

By E. Berger

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's hard to even put into words what a special book this is! Dennis Merritt Jones has a way through his story telling that is able to speak to people's hearts and souls and help others not only grow but to awaken to the possibilities around us every moment by just being present. The book is in small digestible chapters that you will read and want to spend time ruminating over because this is not just a book that tells us what our potential is, but one that shows us how to see our potential, how to move past the ruts we often find ourselves in by understanding why we are there and what is stopping us from growing. It gives examples of how to do this and then takes you a step further by giving you exercises that will help you pertain it to your own life. As he explains, We grow or we die, like all living things. You don't have to have a particular "issue" for this book to help you grow. It's one you won't give to others to read because you will always want it to refer back to at different times in your life. Great gift for those you love!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Uncertainty by Dennis Merritt Jones June 9, 2011

By Earth Angel

Format:Paperback

A GREAT read! I was priviledged enough to purchase an advanced copy. It is a wonderful reminder that the reality of our world is really one of "groundlessness." We are very uncomfortable with this Truth and spend our entire lives trying to create the illusion of "solid ground." Dennis Merritt Jones gives good reasons to embrace the Truth, and instead of resisting it, learn to love it! Great read! Five stars! Earth Angel