Loving What Is- Byron Katie

by | Mar 4, 2019 | Book Reviews

Loving What IsBook Info:

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life by Byron Katie. Available as eBook, paperback (321 pages), or audiobook (9 hours, 7 minutes).

“A thought is harmless unless we believe it. It’s not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering. Attaching to a thought means believing that it’s true, without inquiring. A belief is a thought that we’ve been attaching to, often for years.”

Summary:

Loving What Is is a game-changer. It is written in a seminar format where people from various audiences are being led through what Byron Katie calls “The Work”. The purpose of The Work is to show us how our own attachment to our beliefs and assumption leads to suffering in life. Through seemingly simple questions, Byron Katie teaches us to closely examine our own situations and relationships. Ultimately we will see reality more clearly and experience freedom from previously held negative beliefs.

Things to Know:

  • This book isn’t specifically about meditation, but by practicing The Work, the reader learns to embody the essence of mindfulness. In this case, mindfulness is accepting reality for what it is. This acceptance and accountability reduces our suffering.
  • While this book is not written in a typical self-help format, the reader will be able to quickly understand how to apply the principles in their own life and situation. There are free downloadable worksheets on Byron Katie’s website that complement this book.

The Bottom Line:

Loving What Is would be helpful even for those who are quite self- aware and/or logically- minded. Anyone seeking relief from suffering from mental illness, difficult relationships, or old grudges, will find this book helpful. (But please note that the book is not meant as a substitute for the guidance of a physician or therapist.) Prepare to learn tools for freedom from suffering as you read this book!

The Verdict:

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