Discusses how to apply the teachings of Japanese philosophy to overcome neuroses and develop a more meaningful life

This book is the first to discuss experiences of the Morita and Naikan ways of life in the Western World. Although Morita and Naikan are therapies—perspectives on neurotic habits and their correction—the vision is educational rather than medical. The approach offers a way of acknowledging feelings while engaging in constructive living. With roots in Zen, the principles of this constructive living were formulated over 80 years ago by Shoma Morita, a Japanese psychiatrist. Like Zen, these principles are thoroughly grounded in the reality of the here and now. Morita's methods are aimed at the person who suffers from anxiety, shyness, phobias, and obsessions that often manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, stomach disorders, and heart palpitations. However the techniques are available and beneficial to people at widely different stages of self-development, not just to those whose lives are plagued by neurotic suffering. Reynolds offers a look at the adaptations necessary to transform and transport these Japanese methods into techniques useful to Westerners. Cultural-psychological insights are presented by the author who is both an anthropologist and clinician. Flowing Bridges offers a unique case study of directed change of a psychotherapeutic system. What is Eastern, what is Western, and what is commonly human becomes more clear from this example of importation of Japanese ideas into the West. For psychotherapists, there are extensive accounts of hands-on treatment methods. For those interested in adding these very effective techniques, the first-person accounts of a variety of contributors will be helpful.

AJN Book of the Year Award Winner! (Second Edition) "This book is a gem! It provides a wealth of well researched information to help the reader understand sources of stressÖ.It tackles very important issues that lead to burnout and provides an exceptionally comprehensive analysisÖ.This book is illuminating for clinicians." Afaf Meleis, PhD, DrPS(hon), FAAN Dean of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing This inspiring, award-winning title guides nurses to transform work-related stress and anger into strength and resilience. The profession has witnessed increasing workplace violence, conflicts with colleagues, and poor working conditions. In this book, Thomas demonstrates how anger can actually be a catalyst for personal and professional empowerment. In this new edition, Thomas discusses the causes and consequences of nurses' stress and anger, and presents new strategies to prevent and manage both, even under the worst conditions. She demonstrates how to forge stronger relationships with colleagues and patients, and solve work-related problems head-on. As a nursing educator, therapist, practitioner, and practicing RN, Thomas provides personal accounts of her own experiences as a nurse, struggling to meet the many challenges of the job. Key Features: Thoroughly updated with new research data and case studies Offers step-by-step guidelines on working towards remediation and healing Organized with bulleted lists and boxes highlighting key points Guidance on pursuing career movement, both vertical and horizontal Useful for nurses, hospital administrators, managers, and graduate students

The joyful premise at the heart of this book is that there is a table lavishly spread for all who hunger for forgiveness--the believer, the doubter, and the famished. The book's journey begins and ends with this assertion: not only is there a table of forgiveness set for us in the many wildernesses of life, there is a seat waiting for each and every one of us at that table. What matters is whether we take that seat and, if so, how we behave at the feast. Rooted in the notion of journeying, of setting out each day to discover some new vista along the many paths to the banquet hall of forgiveness, A Table in the Wilderness draws upon the wisdom of multiple religious traditions, as well as non-religious sources, in order to gain perspective on this long misunderstood subject. Readers are just as likely to encounter Dr. Seuss as they are to read the words of Sri Ramakrishna or Saint Augustine along the way. Anyone who has ever been hurt or has hurt another will find this book a helpful guide.

Constructive Living brings together two psychotherapies--Morita and Naikan-- and their associated lifeways. Both therapies were developed in this century, but their roots extend back hundreds of years in East Asian history. Morita was a professor of psychiatry at Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo. Yoshimoto was a successful businessman who retired to become a lay priest in Nara. Morita's method has it origins in Zen Buddhist psychology, and Yoshimoto's Naikan has its origins in Jodo Shinshu Buddhist psychology. Neither of these systems requires that one believe in Buddhism or have faith in anything other than one's experience. They work as well for Christians and Moslems and Jews as for Buddhists. Both are built on the naturalistic observations of humans and careful introspection of their founders. Constructive Living isn't mystical or oriental, but practical and human.

In an irresistible invitation to lighten up, look around, and live an unscripted life, a master of the art of improvisation explains how to adopt the attitudes and techniques used by generations of musicians and actors. Let’s face it: Life is something we all make up as we go along. No matter how carefully we formulate a “script,” it is bound to change when we interact with people with scripts of their own. Improv Wisdom shows how to apply the maxims of improvisational theater to real-life challenges—whether it’s dealing with a demanding boss, a tired child, or one of life’s never-ending surprises. Patricia Madson distills thirty years of experience into thirteen simple strategies, including “Say Yes,” “Start Anywhere,” “Face the Facts,” and “Make Mistakes, Please,” helping readers to loosen up, think on their feet, and take on everything life has to offer with skill, chutzpah, and a sense of humor.