Stress-Free? What's That???

This past weekend was moving weekend at the Larson household. It was a pretty easy move -- we only moved two doors down. It's a long story, and not nearly as entertaining as it sounds like it might be.

Moving far away has its challenges, but moving two doors down has its own set of hazards. After all, it's difficult to carry all of your worldly goods across a neighbor's yard without feeling a little like the Beverly Hillbillies. The thought of being the subject of coffee talk among all of the stay-at-home moms on my block was nearly too much. I know I shouldn't care about what other people think, but I do. It made me very grouchy.

So last night, while relaxing to some soothing music and a good dinner at our new house, I asked my family what I should write about today.

Without skipping a beat, my wonderful (brave) husband answered, "How about if you write about how not to be stressed out?"

So here I am.

I looked up "stress relievers" online and came up with hundreds of answers. Drink green tea. Exercise. Call your mother. Meditate. Journal. Drink exotic herbs. The common theme really seems to be "get it out." Breathe it out, talk it out, sweat it out.

Wouldn't it be great if we could all just quit putting ourselves through the things we do to begin with? I know I'm not the only one guilty of holding expectations a little to high for myself and those around me. So, for today, I'm going to promise to lighten up. My mind, spirit, and body - and those I love, will be all the happier for my effort. And tomorrow, I'll worry about tomorrow.

I hope you are able to find peace for today, and to know that, whatever life is throwing at you, you have backup catchers all around!

Warmly,
Amanda Larson
Publisher
Gentle Path Press

Check it out!
Serenity Prayer Poster

One of the most beautiful versions of the Serenity Prayer you will ever find!

Dr. Patrick Carnes’ special adaptation of the Serenity Prayer, printed on an original painting entitled “New Freedom” commissioned especially for us.
16" x 20" on 80# glossy paper. Heavyweight, suitable for framing, looks great matted.
$19.95

Click here to order yours today!
Click here to see larger version.

It's About Time ...

Happy Friday!

It's so nice to wake up in the morning to the wonderful realizations that a) it's casual day, and b) after work today, there is no plan for two and a half days.

I've never been one for schedules. My creative side is much happier when it can do what it wants, when it wants to do it. Which is in direct conflict with what mortgage companies, bosses, utility people and other picky sticklers feel is required. Lucky enough for me, though, I have aged and matured like fine wine, and only occasionally come uncorked.

So, having said that, I wanted to take an opportunity to tell you all about a limited time offer. Dr. Carnes' Facing the Shadows and Multiple Addictions CD workshops normally sell for $49.95 each. But for a limited time, the combination set will be available for just $69.90.

I feel a little like I'm channeling the Ginsu knives infomercial guy, but this is truly a great deal.

We've also had a number of calls regarding the Recovery Start Kit. They are also available on our website. Recovery Start Kit includes 3 workbooks, 4 audio CDs, 1 DVD, and 2 pocket planners. The workbooks are all perforated to make it easy to work on a single section at a time, or to bring a particular piece into individual or group therapy. Multi-medias were used to take into account people’s different learning styles.

40 Day Focus is the first workbook in the series. It contains 3 core pieces; Daily Meditations (one done every morning), Core Dialogue Queries, (one done every evening), and weekly summaries.

90 Day Prep is a workbook that works in conjunction with 40 Day Focus. It contains exercises to enhance relapse prevention plan. There are many new exercises featured here, including new Cybersex exercises.

90 Day Focus is a culmination of the work done in the first two books. You will continue to track progress, reassess goals, and journal.

The DVD is a conversation between Dr. Patrick Carnes and John Bradshaw about sex addiction and recovery from it, and what can be expected during this time. This DVD has also been helpful to support people (family and friends) that may want to have a better understanding of the disease.

The audio CDs include an introduction to the Recovery Start Kit. One outlines the journaling that goes with 40 Day Focus, one outlines 90 Day Focus, and the third CD, called Positive Sexual Focus, compliments an exercise in the 90 Day Prep workbook.

Pocket planners are designed in two stages; a 90 Day Focus Planner and a One Year Planner. Both serve as portable reminders of target goals for recovery.

Recovery Start Kit is an invaluable tool for recovery, and we've received great feedback from those who have used it. We strongly recommend using it under a therapist's guidance and supervision. To find a therapist near you who specializes in sex addiction, log on to http://www.sexhelp.com/.

All the best to you! It's nearly time to start my weekend!

Warmly,
Amanda

Sharing an Uphill Battle

Have you ever noticed how many people use the term "uphill battle" when talking about difficult situations? It's true-- there are over 1.5 million references to "uphill battle" on Google alone. So apparently, lots of people are having them.

There's little solace in that, I know, other than the fact that there are a tremendous number of people who have faced, and conquered, difficult situations.

I gave this some thought today, and decided that maybe I've been looking at challenges from the wrong angle. Each and every one of us has situations in our lives, or in the lives of those we care about, that are tough. It may seem like an uphill battle.

