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A Deep Breath of Life: Daily Inspiration for Heart-Centered Living
TAKE A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE . . . WITH ALAN COHEN!
Consider this book a hand to hold as you scale the mountain of your destiny. In just a few minutes each day, you can step back from your worldly activity and draw in a deep breath of spiritual renewal. You might like to savor each message in the morning to start your day on a positive keynote, and/or review your day in the light of the principles.
Each day’s message includes a theme, a quote of wisdom, a parable or real-life anecdote, a prayer, and an affirmation. After reading the day’s message, close your eyes for a few moments, and be with the prayer and affirmation. Take these powerful ideas into your subconscious, and allow the truth to shine away any darkness. The spirit within you will expand miraculously as you nourish your inner being.
There is no limit to the healing, inspiration, and positive changes you can enjoy through applying the principles contained between these covers. March on to the high calling of your heart, and your life will be a testament to the magnificence that is you.
Consider this book a hand to hold as you scale the mountain of your destiny. In just a few minutes each day, you can step back from your worldly activity and draw in a deep breath of spiritual renewal. You might like to savor each message in the morning to start your day on a positive keynote, and/or review your day in the light of the principles.
Each day’s message includes a theme, a quote of wisdom, a parable or real-life anecdote, a prayer, and an affirmation. After reading the day’s message, close your eyes for a few moments, and be with the prayer and affirmation. Take these powerful ideas into your subconscious, and allow the truth to shine away any darkness. The spirit within you will expand miraculously as you nourish your inner being.
There is no limit to the healing, inspiration, and positive changes you can enjoy through applying the principles contained between these covers. March on to the high calling of your heart, and your life will be a testament to the magnificence that is you.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
About the author
Alan Cohen
163 books219 followersAlan Cohen is the author of several self help books.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 26, 2011
This is not your run of the mill daily inspiration book. It is impactful, inspiring, and serves its name well, because I would definitely call it a breath of fresh air! Alan Cohen is an amazing painter of words, and while it is recommended that you read one "section" per day to absorb it in fullness, I found myself unable to stop reading. If you are looking for something that will help you focus on positive thinking, increase your confidence, and make you truly believe that you can achieve all the happiness you deserve, you have come to the right book! I recommend it for EVERYONE! A Deep Breath of Life is a must read - and can truly change lives!
September 8, 2010
This is a daily inspiration. I love it! It is a daily reader. Somedays, the message is just what you need to hear!
December 12, 2011
Incredibly inspiring and thought provoking.
June 26, 2012
I love this book...I have had it for years and every day it teaches me something!!!
September 28, 2012
There is nothing more pleasant and balancing for me Than starting the day by reading today's entry in this book.
June 10, 2023
How do you review this kind of book? It is so personal to anyone who has it.
Do you know of this book? Do you want to know of it?
Each day you open the page to a daily inspiration. Wisdom. An opportunity to raise awareness. Uplift us. Awaken us. Enlighten us. Give us clarity. Hope. Joy.
It starts each page with the date. It has a header, than a quote, than a story and then a non-faith prayer.
I have held on to this book since my early 20's.
Even the author shares, "Consider this book, a hand to hold as you scale the mountain of your destiny."
Sometimes, we just need a friend to take a long with us each day. This is that kind of a book.
Do you know of this book? Do you want to know of it?
Each day you open the page to a daily inspiration. Wisdom. An opportunity to raise awareness. Uplift us. Awaken us. Enlighten us. Give us clarity. Hope. Joy.
It starts each page with the date. It has a header, than a quote, than a story and then a non-faith prayer.
I have held on to this book since my early 20's.
Even the author shares, "Consider this book, a hand to hold as you scale the mountain of your destiny."
Sometimes, we just need a friend to take a long with us each day. This is that kind of a book.
August 23, 2017
Συλλογή από 365 κείμενα έμπνευσης, ένα για κάθε ημέρα του χρόνου (φυσικά μπορεί κάποιος να τα διαβάσει με όποια σειρά θέλει). Κείμενα με ιδέες, επιγνώσεις, συμβουλές από τον Alan Cohen που έχει γράψει αρκετά βιβλία αυτοβοήθειας. Το ύφος των κειμένων, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των μικρών ιστοριών, είναι πολύ ευχάριστο, αισιόδοξο, αυτό που λέμε "θετικό" ενώ δεν λείπει και η ουσία, για αυτό και το βιβλίο αρέσει σε πολλούς.
