A Celebration

I just finished my sixth book whose working title is The Joy of Being Fully Alive: A Journey to the Mountain of Being. When I say that it still astounds me. If you had told me all those years ago, I would be writing even one book, let alone six, I would’ve laughed hysterically. And that they have made their way around the world and touched so many lives brings me to my knees in gratitude.

It all began with Belonging to Life, which started as summary notes for my Monday night group. After a couple of months, somebody said this could be a book and almost immediately the writing dried up. My mind took over saying, “I don’t know what to say. What will people think? I’m not smart enough to do this.” It was fine to write summaries for my Monday night heart family but to imagine these writings going out into the world caused me to freeze.

As I deeply listened, I could feel this book wanted to be written so I began to live in the question, “Life what do you want to say here?” As I began to feel my way into the book it made sense to me to write it as a love letter to myself, to remind me about the pathways from doing to being, from contracting to connecting, from resisting to responding, and from judgment to compassion.

Whenever I felt called to write I began by asking that question. It allowed me to recognize that I was not the one that was doing the writing. I was just a scribe. So, I would sit down and write and write and write, allowing the flow of wisdom to move through me without critiquing it at all. Then a day or so later I would read what had shown up and it would be like reading music. Then I would come to a sentence or maybe a paragraph that all of a sudden didn’t fit and even if I really liked that part of the book, I let it go.

We decided last year to record this book and put it on Audible. This was the first time I had spent a lot of time with this book since I wrote it in the ’90s, and rereading it again, I was filled with amazement at its clarity and grateful for the joy It woke up in me. I rediscovered its deep wisdom and re-learned things that I had forgotten. Many times, in recording it, I teared up for the sheer wisdom and beauty embedded throughout.

In it, I explored how I learned to use my mind for the wonderful tool it is rather than always being lost in it. I share how my completely armored heart opened again and how the deep shame voices, which told me I didn’t even deserve to live, were finally brought home to my heart, and no longer had any power over me. I revisited the steps I took as I was being moved from struggling with life into a deep and abiding connection with the only moment that matters, now. Woven throughout it is how I learned to trust this journey called life, discovering rather than being a victim to it, it was all happening for me. And finally, the last chapter caused my heart to soar, as I remembered that I was being gifted with this awakening to life, not only for my own healing but for the healing of all beings.

As I look at our world, I realize on deeper and deeper levels that the art of learning how to use your mind for the wonderful tool it is rather than being lost in it is what will heal our beleaguered world. And as more people clear the clouds in their minds, they can begin to hear and live from the wisdom of their hearts.

So, I invite you to visit Audible on Amazon or you can get it free with a new Audible membership and spend time with Belonging to Life. To gift yourself with this book is to also gift the world for as you learn how to quiet your mind and open your heart, no matter what is happening in your life, you will become a healing presence in the world.  And one person at a time, one experience at a time, humanity will mature beyond struggling, comparing, judging, and resisting, into the truth that even with all our diversity, there is only one of us here.

PS: You can also get a softcover copy of the book from Amazon or my website.  If you go through my website, until December 20^th You will get an additional softcover book free. Books will be signed, shipping not included, and while supplies last. Use coupon: HOLIDAYBOGO (buy one get one free) or BIGHOLIDAYBOGO (buy 2 get 2 free).