Spirituality and Religion March 2026 |
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The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans
by Maya Shankar
Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we're confronting the end of a relationship, an unexpected diagnosis, the loss of a job, or some other twist of fate. In these moments, it can feel like we're free-falling into the unknown. As a cognitive scientist, Maya Shankar has spent decades studying the human mind. When an unwanted change in her own life left her reeling, she sought out people who had navigated major disruptions. In The Other Side of Change, Shankar tells their riveting, singular stories and weaves in scientific insights to illuminate universal lessons hidden within them. The result is a rich portrait of our complex reactions to change and a deep well of wisdom we can draw from during these experiences. Shankar invites us to rethink our relationship with change altogether. When a big change happens to us, it can lead to profound change within us. The unique stresses and demands of being thrust into a new reality can lead us to uncover new abilities, perspectives, and values, transforming us in extraordinary ways. What if we saw moments of upheaval as an opportunity to reimagine who we can be, rather than as something to just endure? What potential could we unlock within ourselves? Whether you're processing a past change, grappling with a present one, or bracing for a future one, this book is a wise and thought-provoking companion to help you discover who you can become on the other side of change.
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Peace Be with You!: My Words to the Church and to the World
by Pope Leo XIV
The first American Pope's words for the world reveal themes to his leadership: peace, hope, and unity.I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you With his first public appearance before the world, Pope Leo XIV expressed hope for an unarmed and disarming peace. Collected in this beautiful edition are the sermons and speeches Pope Leo XIV has delivered since his May 8, 2025, election, including: his First Apostolic blessing, delivered to the Central Loggia of the Vatican BasilicaCalled to Be a Light of Hope, his video message to the young people of Chicago and the whole worldThe compass of natural law, his Address to Members of the International Inter-Parliamentary Uniona special preface addressing U.S. readersand more.These first addresses convey some of Pope Leo XIV's vision for the future: the primacy of God, communion in the Church, and the pursuit of peace. His countless calls for reconciliation are addressed not only to politics, but to the heart of every person: Peace begins with each of us: from the way we look at others, listen to others, speak about others. He shows us that unity is possible, and it begins in our hearts.In his own words, Pope Leo XIV welcomes us all into communion and calls us to act to protect our shared humanity and our precious home.
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Intentional: How to Finish What You Start
by Chris Bailey
Setting goals is easy. Following through on them? A whole lot harder. It turns out, the secret to finishing what you start isn't sheer willpower or the latest productivity hack. It's becoming more intentional. With Intentional, bestselling author Chris Bailey distills a decade of deep research on productivity to deliver a profound, practical, and counterintuitive road map to getting things done. Forget extensive to-do lists and a never-ending workload. To reach your goals, you must structure your daily actions around what's most important to you--and let go of the rest. This way, getting things done becomes second nature. Integrating the science of desire, values, and procrastination with the wisdom of Buddhist monks, Bailey lays out step-by-step strategies for intentional accomplishment, covering how to: - Structure short-term goals to increase the likelihood of completion- Make unappealing, boring, or frustrating tasks more attractive- Lower the chance of procrastinating on long-term goals- Create a system for tracking progress- Know when a goal isn't for you--and when it's time to let it go What matters most to you? Intentional shows that the answer has the power to unlock not just greater productivity but a deeper and more satisfying sense of accomplishment.
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Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose
by Jennifer Breheny Wallace
In this groundbreaking work, Wallace makes an urgent case: mattering--the feeling that we are valued and have an opportunity to add value--is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. And yet, in today's world, that fundamental need is going unmet, with perilous consequences. As mental and social health crises surge, we often blame social media, the pace of modern life, and polarizing politics. But beneath these issues lies a deeper crisis, what Wallace calls an erosion of mattering. With her signature warmth and insight, Wallace weaves together research and deeply moving stories of mattering lost and regained. From burned-out employees to overwhelmed caregivers to people grappling with grief or struggling through a destabilizing transition, Mattering explores how our lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small and intentional ways, that we are valued and that we have value to offer. Wallace provides the essential elements to building what she calls our mattering core recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. Strengthening this core helps us reconnect to our sense of purpose, deepen our relationships, and navigate life's uncertainties and challenges with greater resilience.
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Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, the Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough
by Allison M. Alford Phd
In Good Daughtering, Dr. Allison M. Alford--a leading researcher in family communication--unpacks the untold story of adult daughters and the quiet, essential work they do. Drawing on years of groundbreaking research and personal interviews, she explores how societal expectations, gender roles, and generational dynamics shape the experiences of daughters in ways that are often misunderstood or overlooked. Whether navigating generational expectations or balancing their own lives with the needs of their parents, Good Daughtering reveals the complexities of a role too often taken for granted. Daughters are the ones who do the planning and saving for their futures and those of their families, and support parents emotionally and practically as they age. This book speaks directly to eldest daughters who become family anchors, and the middle and youngest daughters who take on different, but no less important, obligations and responsibilities of being a good daughter. Using sharp insights, relatable stories, and actionable tools, Dr. Alford invites women to reflect on their relationships, recalibrate their roles, and reclaim joy in their lives. Whether you're paying the price for Eldest Daughter Syndrome or find yourself doing the work of caring for parents without recognition, it's time to make your efforts visible and valued. More than a prescriptive guide, Good Daughtering is the long-overdue recognition of daughters who carry the weight in a family. It's a roadmap for creating relationships that are not just functional but flourishing. This is the book every daughter deserves: an invitation to be seen, valued, and empowered in her role while honoring her own needs and desires.
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Tidying the Abyss: A Practical Guide to Cleaning and Organizing While Exhausted and Overwhelmed
by Amanda Dodson
Amanda Stuckey Dodson prided herself on her ability to maintain a peaceful, clean home: there wasn't any mess that couldn't be fixed by plastic organizing bins, spreadsheets, and a can-do attitude. When her life was upended by chronic illness, leaving her unable to maintain her elaborate cleaning systems, she learned that the hardest part wasn't becoming organized, it was staying organized. Facing an unusually messy home, she knew she needed a different approach. Tidying the Abyss is a gentle, step-by-step guide to keeping house when everything around you is falling apart. Dodson, a clinical social worker turned professional organizer, advocates for the abandoning of perfection to make room for creative, livable solutions. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of being chronically ill, neurodivergent, or hopeless at home maintenance, you need more than just organizational tips- you need a practice. Within these pages you'll find guidance for: Managing motivation and overwhelm; Addressing your basic needs with systems for trash, kitchen & dishes, and laundry; Creating order in your most-used spaces (think bedroom and bathroom); and Common life complications like pet-related chaos or managing housework as a caregiver or as a parent When the dishes, the laundry, and the bills mercilessly persist, piling all around, Tidying the Abyss empowers you to face the chaos and define new standards for your home. With a little bit of compassion and patience, any mess can be cleaned up, one piece at a time.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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