I've read other books by Pema Chodron over the years starting with: When Things Fall Apart. I've always found her down to earth style and personal experiences mixed in with the lessons she has learned and share, to be amazingly helpful.

While reading this book I couldn't help but wonder is she didn't have an inkling of where we would be so soon after the publication date. Like so many others, I am finding all the meanness in our country from people with differing opinions to each other to be very upsetting, Pema accurately calls this polarization, and brings some very helpful suggestions for any one of us who are ready and willing to listen.

Thank you Pema. I needed this, as does a hurting world full of people. ,

Welcoming The Unwelcome by Pema Chodron is a timely read. She talks about what it means to welcome those who we don't necessarily see as welcome, as well as reasons why we should challenge our understanding of it means to welcome those who are unwelcome.

I really appreciated her writing, and definitely recommend reading other books that Pema Chodron has written.

Thank goodness for Pema Chodron - hers is exactly the voice we all need to hear right now. I've read this twice, sent it to friends, and recommended it every chance I get.

As a long time follower of Chordron and Buddhist teachings, I found this book landing im my collection at just the right time, once again.

I found it enlightening, calming and insightful for the current events. It helps to restore and recenter oneself in the face of the adversity we each face.

Highly recommended.

I am always inspired by Pema Chodrons work, and this was no different. Although deep to go into and it took me a while to get through, I found her words to be rewarding and would recommend this book to anyone in a tough situation, which mostly everyone. I think that Chodron does a great job of breaking down universal modalities but at the same time helping you not feel so alone in your suffering.

Classic Pema Chodron. We need her now more than ever!
This book will bring a sense of calm to your heart and mind.
I have to admit, though, that I prefer to listen to her on audio over reading directly.
Hearing her deliver the message resonates more deeply.

This book will be discussed on the Book Cougars podcast.
www.bookcougars.com

I received a ARC of"" Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World" by Pema Chodron from Net Galley and Shambhala Publications. Thank you for the opportunity. .My review opinion is my own . Review cross posted across review platforms.

This is the perfect book for our broken hearts and over stressed minds. It is a comforting, heartwarming soft guidance on how to survive stress and unwelcome events in our life in a positive more open fashion that serves us better then being in a state of stressed out and upset as most people are. I loved that author includes her own reflections on her experiences. This is a book I highly recommend if your seeking self help to heal from events in your life or the overwhelming stress of every day life. I found reflecting on the author's suggestions very helpful I will certainly add this book to my self help library and refer to it often.. This is a favorite author of mine . She is a gift to us and her words are meaningful and will change your life for the better. Reading this book left me in a more positive mind space, uplifted and hopeful about handling stress and being more compassionate to myself in the future. I highly recommend this book .

A wonderful and wise little book which is the perfect addition to her others, Pema Chodron has again written a simple but not easy book that's the perfect balm for a hurting heart. Her writing is so wise and deep that it's one of those books you can read over and over again and be amazed when you discover new insights on each read.
This book would be wonderful to review and discuss with others, maybe in a like-minded community of mindfulness practitioners. Earlier books by Pema are much denser: I'm enjoying her recent trend of pithy yet profound books that still can touch my heart.

Definitely going to pick up a few copies for my meditating friends!

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World by Pema Chodron from NetGalley and Shambhala Publications, Inc. in order to read and give an honest review.

“…is a brilliant yet challenging read and one I know I will read again…”

I recently became a fan of Pema Chodron after reading Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears and was so pleased to hear she had a new book coming out. Just beginning my journey toward Bodhisattva, I appreciate her down–to–earth and non-intimidating approach to Buddhist teachings.

In Welcoming the Unwelcome Chodron offers us wisdom on how to face the often overwhelming and uncomfortable aspects of life, embracing our emotions about those aspects while fostering a sense of peace by putting things in perspective. Each chapter discusses a particular practice with stories of others as well as personal insight about her journey. The overall message to me was learning to see both the positives and negatives in ourselves in order to foster a level of understanding of our vulnerabilities and to help us to gain insight and compassion towards others.

Throughout the book, Chodron offers us spiritual teachings to awaken us and assist us through our journey towards enlightenment. Although the practices are discussed in detail in each chapter, she has been kind enough to include a detailed outline of the practices at the back where they are mentioned in a more direct “how-to” approach. This book is a brilliant yet challenging read and one I know I will read again learning more each time I read it.

