Book Review: When Things Fall Apart
A healthy body must stem from a healthy mind. A healthy and sound mind is needed to build a successful and stress free life full of experiences. I read a book recently that helped me explore the power of a healthy mind and how it can stimulate my experiences. In When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön talks about a power that comes from within and we cannot let others or society have a power over us that blurs our perceptions of reality and control what should be a natural and rich life directed toward enlightenment.
Chödrön’s book has a focus on the broad scope of our existence and how we can live, day to day, with harmony and peace. With a focus on living in the moment and confronting fears, empowerment can be found in everyday life and used to live with contentment. In society, we are constantly told what is good or bad and right or wrong by those who are in power. This makes it easy to view the world in a very black and white way which can create debilitating stereotypes. Chödrön urges her reader to live in the moment and see things for what they actually are without the blur of societal constructs. Easier said than done, but every little bit can help you reach toward a clear mind and the ability to relax in an often chaotic society.
Since reading this book, I have tried to navigate my life looking at things for what they are and trying not to stress about things that I cannot change and have no control over. Living this way has been difficult, but truly fulfilling as I have learned that I cannot worry about the things I cannot change and I have learned to see other people’s point of view as their own good will. I strongly recommend When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön to anyone who is interested in learning about enlightenment and an understanding of fear and power as they affect our daily lives.
