12 True Stories That Enable Discovery, Evoke Inspiration and Elevate Awareness
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“Liminal” means threshold, and thresholds are not just transitionary places; they are opportunities for discovery, awareness and choice, posits Sande Hart.
In her new book, The Liminal Odyssey, Hart invites readers to step into, not over, the thresholds of their daily lives to explore the transformative power of the space between crisis and action.
“Oftentimes, we simply step over the mundane or ignore what may seem meaningless, not realizing what gems these synchronicities and messages can actually reveal in our lives,” Hart says. “In this space, we can interpret and examine possibilities for creativity that help us move on from old problems, beliefs and myths of who we are.”
Combining true stories and lessons from Hart’s life with practical wisdom to inspire readers on their own journey, The Liminal Odyssey details how readers can alchemize their own lives. Hart outlines the 12 skills she deems foundational to such a journey, including the art of listening, forgiveness, grace, cultivation of synchronicities and trust. These skills, among others, provide the tools and lay the groundwork for a paradigm shift, allowing readers to explore the gifts that exist in the everyday. A reimagining of Joseph Campbell’s framework of The Hero’s Journey, a liminal odyssey goes even further to explore life’s pauses, transforming an experience into an experiment.
The Liminal Odyssey incorporates philosophy, science, shared indigenous knowledge and psychology by some of the world’s most spiritually prolific leaders, authors, scientists and indigenous grandmothers. Hart has created a call-to-action for the current era, where a changing world is summoning a cultural shift.
As Hart states, “Imagine the outcome when we grow collectively by way of individual contribution into that cultural liminal space. It is crowd-sourcing change at its best and is the only way that is sustainable and resilient for this next era we are moving into, with or without us.”
Everyone has an abundance of stories waiting to be discovered. The Liminal Odyssey is where these stories can take us.
About Sande Hart Sande Hart is an award-winning leader in the fields of women’s empowerment and interfaith community building. She founded the women’s interfaith international grassroots organization S.A.R.A.H. (The Spiritual And Religious Alliance for Hope) the morning of 9/11, an instinct to gather women of diverse faiths to protect all that they consider sacred, now in its 20th year. She founded and served as director of Charter for Compassion’s Women and Girls sector, served as chair for the United Religions Initiative for North America and serves on the Women’s Task Force for The Parliament of World’s Religions.
Hart is also the founder of Compassionate California. She is currently being inducted into the Women’s Oral History Library of Claremont Colleges.
For more information, please visit https://www.liminalodyssey.com/.
The Liminal Odyssey: The Alchemical Power of The Spaces In-Between ISBN-13: 979-8812367336 Available from Amazon.com
Trish Stevens Dea Shandera-Hunter Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone.
Break the Fear Cycle: Brain Expert Shares Advice for Building Resilience During Challenging Times
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Forced social isolation, shuttered businesses and canceled or scaled-down worship services have contributed to an overwhelming sense of loss and fear among people all over the world. And there’s a scientific reason for these emotions, explains Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist, master psychopharmacologist and founder of Come and Reason Ministries.
Dr. Jennings is a much sought-after speaker who regularly addresses non-medical professionals on the subjects of Spirituality in Medicine, Depression and its Spiritual and Physical Connections, and Alzheimer’s Dementia. He also speaks to medical professionals on the topics of Psychotherapy in Clinical Practice, Major Depression in the Primary Care Setting, and the Neurobiology of Depression — among many others.
He describes how the measures taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 can have physiological and psychological impacts that, like dominoes, will topple our sources of strength and resilience.
“Research shows that social rejection, isolation and loneliness activate the brain’s stress pathways, thereby increasing inflammatory factors, diminishing immune response and increasing vulnerability to viral infections and cancer, and make you less resilient in life,” he says.
In the shadow of government mandates that restrict our interactions with others, what can we do within our four walls to build our resilience and guard our overall wellbeing?
Dr. Jennings suggests we can boost our resilience through physical exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting regular sleep, cognitive training, having a healthy relationship with God and spiritual development — measures that can actually alter the way our brains react to stress.
“Healthy spirituality confers resilience in a multitude of ways,” he says. “It develops your higher cortex, which calms your fear circuits. You have less fear and you’re less anxious if you’ve got a developed prefrontal cortex. And if you have a loving relationship with a God you trust, that’s part of your prefrontal cortex. And if people have more love, they have less fear.”
Another part of our prefrontal cortex is altruism — something those with healthy spirituality are more likely to engage in — and helping others also calms fear circuits.
