How to build a foundation of balance and peace in life An ancient Chinese proverb states that to bring peace into the world, one must first bring peace into one's heart. Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart combines the ageless wisdom of Taoism with the timeless insights of Joseph Campbell, showing readers how to harness the divine potential of the human spirit in order to bring peace to heart and soul. Offering an abundance of advice, exercises, meditations, and inspirational stories, this practical and motivational guide gives readers the skills and incentive they need to cope with stress, embrace spirituality, and bring balance into their lives. Brian Luke Seaward, PhD (Boulder, CO), is a pioneer in the field of health psychology who is internationally recognized for his contributions in the areas of holistic stress management, human spirituality, and mind-body-spirit healing. He is the author of several books, including Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. INTRODUCTION: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times. PART I: Into the Unknown. 1. The Winds of Change Are Brewing. 2. Under Pressure. PART II: Crossing the Threshold. 3. Stand Like Mountain, Move Like Water. 4. Move a Mountain, Walk on Water. PART III: Life in the Balance. 5. The Human Equinox: Six Ways to Bring Balance into Your Life. 6. The Health of the Human Spirit: Twenty--one Strategies for Letting Go of Stress. PART IV: Back Home Again. 7. The Winds of Grace. EPILOGUE: Sacred Spaces and Divine Inspiration. REFERENCES AND RESOURCES. INDEX.

About the Author

BRIAN LUKE SEAWARD, Ph.D., is a pioneer in the field of health psychology who is known internationally for his contributions in the areas of holistic stress management, spirituality, and mind--body--spirit healing. He is the author of several other books, including Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward and Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water.

Reviews

personal adversity" and bring "peace to the heart and soul." The book's four parts in turn discuss the nature and reality of stress; the relationship between stress and spirituality; practical strategies for finding equilibrium and letting go of stress; and some success stories. Throughout, Seaward intersperses brief meditation and journaling exercises. Yet the book feels hollow. While Seaward touches on some profound Taoist principles----as one might expect, given the book's title----he fails to investigate these teachings in any depth. Instead, he uses them as a broad, a priori template for an "ageless wisdom" held by generic "wisdom keepers." He then cites examples of this wisdom from a wide range of other sources and traditions, including Native American spirituality, Joseph Campbell's writings, and DNA research. This lack of focus is exacerbated by the text's habit of substituting unsatisfying anecdotes for a probing exploration of a given point. The result is a superficial amalgam of sweeping generalizations, inspirational cliches ("even the darkest night has bright stars!"), sentimental stories of triumph over adversity and quotes from the likes of Mother Teresa, Einstein and Lance Armstrong. Some of Seaward's spirituality--based ideas for navigating stress may have dimension and weight, but his treatment leaves them feeling trivial. (Nov.) (Publishers Weekly, October 11, 2004)