Book Review – the Unchosen Path, Reflections From the Inner Journey of Illness

The Unchosen Path is written by Laurie Hope, who has a private counseling practice in Ojai, CA, specializing in hynotherpay and sandtray therapy and leads support groups and workshops for people with chronic illness. She says ' Everyone seeks to be happy. But when we physically feel lousy our external sources for happiness are not so easily accessibe' ( this is sooooooooo true). In one of her chapters she says ' I used to think that I could enlighten myself out of feeling depressed. If depression is the result of a negative belief system, then it is alterable. But if depression is the by-product of the imbalanced brain chemistry of a disease process, then all my letting go and great perspective and egolessness may not change the tendency toward sadness and negative thinking. Since the enlightened transcendence of depression doesn’t seem to be my present fate, I’ve decided to practice “enlightened depression”—depression coexisting with everything else that is here; depression free from self-blame; depression free from shame; depression that does not separate me from others but rather reminds me of my common humanity. I am not depressed because I hate life—I am depressed because I love life and long for a more energetic involvement with it. This perception takes me to a more fundamental identification—myself as a life-loving creature—connected, involved, part of the unfathomable drama'. The Unchosen Path explores specific issues common to people who live with chronic illness. There are short excerpts from interviews, personal journals, and writings from a variety of authors who share what they have learned and what brings them healing. These personal reflections are touchingly honest, thoughtful, courageous, and wise. Their stories can help us feel uplifted and less alone. A really uplifting and fascinating read. To find out more about Laurie or to order a copy of her book go to her websites http://www.laurie-hope.com/