Our ability to face a crisis and bounce back is, in part, inherited from our parents and even grandparents through our genetic makeup, Dr. Jennings explains. But through a combination of mental, physical and spiritual adaptive measures, we can boost our resilience and improve our ability to overcome life’s challenges.
Dr. Timothy R. Jennings operates a private practice in Chattanooga and has successfully treated thousands of patients. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Life-Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association.
He is also a prolific author whose books include The God-Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life; Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind; The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind; and The God-Shaped Heart: How Correctly Understanding God’s Love Transforms Us.
To hear his presentations and to learn more about Dr. Jennings and his approach to brain and body health, please visit: www.comeandreason.com.
Possible discussion topics for Dr. Jennings:
How do positive social interactions reduce our inflammatory markers?
How does wearing masks contribute to feelings of social isolation?
Explain epigenetic markers and the role they play in our ability to be resilient.
Explain how our life experiences can alter our gene expression and lead to improved resiliency.
Trish Stevens Helen Cook Senior Publicist Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 903.654.0938 Direct 281.333.3507 Office [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
Safeguard Your Emotional Health During Any Crisis With These 7 Practical Steps
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In our interconnected world, global events impact all of us in one way or another. Knowing how to help ourselves, our families and our organizations navigate a crisis can profoundly affect our emotional health and well-being.
7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters is a must-read for anyone seeking to thrive during challenging times. Written by clinical psychologist Elia Gourgouris and change management expert Konstantinos Apostolopoulos, this easy-to-read book offers powerful, yet practical, insights to help minimize the negative emotional impact of pandemics, natural disasters, financial challenges and other major disruptions.
“Not only will individuals and families find the book helpful in a crisis, so will first responders, healthcare professionals, mental health counselors and wellness coaches,” said Dr. Gourgouris.
Drawing from their real-world experiences, Dr. Gourgouris and Apostolopoulos explain the following seven keys to navigating any crisis:
Start with self-care. Be aware of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.
Practice awareness. Listen to your intuition or inner wisdom.
Choose flexibility so you can adapt, pivot and avoid unnecessary pain.
Act now! Preparation is key to your survival.
Take initiative by moving into action. Become the navigator in your life’s journey!
Cultivate a positive attitude filled with faith and hope.
Show kindness to others.
“Each chapter has an end section including points to ponder, questions to consider and action steps to take, so the reader can move beyond just surviving to thriving in a crisis situation,” added Apostolopoulos.
Author Elia Gourgouris, PhD, is the Founder of The Happiness Center, an organization of world-leading experts in the field of positive psychology. Dr. Elia’s previous book, 7 Paths to Lasting Happiness, became an Amazon #1 best-seller. He is an international keynote speaker and happiness expert focusing on corporate wellness and leadership training. He holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is a UCLA graduate. Dr. Elia is certified by the American Red Cross in Disaster Mental Health Services, having assisted in the 1994 Los Angeles and 2010 Haiti earthquakes, the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and other crises. He’s the co-host of The Kindness Happiness Connection podcast and a Thrive Global contributor. Please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehappinessdoctor/, https://www.instagram.com/dr.eliag/ or https://www.facebook.com/DrElia.
Co-author Konstantinos Apostolopoulos is the Founder and CEO of Fresh Biz Solutions, a performance consulting and training provider. As an award-winning facilitator and coach, he has successfully delivered hundreds of custom learning events in the US, Canada and Europe for diverse audiences and industries. He is a regular contributor to Thrive Global and other industry publications. As a young man in Greece, he experienced firsthand the devastation left behind by natural and economic disasters. As an adult, he was fortunate to help play a small part in the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Today, he helps others navigate the challenges brought by major events in their lives. Please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkon/.
7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters Publisher: The Happiness Center ISBN-10: 1734943815 ISBN-13: 978-1734943818 Available from Amazon.com
Trish Stevens Terri Lynn Polk Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone 800.854.2207 Fax
Trish Stevens Teresa Hinojosa Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 832.569.5773 Direct 281.333.3507 Phone 832.569.5539 Fax [email protected] www.ascotmedia.com
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Data Has A Critical Role In Both Healthcare Crises Such As Coronavirus As Well As Overall Better Patient Outcome
When a new viral outbreak such as coronavirus occurs, having the right data and knowing how to use it can be the keys to containing the crisis — and saving lives. With accurate data, we can identify new threats, warn at-risk populations, mobilize a rapid response, and develop effective diagnostic tests and vaccines.
