How Not to Be Afraid of Your Own Life: Opening Your Heart to Confidence, Intimacy, and Joy [Susan Piver] on leondumoulin.nl *FREE* shipping on qualifying.
Table of contents
- Customers who bought this item also bought
- What is True Confidence?
- Attention Required! | Cloudflare
- Why do I have to complete a CAPTCHA?
Discover how affirmations can transform your mindset. Struggling with low self-esteem? Being mindful can help you connect with inner peace and be more self-compassionate. Try the Kindle edition and experience these great reading features: Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Read reviews that mention meditation susan piver buddhism accessible buddhist practice retreat honest fear project helpful personal title sense self-help spiritual everyday intro peace. There was a problem filtering reviews right now.
Please try again later. I bought this book about 2 years ago, and I still go back to it once and a while. It got me into Buddhism, meditation, and I did the at-home retreat and it felt like a turning point for me. I had debilitating anxiety and felt like fear kept me in a straight jacket. This book was no miracle, but it was like a breath of fresh air.
This book can offer you a helping hand. A kind, compassionate, "sweetie, I've been there. Her personal stories were cathartic for me to read, and her meditation instruction is good. And like I said, the retreat was awesome. In short, this book is well titled and surprisingly helpful. At first, I was taken aback by its title. I thought I am not afraid of my life. However, the book describes how we all have fears that we don't recognize. The most intriguing part for me was that I had been contemplating for a long time about doing a retreat at home for a day or two.
Susan Piver gives directions for a 36 hour retreat at home or at a hotel, etc. Please check this book out--you won't be disappointed. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. I have been doing Susan Piver's little 5 minute meditations through her Open Heart Project, even though the actual meditations are rarely that long.
Customers who bought this item also bought
I like them for the words of wisdom and soothing presence Susan begins each guided meditation with. She is, like me, a Vajrayana Buddhist practitioner in the Shambhala tradition, and often do find myself afraid of many things that make up my life. So I thought I would give this book a try. It doesn't disappoint - it is full of useful, clearly presented tools one can use to transform their relation to their thoughts - and therefore their life. Was traveling so listened to her book Audio CD Verified Purchase. Was traveling so listened to her book on cd. I was already "there" with a lot of what she shared and advised, but listening to her guidance and explanations, shared life experiences, really brought issues home for me.
I listened to her cd twice, wished I had my own copy of her book, think I'll order it, because there were so many insights that I'd like to highlight and look back to in the the future. I regularly use her bonus guided meditation cd and have made meditation a part of my everyday life.
It just keeps getting better. Susan has an uncanny ability to translate profound Buddhist teachings into clear teachings. They cut right to the heart of the matter in our fast-paced, yet confused and scared 21st century world. I especially appreciate her program for a week-long retreat at the end of this book. It includes creative, fun, and very helpful prompts for writing as well as for contemplation and meditation.
What is True Confidence?
This is becoming one of my go-to books for grounding and daily inspiration. I first got acquainted with Susan Piver via the internet and her articles for the Shambhala Sun. I am new to the practice of meditation and am just beginning to study Buddhism, and this book was perfect for me.
She writes in a humorous, straightforward, jargon-free way to clearly explain how you can train your mind to open itself up to an easier, happier way of life. I am in the process of reading everything of hers I can get my hands on. Then as a last resort she gives suggestions for creating a space in your own home for the retreat if you can't leave home, but emphasizes it works better if you can get out of the house. It's a real buzzkill to get through the whole book and then realize the plan won't work as well unless you do this retreat.
Attention Required! | Cloudflare
I didn't have any expectations of eliminating fear from my life with a page book, but I was kind of hoping the program would be easier to implement. Jul 03, Kirsten rated it liked it. I liked how this book was concise and relatable. The author lets her personality shine through in a way that encourages readers who are intrigued but maybe intimidated by using meditation and Buddhist ideals as tools for their own lives. The book is a good source to pick up for quick reference when one is starting a routine practice for the first time or just getting back on track.
I have to agree that the final chapters ask a lot from a beginner and even non-beginners which is surprising cons I liked how this book was concise and relatable. I have to agree that the final chapters ask a lot from a beginner and even non-beginners which is surprising considering the whole book leading up to the end seemed to be going in the direction of something a little less intensive. In any case, a good, refreshing read to keep you on point and to keep life in perspective.
May 25, Paul Bard rated it it was ok. I understand the need to create an interesting title, but I take titles at their word when they make a promise. So when I read this book, it was to answer one question: The answer is on pages The way to overcome fear is to create confidence, and the way to create confidence is to share something real, authentic, and undoubtedly true. In the case of this book, the "undoubtedly true" stuff shared in Tibetan Buddhist Mahayana meditation practices.
In fact, Mahayana medi I understand the need to create an interesting title, but I take titles at their word when they make a promise. We have almost pages of Mahayana practices on the theme of dealing with fear.
Why do I have to complete a CAPTCHA?
