Connection: How to Find the Life You're Looking for in the Life You Have

by Kristine Klussman

Discover the Key to Lasting Happiness by Cultivating Authentic Connection in Everyday Life.

We are in the midst of an epidemic of loneliness. Though modern technology purports to “connect” us like never before, we live increasingly isolated and insulated lives, painfully disconnected from each other, from our values, and from ourselves. Indeed, almost 70 percent of Americans report they don’t have a single person they can confide in.

Rooted in established scientific findings, as well as her own research and clinical experience, Harvard-trained psychologist and connection researcher Dr. Kristine Klussman’s approach to well-being is simple and transformative. Klussman shows us that the way to achieve true happiness and fulfillment is not by striving toward them at all, but rather by cultivating connection in our everyday lives. As Klussman says, “Happiness is what we are all chasing, but connection, meaning, and a sense of purpose are the cravings that actually fulfill us and lead to enduring life satisfaction.”

Connection brings readers an eye-opening and actionable guide that teaches how to nurture your own self-knowledge and integrity—and how to use that knowledge to shape a life rich with meaning and purpose. With Connection, you will discover how to connect with yourself and the world around you in deeper and more significant ways. Through experiential exercises and guided reflection, Klussman teaches readers how to live their best lives in alignment with their values, hopes, and dreams.

“The beauty of connection theory is that you really only have to remember one thing in order to increase your ability to effect meaningful change across multiple dimensions of your life,” writes Klussman. “Make achieving authentic connection your goal.” Connection will help you orient your life around your soul’s deepest and most authentic truths. Join Dr. Kristine Klussman to discover the tranquility, comfort, and gratitude that arise when we are fully and consciously connected.

Genres: Psychology

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Eli]

Ok I actually loved this book. It helped me realize that I just read self-help books as one of my major genres at this point. Normally I feel kind of embarrassed about putting self help books on my goodreads but I'm over that I think. I mean, it's written by a wealthy bay area mom who has the liberty to pick and choose how she schedules each day, and is both a massive normie and vaguely into meditation. But if you can get past that there's a lot of great suggestions and exercises for identifying your personal values and priorities and using those insights to guide you through life.

I recommend skipping the chapter about physical health and wellness in its entirety. Somehow only .02% of self-help authors have realized that being fat is not inherently a problem in the same way that feeling bad is. I mean, I know it's because the genre of self help in linked to weight loss by marketing towards our feelings of inadequacy, but it's still wild how out of touch fake-woke authors are with body positivity.

[RebeccaReviewedIt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before we jump into what you’re going to find in this book, let me give you a top tip on reading a book like this. The girls over at the Currently Reading Podcast talk about their Slow but Steady reads. This is a great choice for that. You can read a chapter a day, chapter a week, whatever suits your fancy. That way, you can really take in and ruminate on the context of this book without getting too overwhelmed. On to the book. Right off the bat, I was intrigued when I read Dr. Klussman’s differentiation between the pursuit of happiness and connectedness. Happiness is a temporary emotion, whereas connectedness is a tenant of well-being. Reading about being connected can feel a little like reading a textbook, but don’t worry. This book has lists, pictures, quotes, personal connections, everything to help it not feel like you’re back in college. Overall, I think what I’m going to take from this book are the little nuggets of things I can implement. The way she relates a higher purpose to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is how I envisioned that she laid out the book. You must first focus on connecting with yourself piece by piece, building upon those foundational layers. If you’re looking for a non-fiction/self-help book about, this is a great choice. (I especially love that the subtitle of this one is The Life You’re Looking For In The Life You Have.) Thank you so much to Dr. Klussman and Books Forward for my copy!
#bookstagram #RebeccaReviewedIt

[Y.S. Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connection by Kristine Klussman is the kind of book you pick up when you are looking for answers to deep-rooted questions. Having read it twice, I can say that it is not for everyone, but it does have a few pointers that might be of immense benefit to some.