In MoneyBall Medicine: Thriving in the New Data-Driven Healthcare Market, Harry Glorikian (along with Malorye Allison Branca) show through examples what a new data-driven healthcare system could look like when implemented on a global basis. The authors reveal where data and cutting-edge analytics are already advancing healthcare and creating new and evolving business opportunities. MoneyBall Medicine includes interviews with dozens of healthcare leaders, and describes the business challenges and opportunities arising for those working in one of the most vibrant sectors of the world’s economy. The authors map out many of the changes taking place, and describe how they are impacting everyone from patients to researchers to insurers, and outline some predictions for the healthcare industry in the years to come.
MoneyBall Medicine makes a compelling case for embracing technology and the use of data to revolutionize the healthcare system for the greater good of patients and healthcare professionals alike.
Author Harry Glorikian also hosts the MoneyBall Medicine™ Podcast, a series all about the data-driven transformation of the healthcare and life sciences landscape. An influential global business expert with more than three decades of experience building successful ventures in North America and across the world, Glorikian is well known for his achievements in the life sciences, healthcare, diagnostics and healthcare IT industries. He is a sought-after speaker who has addressed the National Institutes of Health, Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference, World Theranostics Congress and other audiences worldwide. He holds four US patents in telecommunications with others pending.
He has written numerous articles for industry publications, appeared on CBS Evening News, and has been quoted regularly by Dow Jones, The Boston Globe, BioWorld Today, Los Angeles Times, London Independent, Medical Device Daily, Science Magazine, Genetic Engineering News and many other media outlets. He is also the author of Commercializing Novel IVD’s: A Comprehensive Manual for Success.
For more information, please visit www.glorikian.com, or listen to his podcasts at https://glorikian.com/podcast/.
MoneyBall Medicine: Thriving in the New Data-Driven Healthcare Market
Publisher: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group
ISBN-10: 1138198048
ISBN-13: 978-1138198043
Available from Amazon.com
Trish Stevens Anna Jones Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone
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AM I … Guides Readers Toward Personal, Authentic Faith
There is a crisis of faith in today’s world, but it’s probably not what you think. The crisis isn’t that people have stopped believing, it’s that believers don’t have deep, personal connections with what they believe in.
The concepts of faith and belief have been relegated to holy books filled with stories that happened a long time ago. Believers may revere the book, but never read it. They may believe strongly in one religion or another, without really understanding what their religion stands for. As a result, God has become an impersonal, generic concept that sits on the outskirts of daily life, governing from on high in a place far, far away.
Building a life of authentic, personal faith must begin with truly understanding what we have faith in, if we have faith in anything at all, explains author and international speaker Scott MacLellan.
In his book, Am I, MacLellan masterfully guides believers deeper into a personal relationship with the God they worship, whomever that may be. The goal of Am I is not to tell readers what to believe, but to uncover what they already believe on a personal level. Through questions posed to God himself, AM I takes readers beyond the faith of their childhood and community and into a faith that is specific and unique to their lives.
MacLellan has written two versions of Am I. The shortened edition, Am I … The Four Fun-damentals of Faith, is for newer believers who might still be exploring what faith really means. The full version, Am I … Building a Life of Personal Faith, is for the evolving believer. It covers all the material in the condensed version plus several additional topics.
Author, international speaker on faith and entrepreneur Scott MacLellan has impacted multiple organizations whose missions are to help the impoverished, the addicted or those who struggle with illness. When not speaking on one of these subjects, he can be found working with a skilled team of business leaders, or on the coast of South Carolina where he shares his home with his wife of 34 years and his amazing 7-year-old grandson. He has two grown daughters, and more grandchildren are on the way.
For more information, please visit www.awarenessofgod.org.
Am I … Building a Life of Personal Faith
Publisher: High Bridge Books
Released: November 21, 2019
Short/paperback version: ISBN-10: 978-1733415118
Extended/hardcover version: ISBN-13: 978-1733415101
Available from Amazon.com and High Bridge Books
Trish Stevens Maria Jenson Ascot Media Group, Inc. Post Office Box 2394 Friendswood, TX 77549 [email protected] ascotmedia.com 281.333.3507 Phone
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Crisis Of Purpose Hinders Humankind’s Efforts To Resolve World’s Biggest Challenges
The defining crisis of our time isn’t growing authoritarian regimes, economic uncertainty or even climate change. It is a crisis of purpose. Our hope for the future will ultimately depend on how we best conceive of progress if our actions are to result in real human advancement.
