Seeing life in light of Eternity This is not a book about using Thérèse's "little way" as a path to holiness. Thérèse's spirituality is often dismissed as cloyingly sweet and sentimental, useless for modern seekers. This new IlluminationBook uncovers how Thérèse's sweetness was just a stylistic convention expected in the religious writing of her day. Beneath the form, says the author, is a straightforward spirituality that offers a practical, concrete, and very realistic method for preserving one's sanity in an often-insane world. At the heart of Thérèse's method is learning how to keep one's perspective by seeing all things in light of eternity, seeing all things the way God sees. This enables one to live more authentically and more attentively. The method helps readers to become involved in life without being absorbed by it, to love without becoming enmeshed, and to deal with life's absurdities without losing faith or peace of mind. Five simple everyday choices help foster this perspective and transform ordinary life into moments of true grace. Those already devoted to the Little Flower will love this fresh new look at her spirituality. In addition, the book makes for enlightening and perhaps surprising reading for pastors, clergy and religious, directors of religious ed, retreat directors, chaplains, and family counselors. The principle of viewing life in light of eternity can also provide comfort and relief for parents dealing with children, for those experiencing change or loss, and for people in therapy. +

THE SCHOOL OF LIFE IS DEDICATED TO EXPLORING LIFE'S BIG QUESTIONS IN HIGHLY-PORTABLE PAPERBACKS, FEATURING FRENCH FLAPS AND DECKLE EDGES, THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLS "DAMNABLY CUTE." WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT WE WILL DIRECT YOU TOWARDS A VARIETY OF USEFUL IDEAS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO STIMULATE, PROVOKE, AND CONSOLE. An Economist Best Book of the Year Everyone accepts the importance of physical health; isn't it just as important to aim for the mental equivalent? Philippa Perry has come to the rescue with How to Stay Sane -- a maintenance manual for the mind. Years of working as a psychotherapist showed Philippa Perry what approaches produced positive change in her clients and how best to maintain good mental health. In How to Stay Sane, she has taken these principles and applied them to self-help. Using ideas from neuroscience and sound psychological theory, she shows us how to better understand ourselves. Her idea is that if we know how our minds form and develop, we are less at the mercy of unknown unconscious processes. In this way, we can learn to be the master of our feelings and not their slave. This is a smart, pithy, readable book that everyone with even a passing interest in their psychological health will find useful.

When did you last go back to bed on a Sunday morning with magazines and some tea and cake? Or sink into a bubble bath by candlelight and listen to soothing music? When was your last massage or vacation? If you can’t remember the last time you took care of yourself like this, this book is for you. There was a time when Sophia Stuart needed this book, too. She lived a crazy life with no true relaxation, and soon enough she found herself in front of a surgeon who told her that she had three tumors in her throat and that she needed a five-and-a-half hour surgery—plus almost a month of medical leave to recover. And that’s when she fell apart. But the kindness of strangers helped her through it all. Her anonymous blog teamgloria.com gave her an outlet to express everything she was feeling—her fear of the pain, her anxiety about the operation, her frustration about being stuck at home, and anything else that came up. Her writing also focused on all the glorious people, places, and things that make life delicious; and slowly, it helped her realize that she wanted to live differently. On teamgloria.com, Sophia wasn’t an executive or a media specialist; she was just another person sharing her thoughts and creativity. And through this she forged deep virtual friendships with people who cheered her on and taught her how to stay sane in a crazy world. This book brings together what she learned. It’s full of practical ideas and sweet inspirations (and even a few shopping lists at the back) to guide you to a more serene place. Because sometimes the world just looks better after a stroll or reading a novel in the park or making a kindness kit for yourself or a long nap on a summer’s afternoon. So grab this book, with its gentle suggestions and peaceful images, and use it as your own little slice of tranquility.

