For my many clients and friends who are feeling challenged to be joyful in these politically transitional times, this new book from Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Dali Lama and Douglas Abrams provides inspiration and guidance.  Actually it’s great guidance for living a joyful, loving life in general, so very appropriate reading for a day celebrating love.

Based on a week of interviews conducted with these two spiritual leaders, there is deep wisdom about resilience and joy in the face of adversity.  Obstacles to joy are addressed, such as anxiety, anger, grief, despair, loneliness, envy, adversity, illness and death.  Attitudes and practices that help us deal with such obstacles are described with clarity and humor.  Eight Pillars of Joy are laid out: Perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion and generosity.  Specific suggestions for “Joy Practices” are also provided in an appendix at the end of the book.

The attitudes and practices described in the book are quite compatible with Emotionally Focused Therapy in that these two leaders appreciate how social and interdependent humans are and the importance of reaching for one another from places of compassion and vulnerability.

Here’s some places you can buy the book:  http://bookofjoy.org

And here’s a video of them during the week, which gives you a sense of what loving, funny fellows they are.