What do you think?
Rate this book
Los cinco anhelos: Lo que siempre hemos querido (y ya tenemos): Guía para una vida plena
Identifying the things you long for can reveal deep truths about yourself. The Five Longings can show you how to work with these desires to live in a happier, more satisfying way.
If you've ever had a vague sense that something's missing from your life, congratulations: That longing for something better is a sign of being fully human, fully alive. But what's even more wonderful, according to Dave Richo, is that when you identify and carefully examine the things you long for--like love, meaning, freedom, happiness, and growth--you not only discover deep truths about yourself, but you also find that the things you long for were never really -missing- at all. He provides enlightening advice and practices for accessing just this kind of profound self-discovery, illustrated by a wealth of examples from depth psychology, religion, and literature. Our longings in fact point to the presence of something transcendent in us, he shows. In seeking something better, we are seeking that which we already are.
If you've ever had a vague sense that something's missing from your life, congratulations: That longing for something better is a sign of being fully human, fully alive. But what's even more wonderful, according to Dave Richo, is that when you identify and carefully examine the things you long for--like love, meaning, freedom, happiness, and growth--you not only discover deep truths about yourself, but you also find that the things you long for were never really -missing- at all. He provides enlightening advice and practices for accessing just this kind of profound self-discovery, illustrated by a wealth of examples from depth psychology, religion, and literature. Our longings in fact point to the presence of something transcendent in us, he shows. In seeking something better, we are seeking that which we already are.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2018
34 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
David Richo
88 books535 followersDavid Richo, PhD, is a therapist and author who leads popular workshops on personal and spiritual growth.
He received his BA in psychology from Saint John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, in 1962, his MA in counseling psychology from Fairfield University in 1969, and his PhD in clinical psychology from Sierra University in 1984. Since 1976, Richo has been a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor in California. In addition to practicing psychotherapy, Richo teaches courses at Santa Barbara City College and the University of California Berkeley at Berkeley, and has taught at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Pacifica Graduate Institute, and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. He is a clinical supervisor for the Community Counseling Center in Santa Barbara, California.
Known for drawing on Buddhism, poetry, and Jungian perspectives in his work, Richo is the author of How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Lovingand The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find in Embracing Them. He has also written When the Past Is Present: Healing the Emotional Wounds that Sabotage our Relationships, Shadow Dance: Liberating the Power and Creativity of Your Dark Side, The Power of Coincidence: How Life Shows Us What We Need to Know, and Being True to Life: Poetic Paths to Personal Growth.
Richo lives in Santa Barbara and San Francisco.
He received his BA in psychology from Saint John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, in 1962, his MA in counseling psychology from Fairfield University in 1969, and his PhD in clinical psychology from Sierra University in 1984. Since 1976, Richo has been a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor in California. In addition to practicing psychotherapy, Richo teaches courses at Santa Barbara City College and the University of California Berkeley at Berkeley, and has taught at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Pacifica Graduate Institute, and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. He is a clinical supervisor for the Community Counseling Center in Santa Barbara, California.
Known for drawing on Buddhism, poetry, and Jungian perspectives in his work, Richo is the author of How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Lovingand The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find in Embracing Them. He has also written When the Past Is Present: Healing the Emotional Wounds that Sabotage our Relationships, Shadow Dance: Liberating the Power and Creativity of Your Dark Side, The Power of Coincidence: How Life Shows Us What We Need to Know, and Being True to Life: Poetic Paths to Personal Growth.
Richo lives in Santa Barbara and San Francisco.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 29, 2020
Definitivamente aburrido un poco engorroso demasiado enfocado en la sicologia de las addicciones, metido en el punto de vista religioso. Perdida de tiempo para mi
May 9, 2019
A short book (180 pages) but every chapter is packed with a clear presentation of his thought and examples of his thesis. I think if the reader takes this information to heart it will provide a basis for a growing and expanding awareness of one's life. In the introduction he identifies 5 longings that are innate in all human beings and if we understand them and work with them we will have a fulfilled life. The five longings he identifies are: The longing for love because we want to be connected in a caring way, not isolated; longing for meaning because we are not satisfied with superficiality; the longing for freedom which leads us into a wider range of thought, imagination, feeling and action; longing for happiness or joy in being ourselves; and our longing to grow which reveals our evolutionary character and journey. We cannot be human with the fulfillment of one of these or two, we need all of them to realize our potential to be a realized human being.