This book explores both the psychological and spiritual dimensions of the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The basic premise of this book is that the spiritual life is not an encapsulated sphere, cloistered from the realities of our human existence. Rather it is our response to God within the physical, psychological, social and emotional dimensions of life. St. Thérèse did not grow in holiness apart from the human condition. Like all of us, she was emotionally scarred by the fragileness of life. She was deeply wounded by the death of her mother at the age of four, bedridden as the result of a neurotic episode when she was ten, struggled with debilitating scruples most of her life, and suffered an agonizing dark night of faith. St. Thérèse was no plaster statue saint. Her life was a real life. As it unfolds before us on the pages of Story of a Soul, we see a pilgrim soul who made her way home to God through many raging storms and dark nights. The specific nature of Thérèse's trials may differ from our own, but psychological and emotional suffering are our common lot. For example, we may not have know the pain of our mother dying when we were four, but most of us have know the pain of the loss of a loved one. The sufferings that we share with Thérèse are universal - physical pain, anxiety, anger, sadness, depression, loneliness, doubts of faith, to name a few. These sufferings make doing the will of God difficult, but they are the context of our choices. They are the context of holiness.

With Empty Hands is an entirely new translation and edition of Conrad de Meester`s brilliant and moving presentation of the life, thought and spirituality of St. ThTrFse of Lisieux. The author has completely revised and amplified his previous books on the saint in the light of the new, thoroughly annotated editipons of her own works, and the many recent works of research and commentary that have led him to develop and change some of his interpretations of the Saint`s life.Fr. de Meester asks why and how this young girl who asked to be admitted to the Carmel at Lisieux and persevered in her vocation to a hidden life in an obscure part of France, is not only loved and invoked by millions of people, but has become a profound influence on theology, spirituality and the missionary apostolate.He shows how the intuitions of her faith were achieved by growing from spiritual poverty to spiritual maturity through much suffering and inspite of many crises and revearsals and pays full attention to the psychology of the Saint, her family influence and her prayer life and faith as a process of extraordinary rich development. This book reveals ThTrFse as a Saint of hope whose constant watchword was "My God, I love you" and as a revolutionary of love through whom God worked and works as a liberating force.

In a world that's moving so fast, it's easy to lose your sense of purpose. Clarkson journeys with you to explore what it means to live meaningfully, follow God truly, and bring much-needed order to your chaos. Discover what it means to own your life, and dare to trust God's hands as He richly shapes your character, family, work, and soul.

Almost everyone who has lost a loved one has had the inexplicable feeling that the deceased was somehow present. This is normal for grieving individuals - and a sign that our loved ones never truly leave us. In this important book, Dr. Louis E. LaGrand, a leader in the field of grief counseling, shares insights and true stories of this phenomenon, offering comfort, reassurance, and hope in the face of sorrow. Dr. LaGrand explores the methods that mourners and their support systems can rely on: Understanding the continuing presence of their loved one Reestablishing hope for the future Developing a strong inner emotional love Strengthening the belief that they are never alone Maintaining an open, giving attitude, even in times of great sadness Learning to reinvest in life and find joy once again In this unique book, mourners will find meaning and wisdom in grieving - and renewed joy and completeness in their lives.

Compassionate Awareness is about experiencing life to the fullest, and allowing the compassion of God to flow through us into the world in mystical, awakened living. "To be absorbed in compassionate awareness means that we receive life with an open heart and tend to it one moment at a time. It means that we partake of the fruit of love and enjoy the magnificence of creation. In prayer and meditation we receive the breath of life and transform it into the presence of God in the world," writes the author. This gracious little book, composed of sixteen brief chapters, is a guide to living the aware life--and a handbook on how to put that life into action through love. Some of the topics the author covers are being one with God, ourselves, creation, and others, as well as how to love consciously, take compassionate action, learn from the compassion of Jesus and transfer it to the world, and to listen and be with others compassionately. Writing simply and movingly, the author evokes a feeling of peace and joy in which readers with find comfort. They will appreciate that a life lived from compassion is a life grounded in God. +

While navigating through the dating scene, every woman begins to wonder: How do I know when a guy really loves me?Am I being too picky?Do I even deserve love?Is my relationship worth keeping?Is love worth the risk?Are any decent guys left? Single women often feel left alone to find answers to their deep questions about love and intimacy. Some hang out and hook up, hoping for love. Others are afraid even to hope. At some point, every woman needs reassurance that she—and her standards—are not the problem. In How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul, you’ll discover twenty-one strategies to help you raise the bar, instead of sitting at it, waiting around for Mr. Wonderful. Isn’t it time that you discovered a love that helps you to become yourself?

This book shows how biblical texts can transform their readers into meeting places of heaven and earth, holy places from which God's gifts flow into the world and renew everyday life.