No matter how difficult it might seem, change is always positive. Life Matters: Stories of Transition, Healing, and Hope, by psychiatrist and interfaith minister Abigail Brenner tackles the transitions in our lives and shows how they can empower us. Brenner moves through all cycles of life, letting the people going through these transitions tell their own stories. A young parent adjusts to life with a newborn. A young adult, ready to move out and make a new life, finds her own voice. From the stress of moving from a familiar place to an unfamiliar one, to finding the job that feeds your soul as well as your wallet, Life Matters shows you how you can get through these changes and come out on the other side a better person. Learn to chart your feelings, advises Brenner. Assert yourself and get the support you need. For true healing to occur, she states, you must become an active participant and advocate of your own wellness. The key lies in the pursuit of balance within the self: taking care of your body, having an optimistic attitude about yourself and life, and connecting to a source of spiritual belief. A physical crisis has the enormous potential of becoming a healing moment. " Do not shy away from your own light," says Brenner. Life is all about change and this warm and inspirational book can help you make the most of all your transitions.

From the foreword by Bernie Siegel, MD: "When something happens to alter our life or we learn something new, we have to begin a new life if we are to survive...It is not an accident that the universal therapeutic theme is for all of us to be born again and the changes and transitions of life become the labor pains of self-birth and worth the experience, since they create a new you." Author: Love, Magic, and Mudpies and 365 Prescriptions for Living
Praise for Life Matters---
" Most people live their lives according to Mark Twain's comment, 'I'm all for progress; it's change I don't like.' In Life Matters: Stories of Transition, Healing, and Hope, Dr. Abigail Brenner shows how embracing life's passages can lead to transformation and fulfillment, and how we can summon the courage to live life more fully." Larry Dossey, MD Author: Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions
" To be alive is to go through one phase after another, some large and some small. This insightful book will help you change thoughtfully. It will help you to be changed and not just go through the motions and the struggles. It will help you be vital and engaged in all areas of life. The transitions are the tough spots. Keep this book handy for them." Thomas Moore Author: Care of the Soul and A Life at Work

Life is all about change. We may be afraid of it. We may try to avoid it. But no matter how we view it, change is going to come our way. SHIFT: How to Deal When Life Changes, by Abigail Brenner, M.D., is a practical, user-friendly manual for anyone who seeks to understand the nature, the stages, and the emotions of change and transition, and wants to make the most of the changes he or she experiences. Whether change comes unexpectedly or through our own actions, SHIFT reveals and demonstrates how change presents our greatest opportunities for self-transformation.In easy-to-grasp language, SHIFT explores brainwave research, the vital role of the subconscious, and the predictability of the patterns of change---which assure us that life does unfold in ways that can be understood and managed. At the core of SHIFT, however, are thought-provoking and soul-searching questions and exercises that lay the groundwork for successfully mastering change.Can we learn to grow from change? We can, if we know how to SHIFT.

Throughout their lives, women go through big changes, but what makes some women embrace these moments while others feel as if they are about to fall apart? Psychiatrist Abigail Brenner believes that the answer lies in how we consciously mark these changes and allow them to change us. Full of personal stories and case histories, Transitions explores the passages that are meaningful to contemporary women and then supplies the tools, creative projects, and rituals to honor these occurrences. Full of provocative discussions, inspiring personal stories and anecdotes from Brenner, Transitions is dedicated to helping women identify, respond to, and celebrate their times of growth.