Inspired living

Books about Mind, Body and Spirit ...

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Welcome to the Inspired Living eNewsletter from Allen & Unwin: October 2009

As we head towards Christmas, we begin to reflect back on the year so far, and on what we can gift those we love - health and happiness, better luck, more inspiration?

Sometimes we're able to help provide these qualities for those we care about, and sometimes we need a little, or a lot of help. That's where angels come in. So, don't miss our exquisite little gift book In Search of Angels. -- Maggie Hamilton, Publisher of Inspired Living books

New this month

In Search of Angels
Janise Beaumont
RRP $19.99

Janise Beaumont's niece lay gravely ill in hospital. If ever an angel was needed it was now. But did they exist? Janise decided the best way to find out was to ask -- and so began her quest. She spoke to people of all ages and backgrounds, and her book is the culmination of that quest.

Interweaving her own story with that of her quest and the wonderful stories of people's experiences with angels, her book is a truly inspiring read. For Janise gathering these stories was a life-changing experience and yes, her niece is now on the road to recovery. So do angels exist? You'll just have to read the book to find out!

Turning the Me Generation into the We Generation: Raising kids that care
Michael Ungar
RRP $26.99

Though we'd never know it from the hyperbole of front page stories about bad kids, our children want to be part of their families and communities. Raising a generation to think "We" instead of "Me" starts at home. The trouble, though, is that many parents make two fatal errors:

• Parents stop believing they are important. They stop teaching their children about compassion. They expect watered down connections with their children out of the mistaken belief that their kids don't need them.

• Parents structure their homes, live in communities, and schedule their work in ways that threaten their relationships with their children. If our kids appear to no longer need us it's often because of what we're doing.

In this book, parents will read about other parents who have successfully helped children of all ages change from self-centred kids to caring contributors to their families, schools and communities.

Q&A with Michael Ungar

Q: What do you mean by a 'We Generation'? Who is the We Generation?

A: I'm impressed by the young people I meet in my clinical practice and through my research in a dozen countries. Like generations before them, children and adolescents today want to be noticed for the contributions they can make. Whether five or fifteen, this next generation is better connected to others, more aware of global issues, better networked with their friends, and far less likely to be full of hate for those who are different from them. Because they understand the world better than I did at their age, they are aching to make a contribution to the welfare of others. We parents can help them make that contribution. When they make it, they feel like they belong in their families, schools and communities. They also feel older, more respected, and loved. They have a genuine sense of self-esteem that comes from what they've accomplished. Best of all, they are less likely to need early sexual activity, delinquency or drugs to feel good about themselves.

Q: Who, then, is the 'Me Generation'?

A. I'm ashamed to say it, but as I show in the book, we adults are often trapped in patterns of me-thinking. And our children are watching. Our kids want us to show them something different. When we ask nothing of our children, giving them no real responsibilities, spoiling them, we give them the message its okay to think me. When we watch them playing a rugby or soccer match, and yell insults at the other team, we model me-thinking. When we build mammoth homes in suburbs that breed isolation and contribute to environmental disaster we teach our children me-thinking. But we can also model me-thinking. After all, it has been our generation that has worked hard to address racism, homophobia, and intolerance. We've tried to promote peace, and reached out to victims of natural disasters. That's what our kids need to see. Our children can grow beyond self-centredness if we show them how. Our children today need and want guidance from parents if they are to realize their potential as a We Generation.

Be inspired...

... by Karen Masman
author of The Uses of Sadness

While one in five people may experience depression at some point in their lives, everyone feels sad from time to. It is part of the wide emotional range that we humans are capable of experiencing. Everyone knows that things don't always work out the way we want, and learning to bear our own losses and disappointments is a crucial skill in learning how to be happy. Sadness often announces its arrival with an indefinable sense of longing and when this experience arises people often say, "I feel lonely, I feel depressed". But longing, as opposed to desire or craving, is not a sign of something going wrong. While it contains a wistful ache it also contains beauty and it can be trusted to lead us forward.

Read what some readers have to say about The Uses of Sadness:

"The title instantly grabbed me and I really think that you have hit upon a profound truth. The idea of metabolising the feeling of sadness, 'doing sadness' etc rings so true for me and somehow serves to validate a lot of what I have been doing quietly and privately. I find that sadness does indeed come as a gift when accepted and embraced before letting go. I like your term 'harvesting' because it reminds me of the boon (treasured gift) that often comes with being open and non-resistant to what is. This is indeed a soulful subject."
(Peter D)

"Love your book (slowly reading and digesting). As I was reading I was thinking this is about resilience, then the next page that is exactly what you said. This book makes incredible sense. Sitting with discomfort/sadness if we allow ourselves to (not looking for the quick fix) helps us to really tap into things at a 'real', meaningful, and at times at a spiritual level, living a more authentic and purposeful life – love it!!"
(Steve P)

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Be inspired...

... by Melinda Hutchings
author of Why Can't I Look the Way I Want?

Melinda Hutchings "Whilst in Melbourne recently I appeared on Channel 10's 9am with David & Kim to talk about my book and the prevalence of eating issues.

During hair and make-up a prominent Channel 10 spokesperson sat next to me said she'd seen my book Why Can't I Look the Way I Want in Borders and went on to say that, 'Everyone should have a copy because it's the kind of book that everyone can relate to'.

My 9am segment lasted an entire ten minutes (a long time on breakfast television) because the hosts were intrigued to learn that there are warning signs before the warning signs, and that 25 per cent of children diagnosed with anorexia are boys."