During her Transformation Talk interview, I jokingly told Staci Boden that I was glad she’d written Turning Dead Ends Into Doorways: How to Grow Through Whatever Life Throws Your Way, so I didn’t have to. I didn’t mean to imply that I could have written her book, or that it could have come from anyone other than Staci herself. But it’s a book that needed to be written and it begs to be read. Staci’s years of experience, combined with her willingness to live the process she developed as she wrote the book, offer up a complete and masterful healing journey.
In other words, this book will change your life if you let it.
Staci writes about eight big, sometimes scary, always powerful, teachers who guide us through the unknown in what she calls Practical Spirituality: fear, awareness, choice, body, intuition, energy, intention and surrender. She’s funny and poignant, vulnerable and wise as she invites us on the journey, stopping frequently to provide prompts for self-discovery.
From a professional point of view, her book was a revelation because it was the first time I’d read much of what I write, believe, teach and preach from anyone else. I was nodding, highlighting, and writing in the margins. On a personal level, I found that every time I picked it up, I would read exactly what I needed to bring into my awareness that day, and that long after I’d put it down, her words would be continue to resonate within me.
Early in the book, Staci writes:
Ultimately, practicing consciously navigating the unknown teaches you how to create an And way of life. Additionally, the journey of discovering your own sense of balance between the present, future, and unknown by noticing, holding, sitting with, and following energy is what grows your power. Not my power, not the neighbor’s power, your unique power. The beauty of this practice is that how you explore, nourish, and express your power is authentic in nature. The magic of this practice is how everyday moments surprise you with life lessons strangely designed to facilitate just what you need to learn. Daily life becomes the training ground for developing your own power and sense of balance. Rather than guaranteed endings, moving through life this way produces intangible and priceless healing gifts – compassion, creativity, humility, balance, and trust. These gifts unite to form a foundation of resources that grow you into the next expression of who you are, whatever that is.
To me, this epitomizes what she and the book are offering, in the most holistic way I’ve seen it offered – practical guidance to support each of us in becoming who we are next meant to be.
Buy it. Read it. Live it. You won’t be sorry.
P.S. You have two more days to enter to win a copy of Staci’s book by leaving a comment here. Winner will be chosen at 10pm October 31st and notified via email.
P.P.S. In the interest of full disclosure: I was provided with a copy of the book by the publisher, for review. This in no way impacted anything I’ve written. This book is really, really good.