Author: Karen Horneffer-Ginter, Ph.D.
Published: December 2012
Publisher: Hay House Insights
Pages: 226
Category: Self-help
Source: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher and TLC book tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
We live in a world of constant movement, and our day-to-day lives seem to get busier by the hour. Our days are full of information, full of obligations, full of friends and family, full of everything . . . exceptfulfillment. And rushing has become a national epidemic. Even when we’re rushing to and from the good stuff—like a rewarding job with wonderful colleagues, or quality time spent with loved ones—we can still end up feeling drained and exhausted, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of life.
In Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit, psychologist Karen Horneffer-Ginter helps you understand that it is this volume, this busyness, that creates a disconnect between your outer life and your inner self. This separation can cause your soul to wilt, preventing you from experiencing joy and hearing your own wisdom about what needs priority in your life.
With an elegant narrative voice that inspires both laughter and compassion, Horneffer-Ginter shows you how to live a fuller life rather than simply filling your time. She focuses on six shifts to make in your daily life—teaching you to honor your rhythms, turn within, fill up, fully inhabit your days, remember lightness, and embrace difficulty.
Through a weave of personal stories, client experiences, and practical exercises, she shows you how to find balance in the swirl of daily life, so you can reconnect with what matters most.
My review:
Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit is a powerful little book with a topic perfect for beginning a new year, a new you. Are you feeling stressed? Are you on edge, trying to do everything and be everything you think others expect you to be? Are you having troubles coping and/or finding joy in your life? Do you desire to find your true north?
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| from chapter: "Remembering Lightness" |
If you answer yes to one or more of the questions above, then you should read Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit! Author and therapist Karen Horneffer-Ginter gently coaches the reader through examples, hers and others', discussing the many challenges we may face day to day and revealing the path(s) to find our joy in the "swirl" of everyday living. Like the ying and yang, a balanced life is the secret to happiness.
Chapter headings include: Tending to Our Thirst, Honoring Our Rhythms, Turning Within, Filling Up, Fully Inhabiting Our Days, Remembering Lightness, Embracing Difficulty, and Finding Balance in the Swirl. Each chapter includes a practice exercise for the reader to utilize the skills discussed in each section. I've tried a few of them so I know this book has real value. In fact, Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit is one book I can foresee reading again and again because life isn't always easy and any help I can find to keep myself balanced I readily embrace.
Some favourite quotes:
"A great way to help ourselves remember to slow down is by taking time-outs. It's always struck me as a shame that this practice is only considered relevant for young children." (page 21)
"What's important to understand is that such gestures [kindness] aren't merely ways of distracting ourselves from our emotional pain. They represent a powerful choice we end up making when we're confronted with sorrow, anger, injustice, or disappointment: the choice of whether we're going to shut down or allow these experiences to become an inner fertilizer that can strengthen our capacity to open our hearts to ourselves and to those around us." (page 178)
"The secret of happiness: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it." (quoted from Dan Dennett, page 179)
"find balance in the swirl" (page 198)
Highly recommended.
Meet the author:
Karen Horneffer-Ginter has been practicing psychology and teaching yoga and contemplative practices for over 16 years. She has also taught graduate students and health-care professionals, along with directing a university-based holistic health care program and co-founding the Center for Psychotherapy and Wellness in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The aim of Karen’s work is to reconnect people with the wisdom of their inner life by reclaiming what gets lost amidst the busyness of day-to-day life: qualities such as stillness, self-care, creativity, joy, humor, gratitude, and compassion. Her intention is to support people in finding a sense of balance and sacredness in their lives.
For more information, please visit her website at www.fullcupthirstyspirit.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.
I have seen this book around lately.
ReplyDeleteNice review...thanks.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
Hi Elizabeth! Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit has earned a place on my list of books to re-read. There's a lot of value in the advice and the methodology is universal. I highly recommend it!
DeleteWOW! That second quote is really powerful to me, ""What's important to understand is that such gestures [kindness] aren't merely ways of distracting ourselves from our emotional pain. They represent a powerful choice we end up making when we're confronted with sorrow, anger, injustice, or disappointment: the choice of whether we're going to shut down or allow these experiences to become an inner fertilizer that can strengthen our capacity to open our hearts to ourselves and to those around us." Our feelings are difficult to control, but our actions are certainly controllable, and our actions can affect our feelings. That's what I remind myself about when I'm annoyed with my husband. I really think it's strengthened our marriage!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour!
Hi Trish! Good advice!
DeleteMy resolution this year is to "Celebrate More, Worry Less." Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit is one of my go-to guides to accomplish this.
Hi Shirley,
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank you for taking the time to read my book and offering such a thoughtful review! I love the questions you ask too :)
Many blessings to you and thanks again!
Karen Horneffer-Ginter
Hi Karen! Full Cup, Thirsty Spirit is a fabulous guide to finding balance in our lives. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to review this book. It will be one of my go-to guides to help me achieve my personal development goals this year.
DeletePS I told my boss about it and she borrowed my copy!
This sounds like a book we could all benefit from. I have added it to my list because I love the quotes and what you had to say about this book. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Jess
Dear DMS, this is one book that will offer benefits to all who read it. I'm glad you are adding it to your list!
DeleteHi Shirley, Looks like we share both names and tastes -- at least when it comes to this book. I just finished it and loved it also. Will post my own review. Thankful to find yours.
ReplyDelete