Connection is an argument for fulfilment and joy through being in touch with ourselves and others. The author believes doing this will not only pull us towards self-knowledge but also enrich those we meet along the way.
THINGS I LOVE
The author's background as a psychologist lends this work much credibility. The examples offered in the book do a good job of buttressing the author's points on the importance of solitude, the value of starting small, and how to take joy in the smallest of things. The life problems the author brings up in this book are tangible, and the solutions she proffers aren't of a quick-fix variety.

DISLIKES
This is not an easy book to read, requiring focus and freshness of mind. Also, there is a bit of repetition here and there, but it is not enough to take away from the strength of the prose.

WHO IS IT FOR?
For people on a search for meaning. It is for those who have tried a lot of things that didn't work out but are still willing to give it another shot.

Many thanks to Sounds True for review copy.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connection: How to Find the Life You're Looking for in the Life You Have by Kristine Klussman, PhD
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Self-Help
Publication Date: April 13, 2021

Connection: How to Find the Life You're Looking for in the Life You Have by Kristine Klussman, PhD is an interesting resource, filled with tips on improving your life & relationships.

I found this to be a great read with a lot of information. This is not a book to skim or give casual attention to. To gain the most from this book will require your full attention.

That being said, I look forward to reading this again to see what I pick up this time that I missed my first time through. Be prepared to take notes. This is a great resource!

I'm so grateful to Kristine Klussman, PhD, Sounds True, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

[lucia · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.5 ⭐️.

Buscaba un libro de "conectar contigo mismo", y tengo un libro que te dice que pilles hábitos buenos contigo mismo y seas positivo para poder centrarte en ti y así conectar contigo.

¿Qué quería que dijera? Pues buscaba una vertiente algo más filosófica que un libro de autoayuda.
Algo de como: busca en ti las cosas que te apasionan, lo que te da miedo, lo que eres o no eres.
Y creo que es un poco tonto decir que tú conectas contigo con el hecho de empezar a hablarte a ti mismo.

Es verdad que necesitas darte la charla con tu yo interno, pero no es tan fácil. Tienes que abrirte capa a capa, darte cuenta que no eres tan "básico" como crees, y que claramente hay muchas partes de nuestro ser que nunca le podremos poner letras o clasificación específica.

Leeros Demian de Hermann Hesse, esto no te explica nada.

[Emily Mellow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know, it's like this book is trying to be all things to all people, and it's not doing anything very well.
It's hard to separate the book from the narrator, and in this case the narrator was condescending and hard to listen to. However, I did find some useful inspiration in the book.
For example, I see the value in defining what is meaningful to me, and then making sure that the bulk of my time is going towards things that fit that definition.
Also I'm drinking a glass of water every morning now.
But there are some tips in here based on bad pop science, so I wouldn't take a lot of her advice very seriously.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I realized how disconnected with myself and my spirituality I have been lately, so... thanks, I guess. It was right on with lots of good information, but also a lot of information I already knew. Now to just apply it in real life - that's always the challenge.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kristine's connection theory makes all of the sense. And she gives lots of practical advice on how to change your own life through feeling more connected. I have continued to think about and talk about this book since I finished it.

[Emily Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent. It's a long and slow read with a lot of information. I listened to the audio version while on my walks and found myself repeating several chapters to fully absorb the information I found most enlightening and helpful.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. Great advice for well-being and healthy lifestyle.

[Melissa H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent review of the research on purpose & meaning. AND an excellent, practical guide to cultivating self-connection. I want her to write a book about connection to others next.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish there was a half-star in the rating system, as I think this is more like a 2.5 star rating on average for me.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this because I was seeking ways to deepen connection in my relationships. I was delightfully surprised to find that this book goes beyond connections in relationships with others. It also explores how self-awareness, presence, and emotional honesty shape the way we connect with and experience life as a whole. Reading it slowly, in small, intentional increments, has allowed the ideas to really sink in. Each section leaves me with something new to reflect on, another way to connect more deeply with myself, the people around me, and the moments that make up everyday life.

This book is gentle, grounding, and beautifully written. It’s helping me appreciate the richness that’s already here.