Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman's Guide to Recovering Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life

by Abby Seixas

For over two decades, Abby Seixas has taught women how to slow down and reclaim their lives from the tyranny of their to-do lists. Based on the experiences of women whose lives have been transformed by her workshops, this highly anticipated first book presents her comprehensive program to nurture contact with the Deep River Within, the soul-nourishing dimension in each of us that flows beneath the busyness of daily life.  With gentle encouragement, practical guidance, and compelling stories of struggle and success, Finding the Deep River Within details the three preliminary doorways and six core practices for inviting the rich resources of our deeper nature into everyday life.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Abby Seixas is a psychotherapist, author and speaker specializing in issues of life balance. She offers workshops, retreats and individualized coaching as well as her popular “Deep River”™ groups.  Her television appearances include NBC’s The Today Show and the Hallmark Channel and her work has been featured in O – The Oprah Magazine, Self, Woman’s Day, Fitness, Body & Soul, and The Boston Globe.
Abby has spoken to women and mixed audiences from Maine to California about work/life balance, self-care, and how to live a soulful life in a speed-obsessed world. She has been in the mental health field for more than thirty years and has been a clinical psychotherapy trainer and supervisor at training centers in the United States and abroad, including England, the Netherlands and Russia.  She is the mother of two grown children and lives with her husband outside Boston, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Wendy]

As a fairly new mom, I read this book a few months ago and the message really resonated with me! In today's culture of trying to do everything--professional, mother, social organizer, housekeeper, bill payer, wife, etc. etc.--I find that I can get lost and overwhelmed with the thousand and one things I need to do. This book helped me to take a step back, and really focus on self-care and work-life balance, more from a spiritual perspective than a time management one. Taking time to drop down into the "Deep River Within"--the soul-nourishing dimension in each of us that flows beneath the busyness of daily life--I think can help us reevaluate and help us live more deeply (as individuals), and therefore improve our relationships and happiness in life. I highly recommend!

[Sally]

very helpful book for regaining inner balance; useful suggestions, sensible and appealing author.

[Elaine]

A practical resource for slowing down and reducing the stress in our lives.

[June]

The book was interesting. Nothing new to me in it. Maybe because there was nothing new in it, I found it repetitive.

[Daniela]

I read this because a local hospital was offering a program based on the book. At first I found the book interesting but then it really began to drag. It does have useful advice but much is just common sense and not really new. Some folks may find it helpful but the style was too patronizing for me.

[Mandy]

Nothing different in this book from all the others like it. However, a gentle reminder for those who have read other books on the same topic and a good starting ground for those who haven't. Overall, a decent read with lots of resources to go further with the practice.

I enjoyed the exercises at the end of the chapters and look forward to discussing the book with my Mavens.

[Becky]

I read this because a local hospital was offering a program based on the book. At first I found the book interesting but then it really began to drag. It does have useful advice but much is just common sense and not really new. Some folks may find it helpful but the style was too patronizing for me.

[Lael Jepson]

Extremely validating book for any woman that feels over-busy. Has you look at the question of "what's wrong with this picture?" instead of "what's wrong with me?" Refreshing. Awesome read. One of my favorites to recommend to clients.

[Sherry Tamone]

Ok book....but I have never been one for "self help" books. The author points out some exercises to getting to a less frenetic place. Making time for what's important is the key and identifying that which for you is important is the tricky part.

[Maureen]

I liked it but I'm past the uberRushed time of life. It was still good to have a reminder of ways to slow down though.