Constructive Living

Outgrow Shyness, Depression, Fear, Stress, Grief, Chronic Pain. Achieve the Goal of Constructive Living - To Do Everything Well
by David K. Reynolds | University of Hawaii Free Press © 1984 · 120 pages

Dan Millman (author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior and other great books) introduced me to this book as he's been deeply influenced by David Reynolds' integration of Zen Buddhism and Western Psychotherapy. In this Note, we'll explore some Big Ideas on how to live with greater self-mastery by more effectively relating to our emotions and consistently asking ourselves: "Now what needs to be done?!"


“There are no neurotics or geniuses or failures or fools. There are only neurotic moments, flashes of brilliance, failed opportunities, and stupid mistakes. But these moments, pleasant or unpleasant, can never fix us into rigid, immutable characters. We cannot help but change. This book is about choosing the direction of your changingness and acting upon your choice.”

~ David K. Reynolds from Constructive Living

Constructive Living.

It’s a book a friend and favorite author of mine, Dan Millman (The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Everyday Enlightenment, etc.), recommended to me. I’ve always admired Dan and his work for his ability to blend East and West with an ultimate focus on ACTION. And, now I know why he recommended this book to me: it’s an incredible manual on how to master ourselves and learn to take consistent, impeccable action.

Constructive Living is based on the fundamental notion that, although we can’t control our feelings, we CAN control our behaviors.

And, as a result, craft our ideal life. Or, as Reynolds says so poetically: “Our behavior is controllable in a way that our feelings are not. There is a very special satisfaction for the Artist of Living who works within life’s limits to produce a fine self-portrait. The more control we develop over our actions, the more chance we have of producing a self we can be proud of.”

That, in a nutshell, is what Constructive Living is all about.

I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this book. It’s a quick readonly 120 pagesand I’m excited to share some of my favorite Big Ideas with you now!

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About the author

Authors

David K. Reynolds

Recognized as the leading Western authority on Japanese psychotherapies.