Simply..where would I be....

22/6/2017

..without books?!

Atul Gawande in his clear-sighted and compassionate book Being Mortal describes courage as 'finding the strength to face reality',

Not just facing reality but accepting and even welcoming it, is the theme of Leo Babauta's free 44 Day Training Turning Uncertainty and Discomfort Into Mindful Openness which I have been dipping in and out of. The ideas are pretty challenging and I will start over with it more than once probably.

Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant have written Option B - Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy. Although from a very different culture to mine I found a lot to like in this book. There is also a website here.

On one of my favourite radio programmes Private Passions, I heard voice coach Patsy Rodenburg talking about being present. I was so impressed by her clarity and conviction that you can learn to use your positive energy, that I have ordered her book Presence and am looking forward to that arriving any day now...

I often start the day by reading the Daily Affirmation on Susan Jeffers site. Some I like better than others of course but for me it is a better start to my day than the news!

Are there books and websites which have inspired and motivated you?

9 Comments

Swissrose link

22/6/2017 10:44:47 pm

I just wanted to say that I start my day with a cup of tea and a visit here, far nicer than any kind of news site - always a thought for the morning to be found. Thankyou!

Freda

23/6/2017 02:37:29 pm

Thank you Swissrose for telling me this!

Viv link

23/6/2017 03:05:30 am

A break from the news can be good as it can be a bit overwhelming at time and full of troubles. As to your question - for me it is often just a phrase in a book or something I see on TV or hear on the radio. I scribble these down into my journal with my thoughts on why it resonated with me so I can explore it more. This is just my way of dealing with things and I find sometimes during difficult times that answers and direction come in snippets from all sorts of places.
My most motivational book must be one called God of Surprises by Gerard Hughes where he has a little exercise called 'What time is it in my Life'. (You do not have to be religious in any way to do this I might add).
Every so often I run through this exercise and the aim is to liken the time in your life now with an hour or time of the day. For instance is it a dark hour in the early hours of the night, or just as dawn rises in a morning, 2pm when the Archers comes on the radio or maybe teatime when the family arrive home etc and then write why you feel the time in your life right now is comparable to this particular hour - writing what you see, feel and hear - in other words writing the connected emotions whatever comes in to your mind at the time.
From my first attempt I found this exercise so enlightening I continue to do it from time to time and looking back in my journals it is fascinating to see how I have been all around the clock at different times happy and sad ones - but the key thing is I suppose that I realise I have never remain on any one hour.

Freda

23/6/2017 02:46:08 pm

Fascinating Viv. I tried this today and it was very comforting to realise I didn't have to remain in the 'three in the morning' moment. Thank you for taking the time to share it.

Viv link

24/6/2017 12:57:10 am

The dark empty three in the morning moment - I remember I have journaled this before now - not a good one - but somehow writing the emotions and feelings out I find does help and I hope it will help / comfort / inspire you in the midst of this hour you have found yourself in. I am always hesitant to suggest or recommend anything I have read because somethings are quite personal and individual. x

Lucille

23/6/2017 04:50:51 am

Yours!

Freda

23/6/2017 02:46:56 pm

:-)

cath

23/6/2017 08:46:31 am

It is always poetry that keeps me sane in troubled times.

That said, a few books I found helpful (please bear in mind my chosing is very much influenced by having a chronic illness).
- Toni Bernhard: How To be Sick (A Buddhist-inspired guide for the chronically ill and their caregivers, 2010)
- Kat Duff: The Alchemy of Illness, 1993
- Elisabeth Tova Bailey: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, 2010
- rabbi David Wolpe: Making Loss Matter, (Creating Meaning in Difficult Times, 1999)

First website I visit daily is yours. Your posts often offer much to think about during the day. I mostly return to your site at the end of the afternoon.

I am saving Leo Babauta's 44 Day training as I find it very good and I
still am too tired to do it justice.
I am following rabbi Yael Levy, and do the weekly meditation she offers on line. What (and how) she writes is very worthwhile to me most of the time.

If nothing else helps I reread Plain and Simple by Sue Bender.

Going to check out the books, names you mentioned. Dankjewel !(Thank You).

Freda

23/6/2017 02:49:16 pm

Thank you for sharing your list - I will be checking them out. I hope you soon feel less tired and enjoy Leo Babauta's programme Cath.

Simply..where would I be....

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