Author: Valerie Kaur
Book Review by: Dave Driver
Critical quote for thread of thought that follows:
Joy is the gift of Love. Grief is the price of love. Anger protects that which is loved. And when we have reached our limit, wonder is the act that returns us to love.
Key Points and Their Meaning:
KP1 - Loving Others and Wonder (P. 59)
We LITERALLY are the other.
Sanskrit: I am that! when looking upon anyone or anything else.
African: Ubuntu. I am because you are.
Mayan: In La’ Kech. You are my other me.
Buddha, Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad Mirabia all spoke of and taught connectedness.
KP2 - Loving Opponents (P. 106)
If loving others is connectedness—be it joy, grief or anger—then the opposite is absence of connection or indifference . If we have joy, grief, or anger with respect to others that is proof we care. Indifference simply does not care. The absence of love, the absence of connectedness, is indifference. We may disagree. We may even believe we hate. But to have an opinion is to be connected. Therefore, if we are ALL connected with each other, let’s connect to and with the love piece.
KP3 - Loving Ourselves (P. 211)
Our bodies manifest our mental and emotional health. If we are a part of each other, it behooves us—ALL OF US—to care for our health. By caring for our health, we care for the health of others. By caring for the health of others, we care for our health.
Application to Life Coaching
Favorite Passage and Why: (P.278)
1) Joy is the gift of Love. Grief is the price of love. Anger protects that which is loved. And when we have reached our limit, wonder is the act that returns us to love.
2) You are a part of me I do not yet know.
WHY - It will only be LOVE that knits humanity one with another, whether it begins with us or upon us. Love moves us. Selfish love moves us away from the OTHER. Self-love begets love of others to connect us in healthy ways.
Coaching application of my key takeaways: Enter into every relationship (inside and outside of coaching) from a foundation of love. I will see others. I will find the part of me that is in them. I will ask the questions that grant permission to consider self-grace and self-love.