The Inner Work of Transformation: A Guide for Personal Reflection and Communal Sharing


Book Description

I offer this guide to the inner work of transformation for individuals and communities who have reached a crossroads in life and are looking for ways to bring forth new life through processes that promote deep change and transformation. It represents the kind of soulwork I believe is too often neglected but nonetheless essential to the successful transformation of communities and the individuals who reside in them. In essence, this guide is for all those who want to proactively cooperate with grace by doing the soulwork of deep change and transformation. My ministry over the last few decades has been primarily with Catholic religious communities. As a group, they are going through an enormous transition and I have accompanied many of them through what I call a "Journey of Transformation." The foundations for my work on personal and communal transformation was recently published in a book entitled, Graced crossroads: pathways to deep change and transformation. I indicated in that foundational publication that this companion book on the inner work of transformation would follow. This book provides a series of reflections and suggested processes aimed at helping those who wish to do this kind of soulwork. It is meant to be a resource, not some kind of seven-point program for guaranteed transformation. There is no such thing. I do not presume to think that what I am offering is the only way that such inner work can be done. However, it is one way that I have found to be highly effective. The communities whom I have been accompanying, and who have engaged in this inner work, have found it to be integral to their larger Journey of Transformation. It is written primarily for faith communities and you will find that many of the reflections, poems and quotes I use are Christian. However, I include materials and quotes from a variety of other faiths and people of wisdom. Consequently, I believe that the material is suitable for communities of any faith. In fact, I would believe it is suitable for churches, leadership teams, and non-profit organizations, any group for whom their mission (not money) is the bottom line. It is written for any group that is facing a crossroads and seeking new life through transformative processes. It is for those who recognize that the heart of such efforts is a spiritual journey.




Graced Crossroads


Book Description

Catholic religious communities, like many faith-based organizations, are at a crossroads. They are experiencing a seismic transition not only in their demographics but also in their identity, integrity, and relevancy, indeed, their very soul. Dr. Ted Dunn explores these Graced Crossroads addressing four central questions: 1.What are the graced crossroads religious communities are now facing and the deeper invitations calling them to the inner work of transformation? 2.What are the challenges and opportunities in our world and within Religious Life that have brought communities to these graced crossroads? 3.How might communities assess their capacity to engage in communal transformation, what will it ask of them, and what can they expect to come from it? 4.What does a Journey of Transformation truly involve and how can communities proactively engage in this Divine Mystery? Dr. Ted Dunn offers a comprehensive and innovative approach that integrates the pragmatic work of planning and visioning with the inner work of transformation, an approach he calls a Journey of Transformation. The foundation of this approach comes from his in-depth examination of the nature of transformation and his 30 years of experience guiding communities through these crossroads. Looking through the lenses of different disciplines, he arrives at the guiding principles and dynamic elements of transformation. These are integrated into the Journey of Transformation and illustrated throughout the book.




Stirring of Soul in the Workplace


Book Description

Essential reading for those who'd like to find more meaning in their jobs, "The Stirring of Soul in the Workplace" offers ways to balance a personal spiritual path with job realities and expectations.




Pursuing God's Will Together


Book Description

Church boards and other Christian leadership teams have long relied on models adapted from the business world. Ruth Haley Barton, president of the Transforming Center, helps teams transition to a much more fitting model—the spiritual community that practices discernment together.




Anatomy of the Soul


Book Description

Do you want to improve your relationships and experience lasting personal change? Join Curt Thompson, M.D., on an amazing journey to discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be. Explaining discoveries about the brain in layman’s terms, he shows how you can be mentally transformed through spiritual practices, interaction with Scripture, and connections with other people. He also provides practical exercises to help you experience healing in areas where you’ve been struggling. Insightful and challenging, "Anatomy of the Soul" illustrates how learning about one of God’s most miraculous creations—your brain—can enrich your life, your relationships, and your impact on the world around you.




The Joy of the Gospel


Book Description

The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage




The Sacred Enneagram Workbook


Book Description

Whether you are looking to discover your type for the first time or take a deeper dive into your identity, The Sacred Enneagram Workbook is designed to help you grow in your spiritual life through the understanding of your Enneagram type. Most of us spend a lifetime trying to figure out who we are and how we relate to others and God. This task is far from easy, yet the Enneagram offers a bright path to cutting through the internal clutter and finding our way back to who we are created to be. And The Sacred Enneagram Workbook creates the reflective space necessary to map your way home. Join international Enneagram teacher Chris Heuertz in this interactive companion to the bestselling The Sacred Enneagram to discover: Where you find yourself in the Enneagram's nine type profiles, and how to make sense of testing results How to move beyond counterproductive caricatures of your type toward true growth Tools and practices for breaking out of your greatest emotional, interpersonal, and spiritual challenges And ultimately, your type's unique invitation and path toward a deeper journey with God




Passion of the Western Mind


Book Description

"[This] magnificent critical survey, with its inherent respect for both the 'Westt's mainstream high culture' and the 'radically changing world' of the 1990s, offers a new breakthrough for lay and scholarly readers alike....Allows readers to grasp the big picture of Western culture for the first time." SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Here are the great minds of Western civilization and their pivotal ideas, from Plato to Hegel, from Augustine to Nietzsche, from Copernicus to Freud. Richard Tarnas performs the near-miracle of describing profound philosophical concepts simply but without simplifying them. Ten years in the making and already hailed as a classic, THE PASSION OF THE WESERN MIND is truly a complete liberal education in a single volume.




Changing the World from the Inside Out


Book Description

WINNER OF THE 2016 JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL AWARD FOR CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIFE AND PRACTICE An inspiring and accessible guide, drawn from Jewish wisdom, for building the inner qualities necessary to work effectively for social justice. The world needs changing—and you’re just the person to do it! It’s a matter of cultivating the inner resources you already have. If you are serious about working for social justice and change, this book will help you bring your most compassionate, wise, and courageous self to the job. Bringing positive social change to any system takes deep self-awareness, caring, determination, and long-term commitment. But polarization, the slow pace of change, and internal conflicts among activists and organizations often leads to burnout and discouragement among the very people needed to make a difference. Changing the World from the Inside Out distills centuries of Jewish wisdom about cultivating and refining the inner life into an accessible program for building the qualities necessary to accomplish sustainable change. Through explorations of deep motivation, inner-drive, and traits like trust and anger, this book engages the reader in a journey of self-development and transformation, demonstrating that sustainable activism is indeed a spiritual practice. Jaffe offers accessible and meaningful guidance for this journey—with exercises, contemplations, and discussion points that can be used individually or in a group.




Work Matters


Book Description

Work. For some this word represents drudgery and the mundane. For others work is an idol to be served. If you find yourself anywhere on the spectrum from workaholic to weekend warrior, it’s time to bridge the gap between Sunday worship and Monday work. Striking a balance between theological depth and practical counsel, Tom Nelson outlines God’s purposes for work in a way that helps us to make the most of our vocation and to join God in his work in the world. Discover a new perspective on work that will transform your workday and make the majority of your waking hours matter, not only now, but for eternity.