The Story of Your Soul with Brenda Peterson

Product Description

Chances are your life includes a few chapters where you’ve embarked on one or another approach to self-exploration-spiritual practice, therapy, self-help books or gurus. But have you tried getting to know yourself by writing your memoir? Brenda Peterson has, and in the process she’s discovered a powerful tool for uncovering elements of your psyche that may have eluded every other attempt at self examination. It forces you to see your life from an entirely different perspective. She explains, “Many people, because they need to survive, and need to achieve, are very perceptive about the world. But whether or not they know themselves-that’s the question. And in memoir you’re the main character, and the plot is the evolution of soul, or self. So you have to show up on the page. You can’t just be watching everybody around you. You have to turn that eye back on yourself.” Ms. Peterson freely shares the often startling personal discoveries she made along the way, and will inspire you to explore the untold story of you-and the inner hero, heroine, angel, or villain you have yet to meet. (Hosted by Justine Willis Toms)

Brenda Peterson is a novelist, nature writer, and writing teacher. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and O: The Oprah Magazine. She is the author of sixteen books, including Build Me an Arc: A Life with Animals (W. W. Norton 2001), chosen as Best Spiritual Book of 2001, and Duck and Cover (Backinprint.com 2004), a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. She’s also the author of the spiritual memoir, I Want to Be Left Behind: Finding Rapture Here on Earth (Da Capo Press 2010). To learn more about the work of Brenda Peterson go to www.IWantToBeLeftBehind.com

Topics Explored in this Dialogue:

• The simple writing exercise that will help you discover the real meaning of your life
• How humor can alter your story-and improve your negotiating position
• Why your family may not be able to receive your love offerings
• How you can find your own brand of “rapture” here on earth
• Why everyone can write and tell a story

Host: Justine Willis Toms Interview Date: 2/10/2010 Program Number: 3343