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Broken Open

How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow

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Broken Open

By: Elizabeth Lesser
Narrated by: Susan Denaker
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About this listen

 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This inspiring guide to healing and growth illuminates the richness and potential of every life, even in the face of loss and adversity.

In the more than twenty-five years since she co-founded Omega Institute—now the world’s largest center for spiritual retreat and personal growth—Elizabeth Lesser has been an intimate witness to the ways in which people weather change and transition. In a beautifully crafted blend of moving stories, humorous insights, practical guidance, and personal memoir, she offers tools to help us make the choice we all face in times of challenge: Will we be broken down and defeated, or broken open and transformed? Lesser shares tales of ordinary people who have risen from the ashes of illness, divorce, loss of a job or a loved one—stronger, wiser, and more in touch with their purpose and passion. And she draws on the world’s great spiritual and psychological traditions to support us as we too learn to break open and blossom into who we were meant to be.©2004 Villard; (P)2008 Random House Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality Meditation Witty

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Critic reviews

"Elizabeth Lesser bravely and beautifully explores one of the most compelling questions of life: how do we emerge from suffering and challenge with real, encompassing wisdom and love. Broken Open is personal, pragmatic and enlightening."
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

"Never again will a painful experience wipe me out. This book shows how you can transform any difficult transition into a time of great strength and awakening."
—Jane Fonda

“There's more food for philosophical mastication--and more sparkling good sense--in one lucid chapter of Broken Open than in a library of ordinary books on similar subjects.”
—Tom Robbins

“Elizabeth Lesser has written a most extraordinary book that examines our relationship to the changing nature of life. Lesser, a brilliantly gifted writer, has created a treasure chest of personal stories that bring wisdom, insight, compassion, and common sense to the experiences familiar to so many of us as the years of our lives unfold within their immortal cycle of endings and new beginnings.”
—CAROLINE MYSS, author of Sacred Contracts and Anatomy of the Spirit
All stars
Most relevant
Lesser has a down to earth perspective and her life experiences are the ingredients to supporting others in looking at their own lives - she provides mystical incredible stories, as well as more regular anecdotes. Mixed with practical solutions and advice at the end. It's a real piece of art all together I found it absolutely brilliant.

essential read for everyone.

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This book has to be my new favourite. Susan’s voice is so soothing in reading Elizabeth Lesser’s incredible book. It is a mixture of personal experiences, stories that will stir a smile or a tear and valuable guidance to help us find our way through the dark into the light of clarity. 10/10...

A guiding lamp along life’s path

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I learned about this book during an interview with Oprah and Elizabeth Lesser. Opah was raving about it… I don’t usually go off and purchase anything based purely on a TV interview. Elizabeth’s take on the world and wisdom was so compelling I was completely captivated. I immediately downloaded the book on audible, over the past couple of weeks I’ve listened to grounding and reassuring wisdom. There’s such a purity to the message within that really speaks to your soul. Whatever part of your life journey you are in right now will undoubtedly benefit from Elizabeth’s wisdom. I will be referring to this book again and again.

A truly beautiful soul soothing book

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Beautifully read. But the deep bleak stories that crack open the bright warmth of life inspire me to feel more. So much pain can be squashed or converted to an easier to handle emotion, but instead when you feel that pain, embrace that pain, you end up forging a new you, a new perspective of life. And there is actual beauty in that pain. Thank you so much Elizabeth.

I cried and my heart opened.

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A book that I identified with a lot. It gave ne hope and made me look at my life in a positive light.

A must read

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