The Little Things
August 2, 2018

Disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of this book as part of being on the Survival Guide For the Soul Launch Team. I was not compensated in any other way.

I love mental health (obviously… I’m a counselor), I love tending to my spiritual health, and I love when the two overlap, so when I had the chance to get an advanced reader copy of Ken Shigematsu’s new book Survival Guide For the Soul, I jumped at it!

The start of the description for the book on amazon is as follows: “What keeps us from flourishing in our spiritual lives is a neglect of the inner life of the soul. And more and more today, this neglect is driven by our ambition to accomplish something big outside ourselves.” And while it’s not wrong to try to achieve and put a mark on the world, when we are so focused on this that we become disconnected from our soul and inner life of faith, we end up harming ourselves and often those around us. Shigematsu explores the spiritual disciplines, and crosses them with psychology and neuroscience to explore the deep impact that these disciplines have on our body and our relationships. I absolutely loved it!

The book challenged me in so many good ways (if we aren’t a little uncomfortable, perhaps we aren’t pushing ourselves enough to grow and change), and I appreciated how research was woven throughout the description of the disciplines. The author’s voice is challenging and kind, and I appreciated the examples from his own life.

I want to end this review with a quote: “In my experience, I’ve found that my awareness of grace-of a love that I can’t earn and don’t deserve-has deepened as I have embraced spiritual practices that create space for God in my life. These life-giving habits leave me feeling less restless, more comfortable in my own skin. I’m stirred to contribute out of deep gratitude for the grace I have been given, rather than out of my need to validate myself. As the Holy Spirit works in me through these habits, I am freed to live from approval instead of for approval” (p. 46). 

Survival Guide For the Soul will be available on August 7th, and there are some great pre-order bonuses available now!

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