Πήρα πολλά από αυτό το βιβλίο, ίσως όχι τόσο νέες γνώσεις (αφού ασχολούμαι πολλά χρόνια με την ψυχολογία και την αυτοβελτίωση και επίσης έχω διαβάσει εκατοντάδες βιβλία), όσο νέες οπτικές γωνίες και ενίσχυση γνώσεων που είχα ήδη.
Σημαντικό για τον υποψήφιο αναγνώστη: Το βιβλίο αντανακλά πλήρως τη φιλοσοφία και τις θρησκευτικές πεποιθήσεις του συγγραφέα, ο οποίος αναφέρεται συχνά στο Θεό και στην επιστοσύνη που πρέπει να έχουμε σε αυτόν, ενώ σχεδόν κάθε κείμενο ημέρας καταλήγει με μία επίκληση ουσιαστικά προς το Θεό. Επίσης, το βιβλίο αναφέρει συχνά φράσεις από το βιβλίο "Μαθήματα θαυμάτων" (A course in miracles) που είναι φιλοσοφικό θρησκευτικό βιβλίο και ολοφάνερα έχει επηρεάσει πάρα πολύ το συγγραφέα. Όλο αυτό μπορεί να αρέσει πολύ σε κάποιους αλλά και να απωθήσει πολύ άλλους. Προσωπικά, αν και είμαι αγνωστικιστής, δεν με ενόχλησε και μπόρεσα να πάρω από το βιβλίο αυτά που μου άρεσαν παραβλέποντας αυτά που δεν με αφορούν.
Κρίνοντας το βιβλίο ως περισσότερο ειδικός θα έλεγα ότι είναι μία μεγάλη συλλογή από αναπλαισιώσεις (reframes) ιδεών και πεποιθήσεων, που στηρίζονται όμως (και αυτό είναι σημαντικό) σε πραγματικές ιστορίες και παραδείγματα και έτσι γίνονται εύκολα αποδεκτές. Στα αρνητικά θα έβαζα κάποιες επαναλήψεις, κάποιες ολοφάνερα λανθασμένες πεποιθήσεις και (αλλά αυτό είναι θέμα γούστου και θρησκευτικής τοποθέτησης και για κάποιους θα είναι θετικό) τις συχνές αναφορές στο Θεό και τα "Μαθήματα θαυμάτων". Επειδή όμως είναι ένα πολύ δυνατό βιβλίο, αξίζει σίγουρα το 4 στα 5.
Πήρα πολλά από αυτό το βιβλίο, ίσως όχι τόσο νέες γνώσεις (αφού ασχολούμαι πολλά χρόνια με την ψυχολογία και την αυτοβελτίωση και επίσης έχω διαβάσει εκατοντάδες βιβλία), όσο νέες οπτικές γωνίες και ενίσχυση γνώσεων που είχα ήδη.
Σημαντικό για τον υποψήφιο αναγνώστη: Το βιβλίο αντανακλά πλήρως τη φιλοσοφία και τις θρησκευτικές πεποιθήσεις του συγγραφέα, ο οποίος αναφέρεται συχνά στο Θεό και στην επιστοσύνη που πρέπει να έχουμε σε αυτόν, ενώ σχεδόν κάθε κείμενο ημέρας καταλήγει με μία επίκληση ουσιαστικά προς το Θεό. Επίσης, το βιβλίο αναφέρει συχνά φράσεις από το βιβλίο "Μαθήματα θαυμάτων" (A course in miracles) που είναι φιλοσοφικό θρησκευτικό βιβλίο και ολοφάνερα έχει επηρεάσει πάρα πολύ το συγγραφέα. Όλο αυτό μπορεί να αρέσει πολύ σε κάποιους αλλά και να απωθήσει πολύ άλλους. Προσωπικά, αν και είμαι αγνωστικιστής, δεν με ενόχλησε και μπόρεσα να πάρω από το βιβλίο αυτά που μου άρεσαν παραβλέποντας αυτά που δεν με αφορούν.
