“Hard times remind us of what’s important, what’s basic, beautiful and worthwhile, about being alive. The worst times bring out the best in us.”

Now is the perfect time to read this anthology guiding readers through a journey to better understand and manage fear. Collected and edited by Barry Boyce, senior editor of Shambhala Sun Publishing, this book hosts over 30 powerful teachings from experts in the field of spirituality, meditation, mindfulness and even business consulting and change management experts. Some of the feature authors include Jack Kornfield, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Thih Nhat Hanh, Michael Carroll and the Dalai Lama.

The overarching theme of this book is to challenge you to reconsider your way of thinking about fear.

We can transform our fears if we can change the way we think about it and how we instinctively react to anxiety. It walks you through a six part path that helps you understand fear, how to mindfully experience your world, relate to others and get the most from each day. From there you’ll learn how to transform difficulty into awakening, face fear and skillfully and thoughtfully manage triggers of fear such as money, work and family and come into the light of true happiness. Each part of the book offers challenges and exercises to help you move out of the gripping vice of fear and into a state of calm control.

I’ve read this book through several times. It’s been a staple for me when life throws me curveballs and uncertainty.

While I certainly recommend reading it through the first time, in the future you can easily reference key sections that help you step back and transform “cognitive shock” into a controlled state of awareness and clear thinking. It doesn’t matter what your beliefs are, In the Face of Fear boasts content from all progressive thinkers and experts in the process of managing anxiety. It’s a wonderful collection of wisdom and calming words that provide emotional reassurances in these uncertain times and fiercely competitive world.

Image Courtesy of Shambhala Publications Inc.