From Heartbreak to Wholeness

by Kristine Carlson

A guidebook for discovering how heartbreak can become the doorway to profound meaning and joy from the bestselling co-creator of the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Series

In 2006, after building the bestselling franchise Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff with her husband Richard, Kristine Carlson faced a shattering loss—the sudden death of her beloved spouse. Woven together with the remarkable stories of others’ loss and recovery, her deeply moving story reveals a clear process of healing that is common to everyone and goes far beyond ordinary prescriptions for getting through hard times. In her new book, From Heartbreak to Wholeness, Kristine offers a life-altering map for navigating the heroic journey from loss to joy—one that ultimately awakens readers to a deep love affair with life.

Every day, people suffer heartbreaks of some kind—loss of a loved one, divorce, illness, loss of a job or home—and seek to understand why these losses and traumas have befallen them and how they’ll make it through in one piece. For readers who have endured loss of any kind, Kristine takes them by the hand, showing them how to traverse their own jagged edge of growth and emerge as the hero whole, happy, and empowered.

Each chapter of From Heartbreak to Wholeness includes powerful exercises in self-inquiry and reflection, along with step-by-step guidance for writing one’s own heroic story of healing. Journey with Kristine Carlson and learn how you can walk the path from heartbreak to wholeness.

Genres: Self Help, Relationships, Grief

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 12, 2018

Reviews

[Lexi Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. I'm gladly donating it to One Place Family Justice Center. I hope its reassuring words can help a client.
Update 4/13/18
I was able to pass this book along to a client : )

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kristine Carlson outlines the path she followed after the sudden death of her beloved husband and author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. She expands the experience of loss beyond the death of a loved one to include major changes in our lives that knock us off our feet....divorce, serious illness, loss of employment, etc. She gives a step by step process to slowly rise from depression and isolation to finding joy and meaning in each day. She wrote the book in a universal way to reach people of all faiths and cultures who are seeking help to avoid anger and bitterness and live a life of purpose. There are some gems of wisdom here to carry away with you. I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I think this is a nice guide that would be good for anyone going through a loss. This is a gentle, step-by-step approach.

[Debra Oliva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the Don't Sweat series of books written by Richard Carlson, some of which were co-authored by his wife Kristine, so I was eager to read the book. I am a long-time widow but, while reading the book, my daughter died, so the book was more helpful than I had planned.

Carlson writes about her journey on recovering from the death of her husband but also touches on other crises such as health problems or loss of a career. She also interviewed others, writing about the wisdom they acquired through their own personal journeys.

There is much to process as you deal with your grief; the author also provides questions and prompts for journaling, which is strongly recommended. I would definitely suggest the book to those who are trying to recover from grief.

Some of the methods she incorporates seemed rather New Age to me, which may not appeal to all readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Kristine Carlson for the ARC.

[drowningmermaid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt... trite. I probably wouldn't have picked it up if I'd known I was getting into a book by the co-author of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms."

I mean, it's not BAD bad. I've read worse. Yoga-mom type insights. It just leaves me feeling like I've been reading some smarmy pablum zenbites.

I liked that this "hero's journey" apparently takes more than a decade-- which makes it less of a quick-fix than these generally are. And I REALLY appreciated the story about the stalker-- which came out of no where, and struck home. She really captured the whole experience well-- the surreality, the lack of any kind of legal help or protection, the disruption to daily life. The way it can make you question God Themself.

There's a fun little STAR mantra. Some references to other books I might want to look into.

[Lea McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Heartbreak to Wholeness is by Kristine Carlson and offers guidance to those who have suffered a great loss or upheaval in their lives. I received it as a Giveaway in return for an honest evaluation. I enjoyed the book, but it isn't something you just rush through. There is much to process as you read, and the author also provides questions and prompts for journaling, which she strongly recommends. I got some good ideas about looking at life in general, and I would definitely suggest the book to those who are struggling. My only negative is that one of the final chapters about a Sovereign Commitment Ceremony didn't appeal to me.

[Shani Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author displays a strength and grace I have seldom seen in any person. She is inspiring beyond belief and I am in awe of her journey, in awe of her mission and in awe of her amazing spirit. To lead others from heartbreak to wholeness is a courageous and heroic endeavor, and I can't think of another person more suitable to do this.

[RACHEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

'From Heartbreak to Wholeness' can be your companion on the journey toward healing. Like many such books, the more you put in the more get out of it.

My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.

[Jacquie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book hit me at a great time, and a relief to start chipping away at my "to-read" Christmas reads.

Kristina had wisdom for the heart, and tenderly offered. A big warm hug for these vulnerable topics, where it offers you a light at the end of your tunnel forward.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely inspiring and insightful!!!

[Michelle Olms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[LemontreeLime · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was not for me. But kudos for the authors strength in terrible times!

[AngelLeah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I disliked this book so much that I threw it away instead of donating it. I’ll never recommend this to anyone. I am a 46 year old widow and I book clubbed this with a 50 year old widower. He only made it through 3 chapters. I pushed through half the book before dumping in the trash. Pages and pages of empty platitudes. I run a widowed peer group and would never think that these platitudes would help the members’ grieving.
My only hope is that maybe it at least helped the author when she wrote it.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book and started to read because I lost someone.

"you have conquered the unimaginable and unthinkable to emerge free to embrace the epic journey that is your life. It is your choice to choose the path of the one heart; to choose the hero's journey along of the path of love." 222.

Thank you Kristine for this book, it's so warm!

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guide to surviving heartache & learning to live thrive again.Kristene Carlson shares with us the heartache of her husband’s death & a guide a gentle guide to enjoy nlufe again.Thanks to Goodreads for my advance copy.

[Allie]

We all learn something new everyday, but with this book you will learn a lot of strategies
on how to interpet things differently. Thanks Kristine !

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of the Don't Sweat series of books written by Richard Carlson, some of which were co-authored by his wife Kristine. Richard was the main speaker at a women's conference I attended just a few years before his sudden passing. Two of my friends were also widowed in their 40s, so I was anxious to read this newest book by Kristine Carlson to learn how she had coped. The book not only deals with the loss of a spouse, but also other losses such a health crisis or loss of a career. I appreciated the way Kris presented both the good and bad aspects of her personal story. There is a lot of information to digest, so I am sure that I would benefit from a second, slower reading. Some of the methods she incorporates seemed rather New Age to me, which may not appeal to all readers.

[Louise Foerster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early in this excellent book, Carlson states "You aren't the same for having loved and lived, and you won't be the same as you walk through the doorway of awakening that loss provides." With that positive declaration, she continues to discuss her approach to grief, through her own horrific journey to that of others, drawing from them the wisdom, the insights, the encouragement to assure the reader and keep company on their own journey. She states "...this is a book designed to let you choose to be the hero of your story, and it's going to teach you how to frame your story in a way that reveals who you are." Carlson delivers on that and so much more in this profound guide to grief, loving and living as a fully-realized human being. Her promises are huge -- and she delivers. Her reliance on Joseph Campbells' work on the hero's journey and Maureen Murdoch's work on the heroine's journey enriched, enlightened and delighted. A valuable and enjoyable book!