Blog Tour: The Practice

Today I am participating in a blog tour for the book, "The Practice," by Barb Schmidt. Read below for book info:

Barb Schmidt believes that making subtle shifts in the day will improve inner happiness, creating a positive ripple effect on all areas of life. In her new book, THE PRACTICE (HCI Books), Barb has structured an easy-to-implement, three-part daily routine- Waking Up, Living Present, Letting Go-that will help you look inward, cultivating the beautiful qualities of acceptance, gratitude, patience, compassion, strength, and courage. Barb provides readers with a set of practical tools that can be used throughout the day to help cultivate a peaceful mind so that readers can live their best lives filled with happiness, love, mindfulness, and purpose - the magnificent life that we are all meant to live.

THE PRACTICE is a set of practical tools that can be used throughout the day to guide us along life’s path. It is a compilation of the great Truths taught by authentic teachers and masters throughout the centuries from various religious and spiritual traditions. It is for people who are looking to deepen their connection to their innermost selves.

Barb has garnered followers from across the globe through her charismatic and radiant personality driven by the quest to find happiness and peace. THE PRACTICE begins with Barb’s own personal path of self-discovery, which began as a part of her recovery from her personal battle with bulimia. Throughout THE PRACTICE, Barb shares with readers the timeless truths and wisdoms she has learned through her nearly thirty years of study and practice with many of the modern-day masters.  Each chapter concludes with “Parting Seeds” – key takeaway points discussed in the chapter to keep in mind as you go about your day.

THE PRACTICE creates the following three-part framework around which to live our magnificent lives:

1.     Waking up

2.     Living Present

3.     Letting Go

Some topics THE PRACTICE addresses:

-         Gain strength and confidence in your ability to overcome daily stresses and obstacles by using simple breathing techniques to focus your attention

-         Learn simple, manageable tools to empower you to take control of your life, and make changes that bring you happiness

-         Gain confidence in yourself and learn to trust life as it comes by starting your day with a 5-minute meditation.

-         Feel energized and confident by repeating an easy to remember phrase consistently throughout the day.

-         Meditating 101

About the Author:

Barb Schmidt is such a captivating speaker that her passion and charisma have garnered her the devotion of fans, who travel across the globe to be part of her inspiring movement for global peace through inner peace. Barb is founder of Peaceful Mind Peaceful World, a community outreach program through Florida Atlantic University (FAU) designed to promote dialogue in the greater community on the topic of inner peace by incorporating workshops and weekly teachings with Barb and many of her esteemed mentors, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Andrew Weil, and many others. Barb is also the founder of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life, a non-profit organization through which she teaches The Practice, a three-part guide to practical spirituality in the modern world and her tool for spreading her belief that “outer peace begins with inner peace.” Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life has rapidly expanded to include an online community via Facebook (with posts reaching over 10 million people), through their daily inspirational emails and weekly blogs. In 2014, Barb’s extensive achievements in fostering positive change earned her an invitation to the White House State Dinner. http://barbschmidt.com/

THE PRACTICE

By Barb Schmidt

HCI Books; May 2014

$12.95; 176 pages

ISBN: 9780757317989

Also read on for an Interview with Barb Schmidt.

Q&A:

1.  What brought you to meditation?

When I got out of the treatment center for my bulimia, the 11th step of AA sent me on a serious search of an inward, deep connection with God. I read The Road Less Traveled and started becoming interested in meditation and Eastern religions.

2. How did The Practice/A Path help you overcome your greatest challenge?

When I started a path of self-discovery, and deep connection with God, little by little in meditation I started to get to know me - all of the good and all of the not so good things that happened in my life.  I believe that my spiritual path has helped me accept me, all of me, and has help me feel complete; helped me be open and receptive to life; vulnerable. Through this acceptance of my life I have overcome my fear of not being good enough, not being lovable, not feeling complete or whole.

3.       What prompted you to found The Practice?

I have a deep desire to help all beings realize their magnificence; realize that peace is within; you just have to sit with yourself; get to know yourself; accept yourself fully and you can and will live your greatest life! I want outer peace in the world and this begins with finding inner peace; and The Practice can help do just that.

4. What is your favorite book?

This is such a hard question- I have so many favorites! When I was young in grade school and high school I was not a reader. I didn’t like to read. But when I started my path I became an avid reader of all of the great saints, masters, teachers and mystics! It is such a passion of mine- I love taking a great life book and seeing and understanding what and how to much the teachings into my daily life- I simply love this!

5. What would you want people to remember about you?

I would want people to remember that I cared deeply for all beings and wanted so very much for everyone to know how amazing they are; how loved they are; and how much beauty and love life has to offer. I would want people to feel that I left this lifetime “giving it all I could!”

6. When was the first time you meditated?

I grew up Catholic so I have always had the tradition of praying before bed; praying before meals. But I actually first started meditating in 1984.

         

7. What was your inspiration in writing this book?

I want to change the world- I want to change people’s lives- I want all beings to realize their greatest lives- I want outer peace and love in the world and I know deeply that this first starts with inner peace. So The Practice is a toolkit for bringing inner peace into life. Being a recovering addict myself, I have a strong passion for helping people overcome addiction and live the great life they can live.

8. There are so many self- help books out there what makes yours stand out?

I feel that I’ve taken thoughtful deep practices, like meditation and explained them as an easy to understand and follow guide for life. I have given many personal examples as well as used many quotes from so many of our greatest teachers. I’m hoping that as people read this book they say to themselves “I can do this- I want to do this- I want to live my most magnificent life!”

9. What is your mission for PMPL?

Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life is a movement to peace, and wholeness. It’s a vision I have of changing the world through inner peace. The Practice is a path; method for living a self-empowered life, managing the stresses of life, and uncovering the happiness and greatness that we all have within. We have become such an external society of beings and we must start living our lives from “the inside out”. We can not live the life we wish to live at the mercy of the external world. When we take the time to go within each day, ground ourselves, we can take on the challenges of the world; our lives with strength, security and patience. Having patience, managing our stress, living with peace and love is changing the world; fulfilling the mission of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

10. What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to read, spend time with friends and family, walk and play with my dog Ellie, yoga, pilates, walking, skiing watch football and basketball.

11. What would you like for people to take away from your book/message?

We all have everything we need within us to live the greatest life. We have all the security, strength, courage we need without needing anything from the outside. We can have complete control over what we do and say and how we let life affect us- we can manage our stress, we can learn patience and we can live the life we wish to live.

12. What spiritual teacher has influenced you the most?

There are so many it’s hard to pick one! I am such a firm believer that we are all meant to be our own teachers and it’s our job to get there. If I had to name a few I would say, the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Palmo, James Finley, Scott Peck, St. Francis Of Assisi, Sri Ramakrishna, Gandhi; see I can’t just name one! 

13. How do you think the stigma of meditation has changed over the years?

Meditation has become so much more mainstreamed; so accessible for people and people are now seeing the need for meditation; calmness; present moment living; reducing stress. It’s become “the thing to do”- it’s the “cool” thing now! 

14. What is one simple thing everyone can adapt into his or her lives?

We can all stop, breathe, smile and spend a minute just being!

Purchase The Practice: by Barb Schmidt at Amazon.com



Disclosure: I received the above book for free to review. No other compensation was given and my opinions are my own.
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