I would prefer, and recommend, a solid practical guide to mindfulness instead. Jan 11, Becky rated it really liked it. This book is much less self-helpy than the title would lead you to believe. Susan guides the reader through the principles and practice of Shamatha meditation; of sitting with and letting go of your thoughts, feelings, and physical responses to emotion; and of working through the barriers that we put up in life, to protect us from feeling uncomfortable.
But she doesn't do this in a super teachy way; instead, she relates it directly to her own life experiences--with relationships, employers, stra This book is much less self-helpy than the title would lead you to believe. But she doesn't do this in a super teachy way; instead, she relates it directly to her own life experiences--with relationships, employers, strangers, etc.
I've since signed up for Susan's twice-a-week meditation and inspiration videos and hope to run into her some day on Boston's streets. Oct 24, Megan rated it liked it Shelves: Ugh, it pains me to give this book only 3 stars because I really love Susan Piver. This book, however, is not really breaking any grounds on meditation, and Pema Chodron is much better for an overview of using Buddhism in your real life. The chapter on relationships in this book is excellent. I've reread it a few times already. Embarrassing to read in public, frankly. Jan 30, Caroline Crayons rated it it was ok Shelves: I had high hopes for this book since I am so interested in mindfulness and other buddhist practices.
This struck me as having been written from the head. There are far too many personal, coy asides for my taste. There were a few good passages, especially those covering the practice of Loving-Kindness. Also, it rubs me the wrong way when people speak of "becoming Buddhist. A wonderful book by the author of the Questions series. Through a discussion of the issues she's faced head-on in her own life, Piver illuminates the role that meditation can play in helping to overcome fear, self-doubt, and many other barriers to happiness and intimacy in our lives.
The book includes a guide to meditation and instructions for a self-guided meditation retreat. Jul 19, Anthony rated it it was ok Recommends it for: I went to the library, looking for a book to read, and found this one. I don't think it's quite what I was looking for - I had hoped to pick up a Pema Chodron-type tome, but this was fine.
There is a nice plan for a seven-day personal meditation and reflection session near the end of the book, if you would like to try that. I also liked some of the stories the author contributed about her own life. Thank you Susan for writing this book. Jan 31, Kim rated it liked it Shelves: It is somewhat difficult to rate this book at this time. Most of the book reiterated basic Shamatha Buddhist mediation ideas and ways to practice.
This was a good review, but the 7 day Meditation Program is somewhat involved and is recommended to be undertaken when you have already established a meditatiion practice. The 7 day plan is intriguing and it sounds like it would be a wonderful do-it-yourself retreat to try at a later date. I may change my rating then. Oct 19, Amanda rated it liked it Shelves: I relish the moment when you discover a new path of understanding.
Piver explains meditation as actually our mind's natural state, so it is not something you learn. Rather, it is something you return to and rediscover. I LOVE that notion. And now I can connect with that thought whenever I feel my mind becoming a swell of butterflies. Jul 14, Susan rated it really liked it Recommends it for: I was most flattered to receive this book as a gift from author Susan Piver who I am lucky to know via twitter and I found it to be an excellent resource for anyone willing to see potential of others' beliefs and practices.
I found it inspiring to read of the author's own experiences and how she used these techniques to live a life of joy, not fear. That alone is a daunting job and this is a book I'll keep nearby in the months ahead as I go through my cancer treatment. Jun 05, Cassandra Cantrell rated it it was amazing. This is my third Susan Piver book and like the other two, I'll be returning to the writings for gentle reminders. Piver's work is both fresh and practical.
I've benefited from her authenticity and openness. As it turns out, I "ain't so bad after all " and through her ability to write from a raw space, I'm allowed to extend compassion toward myself. If you are Buddhist or just interested in a philosophy for approaching life that utilizes eastern thought , then please get this book today!
Relaxing here doesn't mean spacing out or even finding some way to rid yourself of the offending negativity. Instead, it means to allow it. When you relax with your lack of confidence, something funny happens. Not because you manage to convince Miss Thing that "hey I really AM OK" but because you see beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what is going on, you can open to it, feel it, allow it--and remain complete.
Instead of sitting down to tea with Miss Thing and arguing about your merits and PS, Miss Thing will always win, even when she loses--it's the engagement that signifies loss , you see that this particular table is one of many in an enormous restaurant. Some tables are empty, others host raucous parties, lonely gentlemen, bored colleagues, sobbing sisters, laughing lovers, and so on. Instead of identifying with any particular patron, you see yourself as the Head Chef, who delights in cooking something nourishing for each one.
OK, I'm not going to belabor this kind of silly metaphor any longer. I'll go to a more traditionally dharmic metaphor.
- See a Problem?.
- Celtic Influences in the North of Spain and the Roots of Heresy.
- One more step?
- The Rice Mother?
Dharma teachers often suggest considering your thoughts to be like clouds in the sky. Some are dark and stormy, some are beautiful and fat, while others are wispy and ethereal. Sometimes there are no clouds at all. Just like clouds in the sky, thoughts pass through your mind. And just like the sky, your mind can contain it all. We are accustomed to identifying with every large or small thought that comes along. But you can train yourself to identify as the sky instead.