In Hope and the Future: Confronting Today’s Crisis of Purpose, the first of a three-part series, Dr. Charles M. Johnston contends that much of civilization lacks a narrative, a compelling human story that can propel us forward. The challenges we face require that we think, act and relate in new ways, he says, and the critical questions before us require that we “grow up” as a species in order to deal with these challenges effectively.
Among the critical questions the book tackles are: How do we best ensure a safe human future in a world filled with weapons of mass destruction? How do we address inevitable environmental catastrophes? How do we make love endure in the future with gender roles in flux today? How will we deal with important challenges that require global cooperation, such as terrorism and the need for a stable economic infrastructure? How do we make moral choices, given their growing complexity and the weakening of cultural guideposts? And finally, how do we best determine if our actions result in real human advancement?
Dr. Johnston’s book distills 30 years of work by the Institute for Creative Development, a Seattle-based, non-partisan think tank and center for leadership training. It introduces the “creative systems” concept of cultural maturity and provides a compelling guiding story for going forward.
Author Charles M. Johnston is also a psychiatrist and futurist, and is best known for founding and directing the ICD and is the originator of Creative Systems Theory, a comprehensive framework for understanding purpose and change in human systems. He is the author of 10 books and numerous articles on the future and how we can best prepare to meet it.
Hope and the Future: Confronting Today’s Crisis of Purpose
Publisher: ICD Press
ISBN-13: 978-1732219007
Available from Amazon.com, www.hopeandthefuture.com/hope and www.ingramcontent.com
Kim Weiss Director of Communications HCI Books, The Life Issues Publisher 3201 SW 15 Street Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 (800) 851-9100 ext. 212 [email protected] www.hcibooks.com/trade
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Brace For Impact: “Miracle on the Hudson” Survivors Share Their Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life
What Passengers of Flight 1549 Want Others to Know About Second Chances
Deerfield Beach, FL – On January 15, 2009, the world was mesmerized by “the miracle on the Hudson.” Against all odds, Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger safely landed a plane plunging toward disaster on the river. More amazingly, all 150 passengers survived—and, for the most part, with nothing worse (physically) than a few bruises and soggy clothes. At the time, many of us tried to imagine how we would have those three chilling words—“Brace for impact”—and then, amazingly, been spared from certain death?
A year later, it’s time for a different, perhaps more meaningful story. What happened to these extremely fortunate passengers when they went home? What was it like to return to their families, their jobs, their neighborhoods—everything familiar, but somehow changed? How did they celebrate coming back from the brink of near-death trauma? How did their loved ones respond to the living proof of a miracle? What has been the real impact they braced for, not of the disaster and death they expected, but of the gift of a “new” life?
Intrigued by these and other questions, authors Dorothy Firman and Kevin Quirk set out to find answers—by asking the survivors themselves. The result is an inspiring collection of first-person accounts: Brace For Impact: “Miracle on the Hudson” Survivors Share Their Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life (HCI Books). Along with the personal stories of 25 men and women profoundly affected by Flight 1549—survivors and first-responders—this volume offers lessons about faith, gratitude, wisdom, healing, love, and transformation for everyone in today’s world of upheaval and challenges. Readers will hear from parents who believed they would never see their teenagers, toddlers, or a child on the way; an ex-Marine officer, a swimming pool serviceman, a nurse, a TV executive, and a boat pilot; survivors who have publicly spoken about their experiences at churches, schools, businesses, and organizations as large as the American Red Cross, as well as those who have remained private. Through their heartfelt, stirring words, their courageous admissions of fear, their humor and their hope, the contributors reinforce the importance of family, knowing what really matters, and discovering our purpose. Throughout and above all, Brace For Impact stands as a testament to how something good—even something wonderful—can emerge out of crisis and tragedy. And that’s a timely, welcome lesson to inspire and comfort everyone. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Dorothy Firman is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul, among numerous books. She has worked in the field of psychology and counseling for over thirty years. Kevin Quirk is a former journalist with The Charlotte Observer, among other newspapers, and a prolific ghostwriter and editor.
For more information, please visit http://www.hcibooks.com/p-3987-brace-for-impact.aspx
Brace For Impact: “Miracle on the Hudson” Survivors Share Their Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life
Available online at https://www.amazon.com/Brace-Impact-Miracle-Survivors-Stories/dp/0757313574/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= ISBN 978-0757313578
