The Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit: How to Bounce Back from Life's Hardest Hits

by Azim Khamisa, Jillian Quinn

When life deals you a particularly difficult blow or a staggering loss, how do you handle it? If you’re like most, you might think Why me?, struggle to find your way, or lash out at those around you. But there are a select few who seem emotionally hardier, who are able to face life’s physical, emotional, and financial hits undeterred and perhaps even forge ahead, empowered in the face of adversity. These people aren’t more deserving or luckier than the rest of us; they simply think differently–they are connected with their steady inner self and find strength where others might see meaninglessness; they make life-affirming choices instead of defeatist ones. In short, they are spiritually bulletproof. They face as many of life’s slings and arrows as the rest of us, but they don’t succumb to hardship or misfortune. And you can be one of them.

In The Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit, renowned peace activist Azim Khamisa and inspirational speaker Jillian Quinn reveal the thirty essential keys to emotional and spiritual resiliency. Based upon their own experiences with heart-wrenching loss, the strategies they present may seem simple, but their advice can open up a whole new way of thinking. Khamisa and Quinn will help you discover

• that your thoughts help to create your reality, and that you can use them to take control of your life
• the potentially damaging mental routines you’re running on autopilot
• the vital connections between your upbringing and your “resiliency quotient”
• spiritually affirming thoughts that may help you make more spiritually empowering choices

“What lies within you really is more powerful than any hit you may take physically, emotionally, or materially,” the authors write. With their help, readers will find themselves more confident and secure in a volatile and uncertain world. When you learn to identify most strongly with that invincible core–your bulletproof spirit–you tap into the truest source of security available to you. And while there’s no foolproof way to stay out of the proverbial line of fire, the information, inspiration, and tools in this book will provide you with an emotional bulletproof vest, a way to take hits and come out on top.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Self Help

262 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Cory · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would appear that my spirit is already pretty darned bulletproof, so a lot of things in this book struck me as being pretty "duh!" They also do that thing that I hate where they put something in a little sidebar box, but it's DIRECTLY quoted from the rest of the text. Don't waste a sidebar with something that you've already said!

All in all, I think this book would be helpful for people who might be a bit more pessimistic than I (because I'm freakishly optimistic), or who are in the throes of some horrible circumstance and can't see their way out. I question some of their conclusions, but . . . as my star rating says . . . it was okay.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Azim Khamisa has been a long time client of mine. I continue daily to be in awe of his passion, spirit, and compassion. This is a man making a huge difference in our world. We all experience tough times in our life - this is a wonderful book to keep handy for inspiration during such times. And I personally have made changes in my own life after reading this book.

[adllto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is difficult to categorize. It's definitely not theology but has a lot to say in the area of spirituality and even relevance to the Christian believer. It's not psychology but it speaks to a person's inner life and their response to emotional troubles. It's not philosophy but has a lot to say about the way we think and process life.

It's all about how can we be different so we can recover from life's tough blows. It is about resilience both emotional and spiritual.When we are hit by disappointments, losses, betrayals, and tragedies how can we bounce back afterwards or prepare for the next time. Hits in life are inevitable and we will feel them. The two authors Azim Khamisa and Jillian Quinn want to persuade us that there in deep inside each person a spirit, a spiritual core, our true self. We are not our thoughts, feelings, or emotions, nor our possessions, roles, nor abilities.

There is a lot of good and helpful stuff in the 30 supposed secrets, though I'd call them commonsense. Two key ideas caught me as spiritual commonsense but I needed to be reminded of them. First is the importance of spiritual hygiene, what I know as spiritual disciplines, which contribute to spiritual and emotional resilience. of course I looked at that in terms of spiritual growth but not in terms of resiliency the ability to recover more quickly. Another which seemed logical not to deny my desires but to accept them (when wholesome) and yet to be detached from whether they are in fact met or not.Profound, simple, and very logical but important when life disappoints and dreams don't happen.

[Marty]

This is a book for people who have already had live shattering events in their life, like a death of a loved one as it helps you work through the grief.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Azim Khamisa spoke to our community in May 2009 after we heard him as a keynote speaker at the statewide EOPS/CARE conference in Oct. 2008. His son Tariq's story is powerful. The lessons are about forgiveness and living a meaningful life. The mission of his organization can be found at http://tkf.org/

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read, though I wasn't able to read it all yet. Totally agree on the importance of regular spiritual time so that when the crisis strikes you aren't brittle and break. Doesn't matter what your religious bent (atheists included). The spirit is something Americans need to nourish more. Good point.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Azim Khamisa has emerged from tragedy with insight to help us all. Life will be full of hard hits, and this book helps you develop the resilient spirit so that the hits don't knock you off balance.

[Alina Loveland · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little obvious, very preachy, and very 'one size fits all'. But a few good points which it doesn't hurt to be reminded of.