‘The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life’, by Lisa Miller.
What’s it about:
Miller shares her research around mental health and meaning and presents a strong case for how to open our hearts to being connected to the universe.
What Lynn learned:
Psychoanalytic theories and institutionalisation is not enough for ‘recovery’ and a meaningful life, we need to be held in regard with love and care.
There’s a way to work with the universe, in a collaborative way, to let it reveal a healing future.
To face the darkest of times allows for a greater sense of spiritual meaning. This could be linked to those with the most sensitive to depression, ‘Perhaps these are our artists, writers, faither-leaders, shamans, and musicians, particularly sensitive to experience’ (p. 152).
Achievement tied to stress and ego, i.e. striving for something linked to self-worth and control, is very different to a feeling of ‘unity and clarity’ and having a life of meaning (p. 159).
Bob Chapman is the type of businessman I appreciate – he looked at work and business as a way to help and improve lives and had a heart-centred leadership style.
Fave quotes:
‘If I can just make it through x, y, z…,” then I can advance, then I can rest, then I can be happy.’ (p. 25).
‘All on her own. She had fundamentally changed the way she perceived the same realities and circumstances…She had witnessed that even in times of pain and grief, even at the worst and darkest moments, something in the fabric of the world allows for love and light’ (p. 73).
‘When we’re suffering from depression, we’re not holding our perpetual catcher’s mitt out to the world. We’re turning it inward.’ (p. 171).
‘She was fearless, with a joyful, game-for-it smile that could bring anyone on board’ (p. 214).
‘An awakened heart is the seat of our unity with life’ (p. 216).
(Quoting Tim Shriver’, ‘I’d spent an hour talking about some bullshit academic theory relevant only to my desire to feel more important or valuable or worthy because I have the capacity to talk about bullshit theories. And here was Philipe, embodying everything that’s actually important: being gentle, being present, and vulnerable, and overwhelmingly loving to everybody. I’d just missed the damn point’ (p. 227).
Why relevant right now:
To have a meaningful life is the ultimate perennial question, eh? I’m super zen these days and connected to the universe. You should try it.
Interest factor: 4.5/5
Coffee table cred: 4/5
Ignorance of external world while reading: 4/5
Book cover design: 3.5/5
Help the existential crisis: 5/5
