Fearless Heart

A vibrant picture book biography of Surya Bonaly, the figure skating champion who backflipped her way into history As a young girl in France, Surya Bonaly was constantly in motion, gifted in any sport she tried. But it was figure skating that had her heart. Surya knew she belonged on the ice. Her colorful costumes, exuberant routines, powerful jumps, and daring combinations were all expressions of her love for skating and her ambition to push the boundaries of what a figure skating champion could look like. Some people weren't sure Surya belonged on top of the podium. "Is she graceful enough?" they asked. "Does she look like a skater?" But Surya's fearless heart propelled her to always stay true to herself while pursuing her boldest dreams. Culminating in her iconic backflip performed at the 1998 Olympics, Fearless Heart is a lushly illustrated, lyrical story of self-expression and courage.

The Buddhist practice of mindfulness caught on in the west when we began to understand the everyday, personal benefits it brought us. Now, in this extraordinary book, the highly acclaimed thought leader and longtime English translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama shows us that compassion can bring us even more. Based on the landmark course in compassion training Jinpa helped create at Stanford Medical School, A Fearless Heart shows us that we actually fear compassion. We worry that if we are too compassionate with others we will be taken advantage of, and if we are too compassionate with ourselves we will turn into slackers. Using science, insights from both classical Buddhist and western psychology, and stories both from others and from his own extraordinary life, Jinpa shows us how to train our compassion muscle to relieve stress, fight depression, improve our health, achieve our goals, and change our world. Practical, spiritual, and immediately relevant, A Fearless Heart will speak to readers of The Art of Happiness and Wherever You Go, There You Are.

What if people -- even longtime enemies -- could transform conflicts into dilemmas they feel motivated to solve together and build more connection and trust? What if employees could leave a meeting empowered and with a joint sense of purpose? What if the positive changes community activists are working so hard to see in the world had a lasting impact?In THE HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATOR: Using Convergent Facilitation to Reach Breakthrough Collaborative Decisions, Miki Kashtan introduces a novel decision-making process called Convergent Facilitation that builds trust from the beginning, surfaces concerns and addresses them, and turns conflicts into dilemmas that groups feel energized to solve together. This highly-effective decision-making process has been used successfully around the world to resolve problems and teach people how to collaborate without sacrificing productivity. Since 2002, Convergent Facilitation has helped organizations, businesses, and governments upend traditional and unproductive decision-making methods, such as majority rule, top-down decision-making and coercion, or consensus, which can drain a group's energy. In 2012, Miki worked with the Minnesota State Legislature to resolve gridlock on child custody legislation and helped stakeholders draft bills that passed nearly unanimously. In a 2014 op-ed in the New York Times, Miki explained how power differences lead employees to stay silent and not feel part of a common goal, which ultimately makes a business run less effectively. THE HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATOR allows readers to learn and implement Convergent Facilitation. The book moves readers through three phases of a process that brings groups to outcomes that are profoundly collaborative and genuinely supported by all. Through vivid case studies and practical examples, the book explains:?how to guide people towards solutions that integrate everyone's needs and concerns without requiring compromise;?how to keep people on track with the task at hand;?how to invite dissent and engage with it productively; and?how to attend to the power differences that so often interfere with collaboration.

"Reading Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart is like eavesdropping on a conversation between Lao Tzu and Joseph Campbell--a pure pleasure to read!" --Deepak Chopra, M.D., coauthor of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga and author of The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire "Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart is an enchanting piece of wisdom that combines ancient insights with practical solutions to the stress epidemic that permeates our culture. Brian Luke Seaward is a master teacher, skillful guide, and true healer." --Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words and Reinventing Medicine "The perfect antidote for these acceleratingly stressful post-9/11 times with fearmongers accosting us everywhere, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart artfully and wisely blends stress relief with spirituality. Keeping us constantly uplifted and engaged, this book is filled with witty sayings, practical, powerful exercises, and personal stories that ring with heartfelt authenticity." --Candace B. Pert, Ph.D., author of Molecules of Emotion With graceful wisdom and gentle humor, Dr. Brian Luke Seaward helps you see past the limitations of the ego to the highest potential of the human spirit at the core of your very being. Through a unique alchemy of the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism and the timeless insights of the visionary Joseph Campbell, Seaward shows you how to harness this potential so that you may find the courage to be a victor, not a victim of life's problems. Through the realization of this alchemy you will become the hero at the center of your own mythical life journey. Using simple but powerful exercises, meditations, and self-exploration techniques, you will learn to reconnect and harmonize with the universal spirit energy, or Tao, that flows through you to achieve inner balance, the joy of life, and optimal health. This book gives you the tools and skills to overcome adversity, resolve the emotional and psychological obstacles keeping you from realizing your potential, and vanquish stress, bringing peace to your heart and soul. Featuring the insights of renowned spiritual luminaries and philosophers from around the world and throughout the ages as well as many inspirational stories from women and men just like you, this powerful motivational guide shows you how to cope with everyday stress, embrace your divinity, and find true harmony in your life.