I come from a professional background in psychology. With that in mind, I am drawn towards Buddhism. Many unacquainted with Buddhism, share a lot of misconceptions. And, I guess classically, Buddhism is classified as a religion. When one reads this book, it is much easier to see the psychology aspect of Buddhism. What is written about in here is basically good sound mental health practices. Highly recommended if you are in the growth oriented mode of life.

Welcoming the Unwelcome by Pema Chodron is a book that made me think, and think about things in a new way. I love when that happens!! I found many of the topics discussed (how to lift yourself up when you feel down and checked out, how to turn around difficult relationships and situations, how to communicate more effectively just to name a few) particularly meaningful and helpful to me. I'm sure the next time I read it, different topics will speak to me. There is much wisdom within these pages.

Chodron writes in a clear, concise and easy to understand manner. She also does a good job at introducing Buddhist tenets. I agree with another reviewer who said this would make an excellent audiobook. I'm sure it would be soothing as well as engaging.

Do not dismiss this book out of hand because it discusses Buddhism and is written by a Buddhist. As Chodron herself points out, there is much to be learned from everyone who crosses your path. Open your mind, open your heart, and learn!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shambhala for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I have been a follower of Pema Chodrun's books for many years and am constantly amazed by how new each book feels. Welcoming the Unwelcome arrives at the most opportune time in the wake of the
current political divide in this country and the urgency we need to meet the threat of global warming tp cross this divide. She take these overwhelming topics and brings them to each individual person's doorstep with love and encouragement. She encourages us to believe that what we think, feel and do matters - any amount of individual change contributes to all of humanity.
She asks us very personal and intimate questions from "Why do you want to read this book?" to "Am I nurturing my commitment to wake up for the benefit of all beings?". She is vulnerable in what she shares in examples from her own life experience. Then, it feels like she really sits back and listens. This is her gift to the reader.
You don't have to be Buddhist to read this book. But you will benefit from these age old teachings from a 21st Century perspective. Who else but Pema Chodrun could include ideas of Thogme Zangpo, a monk from the 1300's and a song by Beyonce to illustrate her points.. All that is required to read her book is an open mind and open heart. Then, she includes practices to handle painful feelings as well as how to become aware of what triggers and divides us. While she doesn't pretend this is easy or that there is a quick spiritual fix, she expresses the strong faith that we can aspire to a new way of being and "use every situation in our life to wake up".
I highly recommend this book for readers old and new to Pema Chodrun. Read it, if you have lost heart, if you need to take heart, or if you want to plant the seed of heart awakening in the world.

Pema Chodron is back with her first book in a handful of years. I am fairly new to the words of Pema Chodron, but I have read several of her books, and love her voice and unique view of the world. She is a Buddhist nun, but she is a woman who has lived a rich full life full of hardship and joy, and her words are down to earth, practical and humble.

Welcoming the Unwelcome is, so far, my favorite of the books I have read by Pema Chodron. I generally don't think too much about where the title of a book is derived, but when I was about 20% into this book I had an "aha" moment - the book is about welcoming and embracing that which we would rather avoid in life and living. Life happens, no matter what our intentions or plans are. There is good and bad in everything, and there are so many ways we avoid facing the bad or real portions of our life which are unpleasant. This book is full of words of wisdom about addressing those face-down moments, and if not exactly embracing them, then learning how to put them in perspective. I made so many highlights of words and thoughts to remember, after awhile I made myself stop. I could highlight the whole book; there are so many insights to remember and to put into my own practice of mindfulness.

There is so much dissension in our world today; fear of everyone and everything, a lack of civility or appreciation for the thoughts and actions of others. This book addresses some of that indirectly; it offers simple ways that we, as citizens in this wondrous world, can learn in order to not fuel fires of anger and fear and to live in peace in our own portion of the universe. This is a book to be read, re-read and to take to heart. It is a perfect balm for the soul; none of us are perfect, and we should not strive to be so. We should only attempt to do the best we can, and put as much good into the world as possible.

Pema Chödrön's new book is vital for anyone who wants to do their part to help ease the polarization we experience today. If you feel weary, if you wonder how you can possibly affect and contribute to the world when things seem so overwhelming, this book will give you hope! Though Chödrön writes from a Buddhist perspective, she also writes in a humble, down-to-earth style that all readers, regardless of faith, will find accessible and relevant.

