Just a great book to read
Having a son was one of the best things that ever happened in my life. It turned my world upside down. It challenged me in so many ways, it brought me to my limits and past them so many times, and sometimes it let me fail with my ideals in such a painful way that for a while I really didn’t quite know who I was anymore.
In one of the darkest moments of this process I stumbled over this book by Pema Chödrön, an American Buddhist: „When things fall apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times“.
I think it saved my life, or if we don’t want to be too dramatic :-), at least it helped me through a really rough patch. It helped me stop. It helped me calm down. It helped me reconnect with myself, and with the people I love. How did it do that? Because in a very credible way, Pema Chödrön made old Buddhist knowledge and practices accessible and tangible for my difficult life situation. Her book helped me stop fighting, breathe, and accept what is. And once that happened, my life force came back and helped me to move on and grow.
The basic thought of the book is that if we let go of wanting a certain experience or outcome, and instead agree to be with what is, all suffering ceases. I love the breathing and meditation exercises that she describes – they are so simple, aimed at being present in the moment but not attached to the content of the experience. Breathing in and feeling what’s there, breathing out and letting it go. What a beautiful thought!
I’ve been recommending this book to my clients and friends and love to share it here with all of you. If you’d like, you can get a first taste: Here you can read through some quotes from the book.
If you choose to give it a try, I can only hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. Please feel free to share your experience with all of us by leaving a comment!
