ENDORSEMENTS
“Carolyn Hobbs offers readers a guide for awakening heart wisdom that arises from her years of healing work with others—and her own deep understanding. Free Yourself is filled with poignant vignettes, meditative practices, and reflections that help us to inhabit our lives with the fullness of loving presence.”
—Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge.
“None of us escape life without feeling fear, pain, and loss. At times, we all need a helping hand. Free Yourself helps you learn to tenderly hold your heart with your own loving hands.”
—Jacob Liberman, OD, PhD, author of Take Off your Glasses and See and Wisdom from an Empty Mind.
“All readers, whether therapists or anyone seeking personal insight and growth, will find Free Yourself a rich resource. Having had the privilege of sponsoring author Carolyn Hobbs for various training events and conferences, I have seen first-hand audiences appreciate the author’s clinical insights and experiential techniques, enthusiastically embracing both. In this book, she distills life-tested approaches to help readers open their minds and hearts to meet life’s challenges with deepening levels of awareness and confidence.”
—Dan Barmettler, codirector of conferences, US Journal Training Inc. and The Institute for Integral Development
“Carolyn Hobbs writes as though her hair is on fire. She is passionately giving us tools to free ourselves, and she bridges everyday life and freedom with paunchy verve.”
—Devi Weisenberg, poet and teacher at Spirit Rock
“Author Carolyn Hobbs, in her friendly style, teaches us how easy it can be to step beyond familiar roadblocks and live in freedom and inner peace by asking simple questions, feeling grateful for what is and meeting challenges with compassion. This book will awaken your heart and soul.”
—Eleanor A. Greenlee, licensed marriage and family therapist and International Bioenergetics Trainer
“Based on thirty years of helping clients with her special blend of Buddhist wisdom and therapy, author Carolyn Hobbs offers readers of many different faiths a priceless treasure chest of quick, practical tools for awakening presence, kindness, gratitude, compassion, and freedom right in the middle of their busy lives.”
—Debra Chamberlin-Taylor, core teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
“A fine and trustworthy guide for healing and heart-centered living! With a supportive and compassionate tone, Ms. Hobbs helps us believe that any one of us, no matter how self-limited or wounded we might be, can finally live with majesty and joy. Free Yourself is hands-down one of the most empowering books I’ve read in a very long time, definitely a must-have for your personal growth/spiritual growth library.”
—Janice Lynne Lundy, author of Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be
“Like a warm and helpful conversation with a wise friend over a cup of tea, Free Yourself wraps the wisdom teachings in stories, humor, and suggestions that gently nudge us toward the freedom inherent in every beat of our heart. Listening will definitely change your life!”
—Shoshana Alexander, Co-Author, Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness
“Your wise, energetic presence is an essential element in helping all of us come to know directly the truth of our own deepest nature. Hobbs’ special blend of Buddhist wisdom and embodied consciousness promotes confidence to discern personal reactivity within a field of non-judgment, safety and love. These precious gifts support ourselves and others in knowing directly the greatest happiness and freedom as we savor, celebrate and give thanks for the beauty that is always right here, right now.”
—Erin Treat, Insight Meditation Teacher
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Jack Kornfield, Ph.D.is Founding Teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center near San Francisco, CA and Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA. As a clinical psychologist and Buddhist monk, he successfully bridged the gap between mainstream readers and serious Buddhists with such well-known classics as The Wise Heart (Bantam 2008), The Art of Forgiveness, Loving Kindness & Peace (Bantam 2002), After the Ecstasy, the Laundry (Bantam, 2001), A Path with Heart (Bantam, 1993) and Buddha’s Little Instruction Book (Bantam, 1994). Jack’s teachings have inspired my Buddhist practice since my first meditation retreat with him in 1983.
Jacob Liberman, O.D., Ph.D., is author of Light: Medicine of the Future, Wisdom of an Empty Mind and Take Off your Glasses & See. President of ISSSEEM International Conference in Boulder, CO, he is currently creating a light-based system for treating cancer and learning disabilities. We have been friends and colleagues since 1998. Jacob is creating space for me to present Freedom & Inner Peace at the June, 2013 ISSSEEM Conference.
James Baraz, author of Awakening Joy: 10 Steps that Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness (Bantam, 2010), Founding Teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in the SF-Bay Area and creator of the international online course, Awakening Joy, where I guest speaker. James, Insight Meditation teacher since 1980, is my teacher, friend and colleague since 1985.
Sylvia Boorstein is a Founding Spirit Rock Meditation Teacher near San Francisco since 1985, Senior Teacher at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and teaches Buddhism internationally. Sylvia wrote Solid Ground (2011), Happiness is an Inside Job (2008), Pay Attention for Goodness Sake (2003), That’s Funny, You Don’t Look Buddhist (1998)and It’s Easier than You Think (Harper SF, 1997). A writing colleague, Sylvia refers people to my Spirit Rock Workshops and recommends my JOY book to students.
Tara Brach, Ph.D., Founder & Teacher of Insight Meditation Community in Washington D.C. authored the award-winning book Radical Acceptance (Bantam, 2003). Tara teaches Buddhism at Omega Institute, Spirit Rock and internationally. Tara and I are Buddhist writing colleagues since 2004.
Debra Chamberlin-Taylor is Founding Teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in the San Francisco-Bay Area, licensed Psychotherapist, Qigong Health Teacher and Courage to Love Workshop leader with husband George Taylor. Debra and I, as lifetime friends for 30 years, teach Joy Workshops together at Spirit Rock Meditation Center every spring since 2004.
James Forleo, D.C., author of Health is Simple, Disease is Complicated (North Atlantic, 2008) and holistic chiropractor in Durango, CO 40 years. Jim has been my friend, chiropractic healer and fellow writer since 1992.
Eleanor Greenlee, LMFT, International Trainer of Bioenergetics Analysis for 40 years based in SF-Bay Area, trained by Alexander Lowen. Eleanor, as mentor and lifelong friend, trained me in Bioenergetics since 1972.
Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D. co-founders of The Hendricks Institute in Ojai, CA & authors of classic bestsellers like Conscious Loving (Bantam, 1990), Conscious Heart (Bantam, 1997)and At the Speed of Life (Bantam, 1993). As international trainers of Body-Centered Therapy and Conscious Relationship, they certified me in Body-Centered Therapy in 1992 & 1996.
Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones, Wild Mind, Thunder & Lightning, The Great Failure, Top of my Lungs and other fiction and nonfiction books, trained me as a writer and supports my writing.
Janice Lynne Lundy, educator, syndicated magazine columnist, retreat leader & creator of the online women’s course Buddha Chick and online magazine Buddha Chick Life has authored four spiritual books, including her latest, Your Truest Self. I am a regular guest speaker on both online courses.
Carolyn Hobbs 