The Serenity Mindset

by Nancy M. Forbes

Author Nancy M. Forbes is well acquainted with personal tragedy. After dealing with a trifecta of losses involving the unexpected passing of a best friend, the fracturing of her marriage, and the destruction of her job and associated identity, she struggled to bounce back and find some sense of happiness again. Through counseling and several soul-searching exercises, she managed to overcome her trials. She learned how to still her mind, to recognize and accept what she could and could not change, and to patiently trust her spiritual guidance. Now, she's sharing her journey and her lessons learned with other people so they too can benefit. While reading this book, readers will learn how to: Establish personal stress boundaries; Prioritize people and things that matter; Surround themselves with meaningful relationships; Set goals and develop action steps necessary to achieve them; Make quiet time for clarity and serenity.

178 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2017

Reviews

[Kristin Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

At a point in her life the author’s best friend passed away unexpectedly, a tragedy which was soon followed by a job loss and then an almost broken marriage. In this book she tells her personal story of how these losses in her life made her reevaluate what is truly important and change the way she thinks about relationships. This is an encouraging self-help book for all of us who are going through life or relationship struggles.
The author uses the Serenity Prayer as a tool for problem solving: 1) State the problem, 2) separate the things we have control over from what we cannot control, and 3) list the action steps we will take to deal with the problem. I found this way of thinking through problems very helpful. We can’t change the past, but we can take some steps to change the future for better. I also like her suggestion to think of five things we are thankful for each day in order to maintain a positive, serene mindset.
The book made me think about my own relationships and how much I appreciate the people I have or have had in my life. After reading the book I made a special point to let my family, including my mom, sister, and in-laws know how much I love them and how thankful I am for them. This can never be expressed often enough!

[Kasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a concrete way to take a deep look at your life and your priorities. The author encourages you to annually evaluate who you put first in your life and to consider if that is, in fact, healthy for you. Very happy to have read it and will reread it this year.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author went through a series of losses, and helps readers with their issues using the Serenity Prayer. and meditation.