Part II: Living and Choosing from the Heart
(includes Life Purpose, Forgiveness)
Angeles Arrien, Living in Gratitude (Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2011, 2013). Wisdom around monthly themes with practices to cultivate gratitude. See also her beautiful The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom (Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2005) on developmental stages of later life.
Ira Byock, M.D., The Four Things That Matter Most, reissue edition (New York: Atria Books, 2014). Inspiring counsel and illustrative stories for any age, from his work with sick and dying patients.
Michael Grossman, Coming to Terms with Aging: The Secret to Meaningful Time (Muskegon, MI: RDR Books, 2007). Sensitive, wise exploration of the benefits of facing your mortality, with exercises and meditations. www.lifeawarenesscenter.com.
Tim Kelley, True Purpose: 12 Strategies for Discovering the Difference You Are Meant to Make. (Transcendent Solutions Press, 2009). www.knowyourpurpose.com (for individuals) and www.truepurposeinstitute.com (for change agents).
Richard J. Leider, The Power of Purpose: Find Meaning, Live Longer, Better (Berrett-Koehler, 2nd ed. 2010). Wise exploration by a “purpose guru” who has developed Calling Cards to help readers discover purpose (which can be purchased through www.richardleider.com). And (with David Shapiro), Claiming Your Place at the Fire: Living the Second Half of Your Life on Purpose (Berrett-Koehler, 2004). Offers a beautiful model of elderhood, largely based on his “inventure” experiences with Daudi Peterson and the Hadze.
Gregg Levoy, Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life (New York: Harmony Books/Crown, 1997) and Vital Signs: the Nature and Nurture of Passion (New York: Tarcher/Penguin, 2014).
Fred Luskin, Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness (New York: HarperCollins, 2002). See his website, learningtoforgive.com, especially the Tools tab.
Dawna Markova, I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion (Berkeley, CA: Conari Press, 2000).
Bill McCord, The Gift of You: How to Tell Your Loved Ones Who You Really Are (Chicago Review Press, 2004).
Mark Nepo, The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have (Newburyport, MA: Conari Books/RedWheel, 2011). Daily inspirational essays written by a philosopher-poet. See www.marknepo.com and www.threeintentions.com.
Parker J. Palmer, Let your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation (New York: Harper Collins. 2000). A classic on finding purpose/vocation.
Alan Seale, Soul Mission, Life Vision: Recognize Your True Gifts and Make Your Mark in the World (Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, 2003).
Victor J. Strecher, Ph.D., On Purpose: Lessons in Life and Health from the Frog, the Dung Beetle, and Julia (Ann Arbor, MI: Dung Beetle Press, 2013). Highly creative and convincing mix of personal story, myth, and experimental psychology, in graphic form. Free app for discovering purpose from www.dungbeetle.org/about-the-app.
Ira Byock, M.D., The Four Things That Matter Most, reissue edition (New York: Atria Books, 2014). Inspiring counsel and illustrative stories for any age, from his work with sick and dying patients.
Michael Grossman, Coming to Terms with Aging: The Secret to Meaningful Time (Muskegon, MI: RDR Books, 2007). Sensitive, wise exploration of the benefits of facing your mortality, with exercises and meditations. www.lifeawarenesscenter.com.
Tim Kelley, True Purpose: 12 Strategies for Discovering the Difference You Are Meant to Make. (Transcendent Solutions Press, 2009). www.knowyourpurpose.com (for individuals) and www.truepurposeinstitute.com (for change agents).
Richard J. Leider, The Power of Purpose: Find Meaning, Live Longer, Better (Berrett-Koehler, 2nd ed. 2010). Wise exploration by a “purpose guru” who has developed Calling Cards to help readers discover purpose (which can be purchased through www.richardleider.com). And (with David Shapiro), Claiming Your Place at the Fire: Living the Second Half of Your Life on Purpose (Berrett-Koehler, 2004). Offers a beautiful model of elderhood, largely based on his “inventure” experiences with Daudi Peterson and the Hadze.
Gregg Levoy, Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life (New York: Harmony Books/Crown, 1997) and Vital Signs: the Nature and Nurture of Passion (New York: Tarcher/Penguin, 2014).
Fred Luskin, Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness (New York: HarperCollins, 2002). See his website, learningtoforgive.com, especially the Tools tab.
Dawna Markova, I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion (Berkeley, CA: Conari Press, 2000).
Bill McCord, The Gift of You: How to Tell Your Loved Ones Who You Really Are (Chicago Review Press, 2004).
Mark Nepo, The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have (Newburyport, MA: Conari Books/RedWheel, 2011). Daily inspirational essays written by a philosopher-poet. See www.marknepo.com and www.threeintentions.com.
Parker J. Palmer, Let your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation (New York: Harper Collins. 2000). A classic on finding purpose/vocation.
Alan Seale, Soul Mission, Life Vision: Recognize Your True Gifts and Make Your Mark in the World (Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, 2003).
Victor J. Strecher, Ph.D., On Purpose: Lessons in Life and Health from the Frog, the Dung Beetle, and Julia (Ann Arbor, MI: Dung Beetle Press, 2013). Highly creative and convincing mix of personal story, myth, and experimental psychology, in graphic form. Free app for discovering purpose from www.dungbeetle.org/about-the-app.
Additional websites
The Conscious Aging Alliance. www.consciousagingalliance.org. A network of twelve (at this time) diverse organizations, each using its own distinctive approaches to support those who are committed to an empowering vision for their later life and are willing to devote themselves to making their potential a reality. Examples of organizations include Sage-ing International, Fierce with Age, Institute for Noetic Sciences, Spirituality and Practice, National Center for Creative Aging.
HeartMath Institute. www.heartmath.org. Since 1991 the institute has researched and developed reliable, scientifically based tools to help people bridge the distance between their hearts and minds and deepen their connection with the hearts of others.
Mayo Clinic on Forgiveness. www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692. Includes health benefits, advice, tools. See Fred Luskin’s site noted with his book.
Meditation: four online sites offering instruction and various resources (music, guided meditations, blogs, trainings, some free), and smart-phone apps.
HeartMath Institute. www.heartmath.org. Since 1991 the institute has researched and developed reliable, scientifically based tools to help people bridge the distance between their hearts and minds and deepen their connection with the hearts of others.
Mayo Clinic on Forgiveness. www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692. Includes health benefits, advice, tools. See Fred Luskin’s site noted with his book.
Meditation: four online sites offering instruction and various resources (music, guided meditations, blogs, trainings, some free), and smart-phone apps.
- Chopra Center. chopracentermeditation.com. Depak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey’s 21-Day Meditation Challenges.
- I Meditate. www.imeditate.info. Canadian offering of free resources.
- MindSpace. www.mindspace.org.uk. A British online channel with many videos. See for example www.youtube.com/user/OnlineMeditation/featured.
- Headspace. www.headspace.com. A "gym membership for the mind. A course of guided meditation, delivered via an app or online."