Radical Acts of Love : How Compassion Is Transforming Our World

by Skog, Susan

• ISBN13: 9781568387307
• ISBN10: 156838730X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Hazelden

Summary

The world we have created is breaking our hearts. From family life to public policy, and the workplace to the environment, our cultural preoccupation with prosperity and productivity has left precious little room for care and compassion. Susan Skog warns that this is our reality, if we so choose. But a growing number of individuals are rejecting the norm and opting instead for a more humane, life-affirming existence. Skog calls them "heart activists," and she shares their uplifting stories in her newest book, Radical Acts of Love. A prescriptive guide for softening our hearts and extending ourselves to others, Radical Acts of Love is at once inspiring and instructive. Skog takes an important step beyond providing social commentary about the lack of compassion in our cultural institutions. She offers solutions. Key features and benefits: Offers immediately useful and applicable information about learning to live with greater compassion. Presents examples of everyday individuals, physicians, scientists, policymakers, teachers, business executives-who choose to live as "heart activists." Provides thoughtful commentary on the transformative power of compassion in medicine, business, science, and public policy. About the author:A journalist by training, Susan Skog has written countless award-winning articles about science, medicine, technology, and the environment for the nation's leading periodicals. She has interviewed and profiled many of today's prominent spiritual authors and teachers. Because of her book Embracing Our Essence: Spiritual Conversations with Prominent Women, Skog is in high demand as a speaker on women's spirituality and related issues. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
John Borysenko
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(14)
A Return to Love: The Case for Compassion	15	(23)
The Hardened Heart: Extinguishing the Fire	38	(12)
Heart Monitor: Examining Your Fullness of Heart	50	(34)
A Change of Heart: Seeing with Love	84	(30)
Compassionate Conversation: Listening from the Heart	114	(21)
The Heart Unleashed: Speaking from the Heart	135	(32)
Home Is Where the Heart Is: Creating Sanctuaries with Love	167	(20)
Softheartedness: Nourishing Compassion with Small Acts	187	(12)
Compassion through Suffering: Allowing the Heart to Break Wide Open	199	(20)
The Hungry Heart: Following Your Heart's Desires	219	(15)
The Hungry Activism: Reinventing Institutions with Love	234	(36)
Conclusion: A Vision of the New World	270	(4)
Notes	274	(9)
Interviews	283	(1)
Recommended Reading	284	(2)
Resources	286	(2)
About the Author	288