Take, for example, a recent article by Fox "SEXpert" Yvonne K. Fulbright titled Sex Addiction? It's a Crock (Here's the link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346191,00.html). Read for yourself, but this article does a good job of punctuating what a difficult job therapists have in educating a sometimes misdirected public. It also makes us painfully aware of the shame addicts carry.

One could say it is, ahem, an "uphill battle."

Here's a great resource for FAQs that Fulbright should have checked out: http://www.sexhelp.com/addiction_faq.cfm . Educating therapists, addicts, partners and the public in general is a big priority for Gentle Path Press, as well as sexhelp.com, IITAP (International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals), and other professionals and groups who see firsthand the devastating effects sex addiction has on people's lives.

People like Fulbright do make the job more difficult, but at the same time, they open up the topic for discussion. It gets people talking, and many of them see through such attempts at sensationalism. (Incidentally, if you check Fulbright's website, she's also recently done an interview with a French press agency titled Sex with Robots--which also must be a highly educational article.)

Contrary to Fulbright's article, there is quite a bit of hard data about sex addiction. Out of the Shadows and Don't Call it Love, both by Dr. Patrick Carnes, are great sources. There are others, as well.

Articles like this may seem damaging at first, and may seem like they create more of an uphill battle, but what they also do is create an opportunity for dialogue about the subject of sex addiction. The more people talk about it, the more educated the public will eventually become.

If we look at challenges as opportunities, we will still face some difficult times, but we will know that the world is full of chances to make a difference. So what wonderful opportunities we all have!



Incidentally, if you haven't checked out Stefanie Carnes' new book (co-authored by 11 of the top sex addiction therapists in the world) Mending A Shattered Heart: A Guide for Partners of Sex Addicts, now's the time! It's gotten phenomenal reviews and is sure to be a top seller!

Warmly,
Amanda Larson
Publisher, Gentle Path Press
www.gentlepath.com

Monday Moment

This morning, as the sun rose over a nearby mountain and poked its rays through my window blinds, I found myself fighting the day. I fluffed my pillow, pulled the covers over my head, and let out a grunt for the benefit of no one but my dog, Jane, who lay faithfully patient on the floor next to my bed, not caring if we got up or slept in.

She's an enabler, that dog. Of all of the dogs at the pound, I picked the codependent one.

Mondays are always tough, it seems. If you're like me, you only begin to relax at about five o'clock Sunday night, so Monday feels like a cruel joke sometimes. At least it was this morning ... but only for a few minutes.
I recently had a conversation with Sue Neufeld-Ellis, who is the author of a fantastic CD we've published called Serenity Through Meditation. She mentioned -- and this is so true -- that so many of us are worried about the future or stuck in the past that we seldom live in the "right now." So I kicked the covers off and took a minute to feel what "right now" feels like.

The Arizona air was cool and invigorating. Outside my window, sparrows were chirping as they hopped across the yard I'd manicured all day Saturday. A Gambel's quail hurried from one bush to another, followed by another moments later. Someone was enjoying my gardening efforts, and I almost hadn't noticed! I hopped out of bed and opened the blinds in every room to let the sun shine in. I'd done a good bit of spring cleaning over the weekend, so there was not a single dust bunny to greet me. It was wonderful. Jane sighed her deep, old dog sigh and stretched her aging legs, happy to be, just as she is every day.

And so, today, on this Monday in April, I am happy to just be, and thankful for another day full of challenges and opportunities on this earth.
I hope each of you finds similar peace today, no matter what your challenges, pains, or troubles. Know that you are not alone, and that the world can truly be a beautiful place if you let it.

Warmly,
Amanda Larson
Publisher, Gentle Path Press
http://www.gentlepath.com/

Be the Poem

"If you cannot be a poet, be the poem." - David Carradine

Ahhh, here we are. It's a warm and gorgeous Arizona Monday here at Gentle Path Press.

I say that with pause because of two things I know. One is that many of you are in parts of the country (and world) where winter has not yet relaxed its grip, so I don't want to give you any reason for resentment. I need all the friends I can get. The other is that, in just a couple of short months, all of you aforementioned people will be enjoying nice, normal summer temperatures while we're finding new inventive ways to drive without physically touching the steering wheel or the seat, lest we melt to them like Velveeta on a laptop (don't ask).

This weekend, my youngest son convinced me to drag myself out of the house and onto a bike. This was not an easy feat, since the most exercise I've had lately is speed walking to the refrigerator. But what a beautiful ride it was!

We were granted a great metaphor when the desert was created. Even the driest, most miserable places can be beautiful and full of beauty if you look hard enough. What seems hopeless and dead can suddenly become the source of incredible radiance. It's grace. It's a poem.

So when things seem overwhelming and you don't know how you'll get through the day, know that there are many, many people who have felt the same way. It may be dreary now, but the sun is shining somewhere, and it'll be your turn next!



Don't forget to check out Dr. Patrick Carnes' Spiritual Skill Set CDs. Part 1 is titled Discernment (also a great topic), and the focus of Part 2 is Resilience. Available separately or as a set, they're available at http://www.gentlepath.com/ .


Warmly,
Amanda Larson
Publisher, Gentle Path Press
www.gentlepath.com