This is a short little book broken up into tiny chapters that scratch the surface on a variety of issues. It's obviously a book meant more for beginners than for an expert looking for in-depth information on any specific topic, but some of the exercises weren't beginner-level. Though filled with a few useful nuggets, I found the practical suggestions too abstract to be strictly useful. Maybe some of these suggestions were meant to be more theoretical than a step-by-step guide, but I found many of the instructions difficult to follow. I felt like the author would write something like "I'm going to show you how to let go of things. Here's what you do: you simply allow yourself to let go of things. Poof. There, don't you feel better?" And I would be left with so many questions, namely: if I were able to just let go of things by simply willing myself to do so, do you really think I would need this book? That is not a practical guide, at least not for this beginner.

The best parts of the book are those in which the author illustrates an anecdote from her past or a story about a friend. These relatable instances made a lot more sense to me than some of the more flowery, gooey stuff that seems to be present in every self-help type of book. The exercises at the back were a bit easier to handle for me and made a lot more sense than some of the stuff interspersed in the chapters. All in all, I'd recommend the book for someone who is not a total beginner but who perhaps isn't totally foreign to meditation.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Welcoming The Unwelcome:Wholehearted Living In A Brokenhearted World
by Pema Chodren
due 10-15-2019
Shambhala
5.0 / 5.0

#netgalley. #WelcomingTheUnwelcome

Powerful and beautifully written, sharing wisdom and common sense practices to help us not succumb to the negativity and polarization gripping so many in this nation. In a very concise, conscientious and positive way, Pema has always been an inspiration, reminding me how much fuller life could be for everyone if we all practiced having more open minds and more open hearts.
Pemas books have been an inspiration and are empowering to me. All we think and do most definitely affects much more than yourself. I'm so glad I discovered Pema years ago, and still look to her for empowerment and direction.

A huge thanks to netgalley and Shambhala for sharing this e-book ARC for review.

Instagram:
Pema Chödrön is a respected Buddhist teacher, and I was honored to receive an advanced copy of her new work coming this fall. Targeting how to robots respond to and use the difficult times we are in, it provides gentle guidance on living. I think these two quotes sum it up:”we always have a choice in how we respond” and “these challenging times give us the greatest opportunity for change.”
I thought I could highlight the teachings of the book in a small way by showing the “failing” part of my container garden instead of only highlighting the successes.

GoodReads:
What I enjoyed most about this book was teacher Chodron's suggestions on how to deal with the uncomfortable emotions of despair about the state of the world. That was very useful. I also enjoy how the book ends with all the instructions for a variety of meditations together. That's nice for coming back to it later. I just didn't find it to be quite as moving as some of her other works for me personally. I'm sure others will experience it differently. It's also possible I will come to see the change more over time and will see the impact more clearly in the future.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

In Pema Chodron’s book, Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World, she shares her profound wisdom and advice for ushering in positivity in a time of craziness. I really like how her words flow and the book is easy to read. I agree with her on how hard times can really bring forth changes within us.

Here’s the synopsis:

In her first new book of spiritual teachings in over seven years, Pema Chödrön offers a combination of wisdom, heartfelt reflections, and the signature mix of humor and insight that have made her a beloved figure to turn to during times of change. In an increasingly polarized world, Pema shows us how to strengthen our abilities to find common ground, even when we disagree, and influence our environment in positive ways. Sharing never-before told personal stories from her remarkable life, simple and powerful everyday practices, and directly relatable advice, Pema encourages us all to become triumphant bodhisattvas–compassionate beings–in times of hardship.

Welcoming the Unwelcome includes teachings on the true meaning of karma, recognizing the basic goodness in ourselves and the people we share our lives with–even the most challenging ones, transforming adversity into opportunities for growth, and freeing ourselves from the empty and illusory labels that separate us. Pema also provides step-by-step guides to a basic sitting meditation and a compassion meditation that anyone can use to bring light to the darkness we face, wherever and whatever it may be.

Short chapters, excellent advice, this book will give you hope and you will feel more positive and peaceful after reading it.

Out on October 8, pre-order here.

This is another GREAT book of Pema Chodron's. I have loved her
books in the past but I believe this one tops them all. She is an
excellent writer.

Thank you so much, Pema Chodron, the Publisher, and NetGalley
for the opportunity to read this special book!

I didn't realize when I started reading "Welcoming the Unwelcome" that it would also address so much self-acceptance in addition to compassion and acceptance of others. I really enjoyed this approach. The shorter chapters allow readers to pause and reflect. The book is very "pick up and put down as needed" - a good one for devotional type reading and book clubs. I found great quotes (mantras, if you will) and snippets to share and ponder. What a peaceful, wonderful way to live!