Searching for My Heart: Essays About Love by Dawn Downey
Downey’s focus is not necessarily on romantic love, but on the larger concept of love for all things, especially oneself. This is not a book […]
Wisdom from the Dojo and Other Tales by Soke Larry Barr
Filled with stories from the author’s experiences and lessons learned from Karate, it gives the reader something to reflect on in every chapter. From the story about the arrogant young karate student who learned that it’s the focus that matters and not necessarily his perception of his skills, to the one about our God-Given Potential, there is a new lesson to be learned on each page.
While the book is inspiring and contains many nuggets […]
How to Be: A Guide to Spiritual Development by Tõnn Sarv
Author Tõnn Sarv outlines how people are caught in a vicious circle: you try to do good, but the consequences may be negative, so gradually you may stop trying. How can you find a workable middle ground? Here are some of Sarv’s suggestions: admit your flaws, learn to live with less, recognize that the “gap” or quiet space may be where things really happen, take things as […]
Review: Happiness and Success by Raphaël Savoy
Author Raphaël Savoy has created a pragmatic philosophical guide for leading one’s life more fully through acceptance in Happiness and Success: 12 Key Steps and a Few Little Changes to Transform Your Life.
Savoy has aimed his book at people who are ostensibly comfortable based on their location and station in life, but who continue to feel dissatisfied – in other words, to be happy with success, not just to achieve it. He begins by stating that human beings are uniquely designed to seek happiness – as humans have evolved, they have designed complex cultures dedicated to principles of […]
Review: Relaunch! Stagnation, Change and Renewal in Mid-Career and Beyond by Steven Simon, Ph.D.
An experienced career counselor shares wisdom about recognizing and surviving a professional life crisis in Relaunch! Stagnation, Change and Renewal in Mid-Career and Beyond.
As Simon lays out methodically, there are many ways that your career may grow stagnant. For example, you may feel underappreciated in general, or perhaps your job no longer seems meaningful. Conflict situations at work can lead to anger, frustration and depression. Perhaps you are doing work you don’t enjoy simply because finances dictate it, or you have lost your job and are experiencing the challenges of seeking new employment. All of these circumstances can […]
Are You Happy? by Lea Colleens
Colleens starts by breaking down human behavior by looking at the three types of ‘brain’: the dog brain, the reptile brain, and the master brain. While scientifically vague, it is true that there are parts of the brain that stem from the time humans were reptiles, or when we were bottom-feeding mammals. It is with these classifications that Colleens describes the behaviors that lead away from happiness– ego driven, pleasure-seeking, […]
Surviving the Twenties Transformation by K.L. Martin
Surviving the Twenties Transformation: Empower Your Soul and Change Your Life by K. L. Martin is an informative and passionate work of self-help aimed at millennials looking to enhance or begin a relationship with God. Concentrating on practical issues that affect people in their twenties, such as money, family, friends, and other core issues, Martin’s emphasis is on helping people in their twenties find their spiritual center and strength.
K.L. Martin’s book has a clear line that runs through it: beginning with everyday issues that are unique to millennials, it then moves on to ideas of the self and the […]
Operation Troy: The Reinvention of You by Christina Namakorn
Using the language of war (Troy, ammunition, mission) is purposeful for Namakorn, who states: we may all sometimes find ourselves at war with ourselves, and are all potential leaders and soldiers in that battle. There are four stages of reinvention: Acceptance, Forgiveness, Improvement, and Enjoyment.
The author suggests missions to accomplish reinvention: Alpha (Me-time), Beta (exploring topics of personal interest), Gamma (examining beliefs), […]