"Along the way we see the growth of Earle's political consciousness and his courage in tackling thorny topics such as "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh (in the song "John Walker's Blues"), his opposition to the death penalty, and his recent appearance in support of Iraq war protester Cindy Sheehan. Author David McGee also examines the early '70s east Texas singer-songwriter scene - where Earle met his future mentors Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt - and the rise of the New Traditionalist and Americana movements.".

Though less known today than contemporaries like Amundsen and Peary, Knud Rasmussen (1879–1933) was one of the most intriguing of the great early 20th century arctic explorers. Born and raised in Greenland, and part Inuit on his mother’s side, Rasmussen could shoot a gun and harness a team of sled dogs by the time he was eight. Nevertheless he was well versed in the civilized arts and came to exploration after failing to make a career as an opera singer in Europe. He was obviously more at home on the ice floes than the stage, and undertook some of the most astounding feats of endurance in the annals of polar exploration including his record-setting 18,000-mile “Great Sled Journey”—the first to traverse the Northwest Passage by dogsled. More impressively, he travelled without the elaborate preparations and large support staffs employed by other explorers, surviving with only a few Inuit assistants and living off the land. He once explained his approach by saying, “[As a child] my playmates were native Greenlanders; from the earliest boyhood I played and worked with the hunters, so even the hardships of the most strenuous sledge-trips became pleasant routine for me.” Despite his extraordinary physical prowess, Rasmussen was one of the most intellectual of the great explorers, more interested in scientific study than glamorous feats, producing (among many other works) a ten-volume account documenting Inuit spirituality and culture, an accomplishment that earned him the title “the father of Eskimology.” In this first full-length biography, Stephen R. Bown brings Rasmussen’s inspiring story to English readers in all its richness, giving White Eskimo the readability of a good novel.

"Fearless Heart: Finding Courage in Times of Adversity" is a compelling exploration of the human capacity to confront and overcome fear, doubt, and adversity. In this insightful book, author draws upon personal experiences, psychological research, and timeless wisdom to offer a roadmap for cultivating resilience and finding courage in the face of life's greatest challenges. Through a combination of compelling narratives, practical exercises, and thought-provoking insights, readers will embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. From navigating career transitions to coping with loss, from confronting fears to embracing vulnerability, "Fearless Heart" provides readers with the tools and strategies they need to harness their inner strength and live with greater courage and authenticity. With compassion and clarity, Author reveals how embracing fear can be the catalyst for personal growth and transformation. By reframing fear as a natural and necessary part of the human experience, readers will learn to embrace uncertainty, cultivate resilience, and tap into their innate capacity for courage. "Fearless Heart: Finding Courage in Times of Adversity" is a timeless guide for anyone seeking to navigate life's challenges with grace, resilience, and unwavering courage.

Heath Fraser is sent in service to the passionate king, Robert the Bruce. His past transgression against his clan cannot be undone, but he aims to prove his courage. Not only does he hope his clan forgives his lack of valor, but he doesn’t take death lightly. To account for those he’s killed, he keeps a tally to ensure his entrance into Heaven when his days end. Lillia Hunter has been infatuated with Heath since she was wee. When he is sent away, she despairs she will never see him again. Now she is in dire trouble. Her father plans to betroth her to a man who lives far from her home. That wouldn’t bother her except the reasoning behind it. She’s the daughter of King Alexander, and those that can, plan to use her to oust King Robert. Lillia has no desire to rule Scotland and is pleased with the current king. To thwart the king’s foes, she goes on a quest to find the king’s guard. Only they can save her from the danger she faces. Old feelings return when Lillia runs into Heath. She cannot help but be ensnared by his handsomeness and chivalry. Only Heath can keep her from the perilous hands of her enemies. She must maintain a FEARLESS HEART, one that will hopefully lead to a love she always dreamed of.