Fire in the Soul: A New Psychology of Spiritual Optimism

Friends have been telling me for years that I am entirely too pessimistic. With an eye toward changing, I searched the local bookstore shelves a book that presents a balanced spiritual optimism. FIRE IN THE SOUL by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D seemed to meet my needs exactly. Certainly the concept that every difficult experience provides an opportunity for soul growth is not new to me. But Borysenko has a gift for presenting familiar material in a way that is refreshing and revitalizing as she points to the paths that allow the pain of soul making to lead to deep healing. One of the most profound concepts of FIRE IN THE SOUL is that it is the stories that we tell ourselves that determine how we recover from painful experiences. Pessimism, believing that we have done bad things for bad things to happen, leads to depression and powerlessness. Optimism, accepting that bad things happen to good people but present an opportunity for growth, leads to deep healing. Like one woman in the book states, "This is the role I've been given to play. I'm going to do it as consciously and gracefully as I can."Personal anecdotes, case histories, and various spiritual readings combine in a powerful tool for healing in FIRE IN THE SOUL. I began working my way through the book several months ago as I underwent a terrible spiritual crisis. As the fires of transformation have burned their ways through my life, Borysenko's confirmation of spiritual truths that I have long held has provided the lifeline needed to endure and even flourish despite profound challenges. Certainly it is an imperfect book, with an over abundance of references aimed to encourage the reader to buy Borysenko's previous book. And many of the concepts are quite familiar. Yet Borysenko's gift for weaving text that speaks to the soul and inspires transformation makes FIRE IN THE SOUL a powerful spiritual tool. FIRE IN THE SOUL comes very highly recommended.

This book is correctly named. It is an excellent book for those who find themselves feeling sad, depressed or just out of sorts and they can't seem to figure out why. It is helpful for looking at our own shadows and dealing with them in an effective and healing manner.

Joan's extensive spiritual studies pour out on every page, and not once does she promote or condem one type of spiritual choice or another. She offers options, opinions, facts, and reality to lead her readers to answering their own questions of spirituality and artfully guiding them to a higher awareness for themselves and of themselves. I've had the book nearly 7 years, and I still refer to it on occasion. She outdid herself with this one!

I read this book several years ago and it has been very importan not only in my personal growth as well as being a book I highly recommend for my clients. Borysenko's ability to write in a profound meaning manner, while not resorting to technical language.. makes this and other books by her accessible for laymen. If you would like to find a light out of the "dark nights of the soul", this is the book to read.

Finally, a book that addresses spirituality, without trying to force it into a particular religion! This book stresses that anyone can find optimism in their religion/spirituality. Many powerful stories are relayed, as well as actual techniques for becoming a happier, more accepting person. Every time I started to think the author was getting a little too "out there" for me, she brought me back to something I could relate to. My only criticism of the book is there were a few too many references to her other books, which I found distracting. I think this information could have been left to the reference section