Courage To Surrender - 8 Contradictions on the Spiritual Path review by Bonnie Cehovet Author: Tommy Hellsten Translated by: Timo Luhtanen Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press 2008 ISBN #978-1-58761-320-3 Therapist Tommy Hellsten brings us quite a powerful work that, if paid attention to, will bring about meaningful change for those who choose to do the work. What is the work? "… to find inner peace, we must face our fears; to be with others, we must accept ourselves; to reach our destination, we must first lose our way." (From the back cover.) More specifically, Hellsten explores eight specific lessons for spiritual development, personal growth, and recovery from loss, trauma, and dependency. From the back cover: 1. The journey begins when you stop. 2. True strength can only be found in weakness. 3. If you seek safety, live dangerously. 4. What you give up will be given to you. 5. The less you do, the more you get done. 6. Only alone can we be together. 7. Only together can we be alone. 8. If you seek eternity, live in the here and now. This is a book done in the best tradition - from the heart of the author, from his personal experiences, and then from psychology, the 12 steps, and Judeo-Christian spirituality. In other words - Hellsten walks his talk. The book was written during a personal crises - the dissolution of a marriage of twenty-five years duration. Because of who he was (a very public figure), his professional life was placed in as much chaos as his personal life. My thought here is - if Tommy Hellsten can face his shadows and come out on the other side, then I owe it to him, and to myself, to take his material seriously. I would think that most people who are drawn to this book will be at a point in their lives where they are ready and willing to make deep seated changes, and need only a small nudge in the right direction. Hellsten begins this book by sharing his own personal story - and that of his father and mother. We see how decisions made change lives - whether they are conscious decisions or not. He talks about how shame can actually become "a member of the family". Through the auspices of this background, Hellsten chose to become a counselor and healer. Hellsten talks about true wisdom holding more questions than answers. He also talks about true strength being found in weakness - through humility we find strength. He also makes an interesting statement in that it is not "safe" to be weak unless we are surrounded by love. Lack of love leads to shame (I am sure that each of us can see this in our own lives). Hellsten goes on to talk about us finding hope in weakness, and no tin strength. When we explore our weaknesses, we come to the realization of what is truly important in our lives. It gets even deeper - if we seek safety, we must live dangerously! Hellsten states that love will take us to safety, and that clinging to self-made safety structures (and we all have them) is not a good path. We also need to recognize where in our life we are mirroring our upbringing. Hellsten states that "We treat ourselves as we were treated as children." This is something that each of us can identify with on a very personal basis. This is a book that each reader will take very, very personally. They will take it to heart, place it in their lives, and make a difference not only in their life, but in the lives of those around them. If you are looking to make personal changes, to become a stronger person, to face your fears and resolve them, then have the courage to read this book. Copyright March 2008 Personal Lifestyle Reading - I offer a Personal Lifestyle Reading using Tarot that looks at past, present and future influences in your life, at the energies that are currently available to help you along your path, and at those energies that are appearing as challanges. My goal is to offer you insight into your decision making process, as well as tools that you can use to both better understand your path and make conscious, choice centered decisions. Home Personal Empowerment Personal Empowerment links Graphics by Art for the web