From a noted therapist comes groundbreaking advice on reclaiming joy, fulfillment and individuality, with the help of a surprising source: children's classic The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
(PRWEB) November 15, 2004 -- From a noted therapist comes groundbreaking advice on reclaiming joy, fulfillment and individuality, with the help of a surprising source: children's classic The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
"Real isn't how you are made...It's a thing that happens to you…Generally by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes droop and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But those things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
--The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Velveteen Principles: A Guide to Becoming Real (October 2004, Health Communications, Inc., $14.95) weaves lessons from the popular children's book with the author's professional wisdom and personal anecdotes, and shows how becoming "Real" can foster self-confidence and self-esteem, and lead to happier relationships, more rewarding parenting, and more fulfilling careers.
Inspired by the hundreds of patients whose lives she has helped transform, Toni Raiten-D'Antonio believes that anyone can develop "self-empathy"--which allows us to look at ourselves less harshly, and accept flaws and limitations--and leads us down the path to becoming Real.
In today's relentlessly superficial world, the author writes, Americans have lost sight of the key to true happiness: we have forgotten how to be Real. "Becoming Real is the purpose of every kind of psychotherapy," Raiten-D'Antonio writes. "It is living in the moment with the deepest respect for yourself and for others. It is a way of thinking that allows us to express ourselves and experience life--including its stress, conflicts, sorrows and losses--with grace, kindness, and integrity."
In a warm and encouraging style laced with gentle humor, the author identifies 12 keys to becoming Real, with the promise that when you become Real, you will love and be loved with all your strengths and weaknesses, gifts and faults.
Real is Possible
Real is a Process
Real is Emotional
Real is Empathetic
Real is Courageous
Real is Honest
Real is Generous
Real is Grateful
Real Can Be Painful
Real is Flexible
Real is Love
Real is Ethical
Each Velveteen Principle illustrates an essential step to becoming Real, from fostering individuality, to respecting emotions, learning from failure, cultivating empathy (for oneself and others), admitting and moving past fear, adapting to change, defending values, and experiencing gratitude. Readers will also find out how to identify and overcome obstacles to becoming Real, such as perfectionism, denying feelings, and betraying our own uniqueness.
In the best selling tradition of The Tao of Pooh, this unique book is both an uplifting guide and a delightful gift. THE VELVETEEN PRINCIPLES is sure to resonate with all those readers seeking peace, self-acceptance, true love--and a Real life.
About the Author:
Toni Raiten-D'Antonio is a well-known psychotherapist with a thriving private practice in Suffolk County, Long Island. She is a professor of psychology and social work at Empire State College. Prior to becoming a therapist she worked in television and theater as both a performer and producer. She lives with her husband, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael D'Antonio, and her two daughters. Available at bookstores nationwide and online.
To order directly from the publisher. Telephone: (800) 441-5569 or online at http://tinyurl.com/4dlb9
Website: http://www.velveteenprinciples.com ISBN: 0-7573-0211-4 Hardcover, 5 x 7 1/2, 200 pages, $14.95
Media Contact:
Paola Fernandez Rana
Phone: (800) 851-9100 ext. 217
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