In today’s anxiety-ridden, stress-infused world, even a moment of quiet reflection has become a time- consuming luxury most of us just can’t afford. How did we reach this point? How did we lose our direction and sense of control? And, most important, how can we reclaim our lives?
Linda Kavelin Popov asked herself these same questions, after the pressures of her own workaholic lifestyle nearly destroyed her. Now, as cofounder of the International Virtues Project she helps others achieve a pace of grace—a pace for our lives that can balance and sustain us physically and spiritually.
Through a four-part program that teaches you how to purify your life, pace yourself, practice the presence, and plan a sustainable life, A Pace of Grace offers simple ways to rediscover the essential elements of a life well lived. Complete with Linda’s ten rules for health, this comprehensive guide is the first step in recapturing the joy and vibrancy inherent in each of us.
Linda Kavelin Popov is the author of The Family Virtues Guide and is one of the founders and directors of the Virtues Project International. She travels around the world in support of the project’s initiatives, speaking to communities, businesses, and governmental organizations. The United Nations Secretariat has honored the Virtues Project as a model for global reform for people of all cultures. She lives in the Gulf Islands near Victoria, British Columbia.
Mashing together a do-less, enjoy-more philosophy with a range of retread
techniques (e.g., do yoga, practice forgiveness, work smarter),
psychotherapist Popov seeks to help readers simplify their lives.
Unfortunately, her book reads like a disjointed, overstuffed, and often
precious scrapbook. After blaming "FOG" (fatigue, overwhelm, and guilt) for
people's distress, she dispenses advice rooted in the ideals of the nonprofit
organization she cofounded, the Virtues Project International. Readers will
find little how-to and must bear in mind about 100 "virtues" (e.g., sacrifice,
trust, and unity) that were partly the focus of Popov's previous The Family
Virtues Guide: Simple Ways To Bring Out the Best in Our Children and
Ourselves. While certain passages have merit, the book feels disconnected and
self-indulgent. Not recommended, though Popov is an Oprah darling, so there
may be demand. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
A psychotherapist and founder of the Virtues Project, Popov (The Family
Virtues Guide), found that, despite her success, she was beset by stress and
fatigue. Diagnosed with postpolio syndrome, she restored herself by following
a 10-point plan she developed as a guide to living a more fulfilling and less
frenzied life: maintaining a clean body and following a nutritious diet,
practicing correct breathing and exercise, resting daily, pursuing peaceful
activities, making time for play and praying frequently. At the heart of
Popov's gentle message is a deep concern for the lack of meaning in everyday
existence and the unkind way people often treat one another. She strongly
recommends such virtues as acceptance and appreciation of intimates,
practicing thankfulness and making joy a priority. There's very little to
argue with here, though Popov does not always avoid trite phrasing or
repetition in making it manifest. Agent, Teresa Park of Sanford J. Greenburger
Associates. (July) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
