52 Weeks of Conscious Contact: Meditations for Connecting with God, Self, and Others

by Melody Beattie

Organized as weekly collections of stories, meditations, and suggestions, 52 Weeks of Conscious Contact addresses key self-care issues.

Organized as weekly collections of stories, meditations, and suggestions, 52 Weeks of Conscious Contact addresses key self-care issues.

What gets in the way of serenity? For most people, the answer is life--those everyday distractions, obligations, and frustrations that cause chaos and clutter. In her new week-by-week guidebook, best-selling self-help author Melody Beattie brings new hope to individuals longing to lead a more serene life. Organized as weekly collections of stories, meditations, and suggestions, 52 Weeks of Conscious Contact addresses key self-care issues, including how to nurture inner peace, when to reach out to others, how to carry through on good intentions, where to make time for fun, and how to cultivate a deeper prayer life. Beattie's thoughtful prose and practical advice provide new opportunities for reflection, affirmation, and change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Self Help

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Melody Beattie was an American self-help author best known for her groundbreaking work on codependency. Born in 1948 in Minnesota, she endured a traumatic childhood marked by abuse and early substance addiction. After achieving sobriety, she became a licensed addiction counselor and began writing to help others navigate emotional recovery. Her 1986 book Codependent No More became a bestseller, selling eight million copies and helping to bring the concept of codependency into mainstream awareness. Over her career, she authored 18 books, including Beyond Codependency, The Language of Letting Go, and Make Miracles in Forty Days. Though her work is often associated with Co-Dependents Anonymous, her books were independent of the program.
Beattie’s personal life reflected many of the struggles she addressed in her work, including four marriages and the loss of a son. Her writing often drew from her own experiences with grief, addiction, and healing. In early 2025, she was forced to evacuate her Malibu home due to wildfires and died shortly after at her daughter’s home in Los Angeles from heart failure.

Reviews

[Lorna Alliston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this for awhile. It's that kind of book you read just a bit at a time and ponder...then go on another day. Tonight I read about grief . Here are a couple things that touched my heart....... Grief isn't an abnormal condition. it's nature's way of healing our heart. .....We don't do grief, grief does us. ......We may think that being healed means we don't miss that person anymore. What it really means is we're willing to move forward with our lives.

[Eleanor Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always important to explore the little tugs, nudges, and intuitive moments that invite us to listen to ourselves and to what it is we really want.

This book encourages that process.

Especially helpful for those who tend to ignore themselves over and over and over again.

Eleanor Cowan, author of : A History of a Pedophile's Wife: Memoir of a Canadian Teacher and Writer

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book about practical ways of attaining serenity. Each week has a different value with ways to apply it to your life. Melody Beattie uses examples from her life and those of others to clarify the value and understand our struggles with it. Some of the values are compassion, crazy people driving us crazy, accepting help, etc. Great for anyone.

[Linda Saslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of wisdom in this book. A local yoga teacher was reading passages of this book during savasana and i always looked forward to this and found the words relatable. I finished the book in about 52 days. Suitable not only for people in 12 step.

[Elle_jaying e · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read 4 times /by myself and in groups studies . Helped me immensely. Studied during covid with 5 women on zoom while recovering from chemo /radiation breast cancer surgery. Probably saved my life (mentally )and sobriety :)

[Brie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for all people

This book was designed for friends of Bill and other anonymous programs. However, you can use it in your daily life even as a non-anonymous person. I found it quite useful. And I hope to share the values I learned with other people.

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting reflections on being who I want to be.

[Brandi Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome devotion book...that breaks down subjects into weeks....I have read a week of forgiveness and one of passion so far....it has prayers, challenges...

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be reading it again, more slowly this time.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a marvelous book. I am learning so much. It's a daily devotional book, however you can just keep reading if you want, which I do quite frequently!

[Heather Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for the beginning of recovery. Not as significant beyond those first few months.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great daily meditations

[Jigme Datse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got part way throught this. It just wasn't doing it for me. Can't say much about that.