A New Resource for Navigating Our Troubled Times

January 24 was a popular day in my world. Not just one, but two books I’ve worked on were officially launched last Friday. I wrote about one last week, and today I share about the other. I find this second book, Life Ascending: Unlocking Mental Wellbeing Through Timeless Wisdom and New Science, to be particularly relevant for our troubled times.

David Youngren reached out to me last spring, having heard about my editorial work through the proverbial grapevine. He had a mostly completed book manuscript and was seeking an editor. I met with him virtually, read some of his work, and was delighted to help.

David’s writing is clear and engaging, so the book was a pleasure to read. His blending of spiritual wisdom with groundbreaking insights from neuroscience and quantum physics is illuminating. I found myself pausing my work timer numerous times to allow myself to absorb a new idea or reflect further on a fresh perspective or insight.

Likely honed by his years as a preacher and speaker, David is also an excellent storyteller whose examples are lucid and pertinent. He asks powerful questions and offers a meditational perspective that I think many will need to survive the waves of disorientation being thrust upon us in this time of political transition and turmoil.

As I think about what the United States is facing in the days and weeks ahead, I firmly believe this book can be a helpful and powerful resource for navigating these troubled times. His goal for this book is “helping us rise above anxiety, find mental clarity, and live with greater purpose while tapping into deeper wisdom and unlocking creativity.” We will certainly need both wisdom and creativity as we face the societal storms that lie ahead.

As David teaches, “In this ascending state, our actions transform from merely human endeavors to divine expressions. Like a leaf that dances with the wind, not against it, we too learn to move in harmony with the greater rhythm of life.” I invite you to consider what this might look like for you. What wisdom, encouragement, and/or invitation do you find here?