Κρίνοντας το βιβλίο ως περισσότερο ειδικός θα έλεγα ότι είναι μία μεγάλη συλλογή από αναπλαισιώσεις (reframes) ιδεών και πεποιθήσεων, που στηρίζονται όμως (και αυτό είναι σημαντικό) σε πραγματικές ιστορίες και παραδείγματα και έτσι γίνονται εύκολα αποδεκτές. Στα αρνητικά θα έβαζα κάποιες επαναλήψεις, κάποιες ολοφάνερα λανθασμένες πεποιθήσεις και (αλλά αυτό είναι θέμα γούστου και θρησκευτικής τοποθέτησης και για κάποιους θα είναι θετικό) τις συχνές αναφορές στο Θεό και τα "Μαθήματα θαυμάτων". Επειδή όμως είναι ένα πολύ δυνατό βιβλίο, αξίζει σίγουρα το 4 στα 5.
Currently Reading
July 12, 2010of all of the "thought-a-day" kind of books, this one resonates with me the most. i love it!
April 22, 2013
Great story teller. Blows the doors off many others. - Hughesitorloseit.com
October 22, 2013
Very thoughtful gift from Tracy G.
Want to Read
May 6, 2014.
May 21, 2017
I love this book. It is not the kind of book you read cover to cover, you read a page a day (sometimes I read more to catch up) and you can re-read it continually year after year.
As a writer, my ideal morning ritual starts with journaling three "Morning Pages" (as suggested by Julia Cameron in her "The Artist's Way") rewarded by reading today's (yearless, dated) page of Alan Cohen's "A Deep Breath of Life" - and maybe journaling some more after thinking about that.
Of course, I'm not perfect. ;-) So I miss lots of days (weeks and months sometimes!). If they have been particularly stressful or crazy, I look back on what I missed for any insights that can be gleaned but sometimes, I am delighted to leave those pearls of wisdom and inspiration laying in wait to be discovered fresh next year.
I have bought this book many times over to give as gifts to fellow writers or friends needing inspiration. Sometimes I'll scan a page I've earmarked from somewhere else in the year and email it to correspondents who need a boost or validation. My own copy is drenched in highlighter and crunches now as I've left it out in the rain accidentally. But that just adds to its character.
When I open up to an already very highlighted day, I am surprised to find that sometimes, it doesn't have the same impact upon re-examination when I'm at a different place in my life but often, the passages ring as true and as clear as they have for years!
It's just a great book.
Highly recommend. ;-)
With delight! ;-(
As a writer, my ideal morning ritual starts with journaling three "Morning Pages" (as suggested by Julia Cameron in her "The Artist's Way") rewarded by reading today's (yearless, dated) page of Alan Cohen's "A Deep Breath of Life" - and maybe journaling some more after thinking about that.
Of course, I'm not perfect. ;-) So I miss lots of days (weeks and months sometimes!). If they have been particularly stressful or crazy, I look back on what I missed for any insights that can be gleaned but sometimes, I am delighted to leave those pearls of wisdom and inspiration laying in wait to be discovered fresh next year.
I have bought this book many times over to give as gifts to fellow writers or friends needing inspiration. Sometimes I'll scan a page I've earmarked from somewhere else in the year and email it to correspondents who need a boost or validation. My own copy is drenched in highlighter and crunches now as I've left it out in the rain accidentally. But that just adds to its character.
When I open up to an already very highlighted day, I am surprised to find that sometimes, it doesn't have the same impact upon re-examination when I'm at a different place in my life but often, the passages ring as true and as clear as they have for years!
It's just a great book.
Highly recommend. ;-)
With delight! ;-(
July 20, 2026
A good daily read to help get the day off on the right foot
I started reading this book the day it came out and I finished today. Each day is a good message that applies to so much. As Colette would say, ‘Let it percolate’. I really enjoyed it and will look forward to the author’s next book. After a year of reading this book I will miss it. Next year I plan to start this book on January first and read it straight through.
I started reading this book the day it came out and I finished today. Each day is a good message that applies to so much. As Colette would say, ‘Let it percolate’. I really enjoyed it and will look forward to the author’s next book. After a year of reading this book I will miss it. Next year I plan to start this book on January first and read it straight through.
December 20, 2018
Read this over the months this year in my chiropractor’s office often reading days at a time.
March 26, 2024
I like these types of books where you can read a page per day and just enjoy it, not necesary a full story in it.
August 9, 2019
The boook is totally great.
January 11, 2011
Read it everyday! I love it!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews