I do believe in divine timing. Sometimes things just fall into your lap and you're like.
..
yes! Well I received this book and WOW...the timing could not have been better!
Most of you know by now that I do book reviews periodically. And I was sent a book called
The Wisdom to Know the Difference. At first I thought...oh no...is it going to be a bunch of AA mumbo jumbo? But to my surprise it was not. Although it does reference some AA concepts...this book is more...
much more.
This book gets to the heart of fear, trust and courage. And I could not have read this a more perfect time.
I want to touch on something in this book that really put everything into perspective for me. The art of Wu wei. Wu wei translated means "non-doing" or "the art of letting be." I don't know about you...but I struggle with this. The idea of doing "nothing" seems ridiculous to me. How can you do "nothing?". Well in this case nothing really is something. Just as a seed in the frozen ground hibernates in winter. It's not really doing anything...but yet it rests...waits.
Eileen writes: "Wu wei does not imply apathetic passivity, but going with the flow, working with the nature of things. It suggests that doing less is often more effective than aggressive action."
The key words here are aggressive action (or trying too hard). Eileen also talks about acceptance. Oh yes, acceptance...something I have become intimately familiar with. And it was reading this book that really turned the light bulb on in my head about this concept. I have never been good with acceptance. I am a control freak. But the only thing I can control is me. Not you. Not my kids. Not the stranger that cuts me off in traffic.
Here is another incredible quote I want to share:
"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, courage to change the one I can change, and the wisdom to know it's me."
How about that?
The wisdom to know it's me.
I think my favorite part of the book was a beautiful mediation on letting go. Eileen asks the reader to identify someone or something that they are carrying around that is weighing them down. She walks you through a short yet powerful journey to help you release this. It really helped me...gave me needed insight...and the ability to accept what I cannot change (so I can let it go). And with that, practice Wu wei...letting go and going with the flow.
Anyway, I could go on and on about this book. It is well written, thoughtful, and thought provoking. I have book marks all over and go back and re-read passages. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are going through major changes in life. It's been a godsend!
This just might be a great gift for yourself or a friend!
You can
buy the book here.
You can read more about the author,
Eileen Flanagan here.
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Now I am taking off for the mountains this weekend...I think some nature and trees will do a mind and body good. I will catch up with you all soon!
xoxo
