Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self
Product Description
From the author of Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy comes a guided excavation for women who suspect that there’s something more to life than the top layer pursuits of money, sex, and love. In service to these restless souls who want to scratch beneath the surface, Ban Breathnach offers tidbit-sized essays that help women unearth pay dirt–their reason for being. Using archaeology as her frame of reference, Ban Breathnach suggests imaginative exercises at the end of each chapter, which she refers to as “Field Work.” Although it occasionally feels overdone, the archaeology metaphor works well–helping readers unearth their past choices and circumstances to better understand the soul’s current mission. Early in the book, Ban Breathnach offers this enticing invitation to go on a spiritual dig: “Besides the fact that your soul is one of the last unlooted sources of the miraculous, with discoveries as spectacular as any found in the Delta of Venus or Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, you can embark on a soul trip and be back before anyone even notices you’re missing. They might be curious about that gleam in your eye and that flush on your cheek, but I’ll never tell if you won’t. Are you game? We’re heading to the sacred site of your soul.” –Gail HudsonAmazon.com Review
From the author of Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy comes a guided excavation for women who suspect that there’s something more to life than the top layer pursuits of money, sex, and love. In service to these restless souls who want to scratch beneath the surface, Ban Breathnach offers tidbit-sized essays that help women unearth pay dirt–their reason for being. Using archaeology as her frame of reference, Ban Breathnach suggests imaginative exercises at the end of each chapter, which she refers to as “Field Work.” Although it occasionally feels overdone, the archaeology metaphor works well–helping readers unearth their past choices and circumstances to better understand the soul’s current mission. Early in the book, Ban Breathnach offers this enticing invitation to go on a spiritual dig: “Besides the fact that your soul is one of the last unlooted sources of the miraculous, with discoveries as spectacular as any found in the Delta of Venus or Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, you can embark on a soul trip and be back before anyone even notices you’re missing. They might be curious about that gleam in your eye and that flush on your cheek, but I’ll never tell if you won’t. Are you game? We’re heading to the sacred site of your soul.” –Gail Hudson
Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self
Anonymous said,
Wrote on September 4, 2010 @ 10:36 am
This is one of a handful of books I’ve read that changed the way I look at myself — and another on that short list is Simple Abundance which I’m working through for the 3rd time as I write “morning pages” daily. This is NOT a sequel to SA — in lots of ways it doesn’t seem to be written by the same Sarah — but by a more mature, more worldly wise, more “evolved” one. Repeatedly in my reading of SM, Sarah brought me to tears–because she knows me–and made me see myself much more clearly, made me face some issues I’ve ignored for 50+ years–and helped me see a path ahead. The margins are crammed with my notes to Sarah, to myself, to my past. A person who thinks this is only a book about how bad most men are couldn’t have read with a woman’s heart. Is there bitterness? Yes–life has its bitter spots, too. But is there hope? Darned right. And if a reader doesn’t see the “gratitude” and “joy” in the message of this one, I’m sad for that reader. It’s not a “ruffles and lace” book at all. It’s a no holds barred look at life–with lots of real-life examples, many of which aren’t pretty. On page 59, she writes, “Could there be anything more important than living without regrets?” I think the whole book is about HOW to live without regrets.
Rating: 5 / 5
Anonymous said,
Wrote on September 4, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
Unlike many of the more recent reviewers here, I did not read “Simple Abundance” before I started the sequel. Also unlike many of the recent reviewers, I found “Something More” to be incredibly insightful, wonderfully written and a true gift FROM as well as TO the Soul.
I found the life stories within this book to be beautifully encouraging and inspiring, rather than depressing and anger-filled as several have noted. Life is an adventure, fraught with disappointment and sadness, as well as all the other “cozy” feelings we seek and need. And I, for one, am glad she didn’t pull any punches and told things just as they are.
Excavating, searching, looking and definitely *finding* your Authentic Self takes a lot of courage. We all have it. THAT’s what this book is all about and it gives us some concrete tools with which to do this. Thank you, Sarah, for daring to speak your Truth and helping so many of us along the way.
Read it. You won’t regret it if you listen to your heart along the way.
Rating: 5 / 5
Stacey Elza said,
Wrote on September 4, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
I am a nineteen-year-old college student. I have never been married, and currently have no prospects of doing so. I struggle through mid-terms. I live in a dormitory with a group of amazing friends, my second family. My life is hopelessly and joyously flawed.
When I finished reading Simple Abundance and returned it to my bookshelf with a satisfied sigh, I left it with a newly-found contentment and an insatiable hunger to be myself–whoever that ended up being. A family woman? A career gal? A chemist? A teacher? Suddenly, prestige (as it is defined by the world)did not matter, as long as I knew that I was doing what my true self was begging me to do.
When I came across Something More by accident, I bought it without hesitation, hoping for yet another shot of self-esteem booster. While the writing style is artful and refreshing, the content was a complete departure from what I had come to love in Simple Abundance. Since I have never known the pain of divorce, I felt that most of the book did not apply to me since break-ups, rather than authenticity, were the theme. I also felt that the book as a whole did not have the cohesiveness of the original; at some points, it just wandered.
If you are a woman who is trying to overcome a painful divorce, Something More may be just what you have been looking, but for those of you who are searching for more self-discovery, re-read Simple Abundance instead.
Rating: 2 / 5
Anonymous said,
Wrote on September 4, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
I found Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self very inspiring and very uplifting. She is not offering a cure-all, solve your problems type of information, Sarah Ban Breathnack is giving her listeners insights on soul searching, thinking about themselves and coming to terms by telling stories of other women who have questioned their role in life, questioned their feelings about home and family, as well as children, lovers, and friends. I found myself as I was listening to the tapes, say “that’s how I feel!” After listening to her tapes I found I could say that my feelings about myself and others was real, was normal, was o.k. At 46 years old, I wanted to believe that my life has had meaning and has had a positive effect on others. Her stories re-affirmed what I already knew about myself, yet also made me take another look at myself and my life. I would recommend Something More to anyone who has felt overwhelmed by life and the obligations of being a woman. These tapes are a feel good, my life is alot better than I thought kind of listening.
Rating: 5 / 5
Anonymous said,
Wrote on September 4, 2010 @ 3:25 pm
I can’t compare this one. I will say that I found this book to touch the core of my life as it is at this point. I’m approaching 50, though, and I’m not really sure it’s a book for women under maybe 40! I found the anecdotes of women’s lives and experiences to be reassuring in the sense that we need to know we’re really not alone in how we feel as, what we experience as and how we approach being women. Sarah’s approach to being a woman mirrors my discoveries for myself and the woman I’m becoming. While I didn’t agree with everything, i.e. I don’t believe in soul mates at this point, I did find her insights into our needs, dreams, anxieties, foibles and even “angers” to be dead on based on the woman I happen to be. At times I felt she was actually encouraging leaving relationships, but I must admit that since I’m anxious to discover the moment that is right for leaving mine, I found her words somehow comforting. I do not believe, however, that she is encouraging all women to divorce their husbands, but to finally simply realize their worth as an individual. I think the point is that once we do that we can heal those relationships that are salvageable and finally see those that aren’t for what they are. I can see how some would see it as selfish because to a large extent she is encouraging us to be selfish, but I think as grownups we can certainly decipher what she ultimately means by the kind of selfishness that we must move toward. This book might not be for every woman, but it’s one that I’m heartily recommending to my women friends.
Rating: 4 / 5