What major illness impacts almost one out of fourteen full-time workers each year and costs the U.S. workplace an estimated $44 billion per year in lost productivity? The answer is not heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. It is not accidents or back injuries or alcoholism.

Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven Stage Journey Out of Depression

James S. Gordon, MD

Penguin Press, 2008

978-1-59420-166-0

A recently published book , Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven Stage Journey Out of Depression, by the internationally known and Harvard trained psychiatrist, James S. Gordon, MD provides consumers with the latest research on mind/body and complementary approaches that are effective for treating depression. His step-by-step process of healing and recovery includes detailed information about natural therapies that treat depression without the use of medications.

Wellness Resources

Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart

Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

John Wiley and Sons, Inc

2005

“Whenever it rains, let it.”

That was the answer given by a 113 year old man when he was asked about the secret to his long life.

His answer captures the wisdom of Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher who was a contemporary of Confucius (551-479 B.C.) and whose book, Tao Te Ching, embodies the tenets of Taoism. Lao Tzu’s focus on living a life of balance, simplicity, and patience in harmony with the universe. Going with the flow rather than fighting the winds of change. Knowing when to hold on and when to let go. Walking the human path with grace and balance.

How completely opposite of way we live our lives today! Rushed. Tense. Irritated. Disconnected. Dissatisfied. Fearful.

But Brian Luke Seaward’s book Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart offers us another way. Combining the ancient insights of Lao Tzu with the wisdom of Joseph Campbell and the “hero’s journey”, the author has developed simple, practical exercises and tools that can have a powerful impact on our lives.

One point in his book that hit home with me was that a quote from Bernie Siegal, M.D. that Seaward included: “Thoughts are energy. They can kill or heal.” Seward tells us that the average person in a day has over 40,000 thoughts - but about 80% of these are reruns from the past day or week or year. AND most of these are focused on regrets and unresolved issues of either anger or fear. We are literally stuck on what he calls the Recurring Thoughts and Feelings channel! An ancient Chinese proverb succinctly captures this realization: tension is who you (or others!) think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.

So how do we rediscover our connections to ourselves, our divine source, and to the universe? How do we “relax” into who we are? Seaward’s book gently points the way, blending modern day research on stress and health with a rich understanding of the importance of spirituality and connection to nature. His contends that having a quiet mind and fearless heart means letting go of our reoccupation with the past (guilt) and the future (worry) and living in the moment , taking risks, finding joy in small things – and then offers the reader stories, poetry, activities for reflection and thought, and simple exercises that enable us to find our way home again.

One very beautiful exercise in his book for “letting go” is the Hot Air Balloon meditation. I suggest you try this – guidelines are found in the “Mini-Moment” Wellness section. And also check out Brian Luke Seawards many other books, CD’s, and DVD’s which are summarized in the “Wellness Resources” section.

Wellness resources for health, healing, and rejuvenation are in abundant supply!

This edition we are featuring books, CD’s, and DVD’s by Brian Luke Seaward.