He unpacks these ideas throughout the book and in the end comes to proclaim that spirituality is the essence of everyone's life and these longings are for "more" life, an expansive love, an ever changing meaning, a freedom to change, a happiness that comes with fulfillment and continued growth which reveals our evolutionary nature. It is difficult to summarize this book because he is so concise. If this interests you, you will benefit from reading this book especially if you have a spiritual discipline already. Time and time again he comes back to the truth that we already have what we are longing for. But the search and the pilgrimage to find them is necessary because it brings us home to ourselves.
He unpacks these ideas throughout the book and in the end comes to proclaim that spirituality is the essence of everyone's life and these longings are for "more" life, an expansive love, an ever changing meaning, a freedom to change, a happiness that comes with fulfillment and continued growth which reveals our evolutionary nature. It is difficult to summarize this book because he is so concise. If this interests you, you will benefit from reading this book especially if you have a spiritual discipline already. Time and time again he comes back to the truth that we already have what we are longing for. But the search and the pilgrimage to find them is necessary because it brings us home to ourselves.
July 19, 2017
On Saturdays, when my father would collect us for court-ordered visitation, we would cower under his thundering rants and tirades that usually started with, "Are you happy?" and if we said "yes" - he would tell us how we didn't know ourselves and that it was not possible to be happy because our mother was crazy and "needs help."
Even at the age of 7, I knew that I was happier with my parents separated, and I also knew that happiness was not a continuous experience or emotion.
David Richo writes elegantly and meaningfully about the "five longings" - that we are always trying to fulfill and balance as humans in our search for peace in our existence.
He recommends that we give ourselves the gift of fulfilling these five longings ourselves, rather than seeking extrinsic fulfillment. He provides excellent examples on what this means and how to do this - as well as describing ways that we get in our own way with "faulty" beliefs and behaviors. He describes some phases of psychological development necessary to get to the point where one can reach this state of self-fulfillment and satisfaction.
Though I am not religious or spiritual - he nearly has me sold on the idea that accepting a unitive perspective, love for all, and seeking the similarities in others could be a "spiritual" practice. I really enjoy the way he writes about his views on the complementary use of Buddhism and psychology as two practices that mesh with each other to provide a worldview and personal enrichment.
This book is a keeper and goes on the "reread" shelf.
Even at the age of 7, I knew that I was happier with my parents separated, and I also knew that happiness was not a continuous experience or emotion.
David Richo writes elegantly and meaningfully about the "five longings" - that we are always trying to fulfill and balance as humans in our search for peace in our existence.
He recommends that we give ourselves the gift of fulfilling these five longings ourselves, rather than seeking extrinsic fulfillment. He provides excellent examples on what this means and how to do this - as well as describing ways that we get in our own way with "faulty" beliefs and behaviors. He describes some phases of psychological development necessary to get to the point where one can reach this state of self-fulfillment and satisfaction.
Though I am not religious or spiritual - he nearly has me sold on the idea that accepting a unitive perspective, love for all, and seeking the similarities in others could be a "spiritual" practice. I really enjoy the way he writes about his views on the complementary use of Buddhism and psychology as two practices that mesh with each other to provide a worldview and personal enrichment.
This book is a keeper and goes on the "reread" shelf.
December 15, 2017
According to David Richo all human beings long for love, meaning, freedom, happiness and growth. These five qualities are actually already alive within us but we do not easily access them. We don’t believe we are and have them. Often our self-doubt and ego gets in the way. While we may not be able to fully fulfill these longings all the time as the different stages of our lives evolve, we can learn to be at peace with all five longings.
April 10, 2019
An excellent exploration of the difference between desires (measurable, attainable, concrete) and longings (ineffable, never completely satisfied, deep). Very helpful exploration of the 5 basic longings; for love, meaning, freedom, happiness and growth.
November 9, 2023
Some wonderfully engaging sections and I loved the quotes and their diversity. Some parts came off quite dry, but overall it was a good read that brought different spiritual experiences into the discussion.
June 9, 2017
This was an enlightening read. I enjoyed it very much.
*I received this book for free from Goodreads giveaways.
*I received this book for free from Goodreads giveaways.
November 26, 2019
2.5 rounding up to 3.
February 18, 2024
Lo escuché en audible, me gustó mucho los ejemplos que menciona respecto a los anhelos y las diferencias contra los objetivos. Es un buen libro con mucho significado
April 24, 2022
A veces las personas se embarcan en una búsqueda interminable hacia su felicidad pero a veces sólo es necesario que nos recuerden cuáles son las cosas que nos hacen felices en la vida y que ya tenemos. Este libro nos da un empujón a hacer trabajo de introspección aunque a un ritmo un poco lento.
January 24, 2021
Muy repetitivo, no lo terminé, tengo cosas mejores que leer.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews