The Simple Care of a Hopeful Heart - Mentoring Yourself in Difficult Times

In the end, it is not the amount of darkness in the world, our country, family or even within ourselves that matters-It is how we stand in that darkness that is crucial. In light of this, the overall question addressed in this book is simple and challenging: How can we best mentor ourselves with the knowledge that already surrounds us so we learn and grow from the changes, stress, and even trauma, that we must face in today's uncertain times? Underlying the book's overall message is the signature strength of humility because as the author emphasizes: When we take knowledge and add humility, we get wisdom, and when we then add this very wisdom to compassion, we get love... and love is at the heart of a rich, compassionate, and resilient life. The book presents a series of 50 brief lessons on such topics as: ? Developing a renewed and deeper interest in creative approaches to self-care ? Overcoming resistance to change ? Ways to gain, maintain, and regain a healthy perspective ? Appreciating the advantages of the "psychological detours" forced on us in life ? How spending only 2 minutes each day in silence, solitude, and wrapped in gratitude can be transformative ? Understanding how we can best apply the principles of posttraumatic growth (PTG) to our own life situation ? Dealing effectively with necessary change and unexpected loss ? Recognizing the importance of pacing and timing in our interactions with others In the end, it is not the amount of darkness in the world, our country, family or even within ourselves that matters-It is how we stand in that darkness that is crucial.In light of this, the overall question addressed in this book is simple and challenging: How can we best mentor ourselves with the knowledge that already surrounds us so we learn and grow from the changes, stress, and even trauma, that we must face in today's uncertain times?Underlying the book's overall message is the signature strength of humility because as the author emphasizes: When we take knowledge and add humility, we get wisdom, and when we then add this very wisdom to compassion, we get love... and love is at the heart of a rich, compassionate, and resilient life.The book presents a series of 50 brief lessons on such topics as:· Developing a renewed and deeper interest in creative approaches to self-care· Overcoming resistance to change· Ways to gain, maintain, and regain a healthy perspective· Appreciating the advantages of the "psychological detours" forced on us in life· How spending only 2 minutes each day in silence, solitude, and wrapped in gratitude can be transformative· Understanding how we can best apply the principles of posttraumatic growth (PTG) to our own life situation· Dealing effectively with necessary change and unexpected loss· Recognizing the importance of pacing and timing in our interactions with others "I remember encountering a young colleague who came in to discuss a psychotherapy patient she was treating. She looked fatigued and almost sad, so I said to her, "Before we get into the case you wanted to discuss, how are you doing? You look drained." In return, she got teary, and said in a quiet, hoarse voice, "I think my soul is tired." In response, I smiled slightly, leaned back and said, "Well, we can't have that, can we. Why not tell me what has been going on over the past weeks or months that strike you as particularly draining since are normally quite positive and filled with great spirits.""-- Provided by publisher With a healthy perspective we can become resilient in ways that not only help us bounce back from stress and tough times, but we can actually deepen in ways which would not have been possible had they not occurred in the first place. The Simple Care of a Hopeful Heart offers a series of brief, accessible lessons in self-care and self-understanding to enhance such possibilities.