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For Personal Healing, Spiritual Growth & Development

This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women
Edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman
In Association with NPR

ISBN 0-8050-8087-2
 
 We all hold beliefs that make us tick, and drive our guiding decisions in life. While these usually develop and change as we grow and learn from various lessons, they tend to still be our stepping stones in life. In 1951, National Public Radio began a program in which participants used a few hundred words to encapsulate their deepest-held beliefs. The series was so inspiring to Americans that two volumes filled with essays from the show were printed, and reached the Top-10 Bestseller’s list for three years. England came out with a version of the radio program, and This I Believe went on to achieve world-wide recognition. The program, hosted by Edward Murrow, though incredibly popular, lost funding after a couple of years, was discontinued, and then reborn in 2005.

 In 2006, editors Jay Allison and Dan Gediman compiled eighty of the essays in the first of two books, from both the original set of broadcasts and the most recent ones. The result is a stunning compilation of the beliefs of courageous individuals. It is filled with truly inspiring essays, from various people with a wide range of backgrounds, which had me engaged immediately. The stories are extremely readable due to their short length and it is likely you’ll find yourself compelled to read on, fascinated by how differently (and similarly) we live.

Browsing through the table of contents, you will be struck immediately by the famous individuals that have submitted their essays. From Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and Jackie Robinson to Bill Gates, Collin Powell and Gloria Steinem, these popular figures become transparent and vulnerable as they reveal their most closely held beliefs. And yet, often it's the essays by the ordinary among us, the laborer, the abandoned, the teacher, the AIDS researcher, which will bring tears to your eyes and move your heart profoundly. The end of each essay provides a brief biography of the author which, for me, created a tinge of suspense as I began to guess who the author was prior to finishing the essay.

This I Believe is moving and a great reference for inspirational topics. The appendix even offers suggestions on how to use it in a community project. As an educator and writer, I would also recommend it for teachers interested in helping their students to discover what their beliefs are. Reading others' reflections on life causes one to wonder, "How would I put my deepest beliefs into words?" Just having the chance to sit back and to wonder about this is extremely rewarding. This book is perfect for a book club. In addition to the knowledge gained from the essays themselves, the group could include a project for students to write their own "This I Believe" essay and submit it to their website www.thisibelieve.org.

Perhaps the greatest impact this book has on its reader is in its implicit invitation to create one's own "This I Believe" statement. Many belief systems reference aligning our mind, body and spirit which triangulates our belief system and who we are as a person. It is a book that offers hope in a troubled world and helps us to see the strength of the human spirit. I found this selection to be incredibly thought provoking as I pondered the individuality we offer in the synthesis of a whole. I continued to examine concepts that lead us to understanding we are all one in this great expansive universe;  determining that loving oneself is the single most important factor to discovering that perspective…THIS I believe.

And now I ask you….

What do you believe?

By Anna McKee

Anna McKee is an intuitive mentor and counselor to adolescents and adults seeking a positive change in life. Her experience in advertising and marketing coupled with an education in business and social work , have lead her to founding and directing Wayfarer’s Mission, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to offering tools for self reflection and understanding through various programs. She is a free lance writer and editor, as well as, an active member of the Theosophical Society. Anna’s own experiences have lead her to further contribute to global awakening by authoring an untitled book dedicated to leading readers to higher consciousness through the gates of your heart.

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