Loving What Is Audiobook By Byron Katie, Stephen Mitchell cover art

Loving What Is

Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

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Loving What Is

By: Byron Katie, Stephen Mitchell
Narrated by: Byron Katie, Stephen Mitchell, MacLeod Andrews, Rebecca Lowman
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Buy for $18.00

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Out of nowhere, like a cool breeze in a marketplace crowded with advice, comes Byron Katie and “The Work.”

In the midst of a normal life, Katie became increasingly depressed, and over a ten-year period sank further into rage, despair, and thoughts of suicide. Then one morning, she woke up in a state of absolute joy, filled with the realization of how her own suffering had ended. The freedom of that realization has never left her, and now in Loving What Is you can discover the same freedom through The Work.

The Work is simply four questions that, when applied to a specific problem, enable you to see what is troubling you in an entirely different light. As Katie says, “It’s not the problem that causes our suffering; it’s our thinking about the problem.” Contrary to popular belief, trying to let go of a painful thought never works; instead, once we have done The Work, the thought lets go of us. At that point, we can truly love what is, just as it is.

Loving What Is will show you step-by-step, through clear and vivid examples, exactly how to use this revolutionary process for yourself. You’ll see people do The Work with Katie on a broad range of human problems, from a wife ready to leave her husband because he wants more sex, to a Manhattan worker paralyzed by fear of terrorism, to a woman suffering over a death in her family. Many people have discovered The Work’s power to solve problems; in addition, they say that through The Work they experience a sense of lasting peace and find the clarity and energy to act, even in situations that had previously seemed impossible.

If you continue to do The Work, you may discover, as many people have, that the questioning flows into every aspect of your life, effortlessly undoing the stressful thoughts that keep you from experiencing peace. Loving What Is offers everything you need to learn and live this remarkable process, and to find happiness as what Katie calls “a lover of reality.” Mental Health Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Thought-Provoking Inspiring Personal Success Freedom Marriage

Critic reviews

“Good Lord! Where did Byron Katie come from? She’s the real McCoy. Her Work is amazingly effective—a simple, straightforward antidote to the suffering we unnecessarily create for ourselves. She asks us to believe nothing, but provides a surprisingly effective and simple way to cut through the tangle of delusions we wrap ourselves in. Just reading the exchanges in Loving What Is, I can admit things I didn’t want to admit and stop torturing myself in ways I didn’t realize I was doing.”
-- David Chadwick, author of Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki

“Suppose you could find a simple way to embrace your life with joy, stop arguing with reality, and achieve serenity in the midst of chaos? That is what Loving What Is offers. It is no less than a revolutionary way to live your life. The question is: are we brave enough to accept it?”
-- Erica Jong, author of Fear of Flying

“Byron Katie’s Work is a great blessing for our planet. The root cause of suffering is identification with our thoughts, the ‘stories’ that are continuously running through our minds. Byron Katie’s Work acts like a razor-sharp sword that cuts through that illusion and enables you to know for yourself the timeless essence of your being. Joy, peace, and love emanate from it as your natural state. In Loving What Is, you have the key. Now use it.”
-- Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now

“Loving What Is is filled with the essence of wisdom. Katie’s Work is a wonderful, transformative practice for anyone interested in spiritual growth.”
-- Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within
Life Changing Concepts • Practical Self-inquiry Tools • Calming Voice • Transformative Thought Process • Pleasant Voices

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If you could sum up Loving What Is in three words, what would they be?

Practical, ready to apply, immediately beneficial (a rarity for self help-books)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Loving What Is?

Hearing "the work" being applied to the most extreme cases (rape, incest... oof) and maintaining its simplicity and straightforwardness

Which scene was your favorite?

Hearing someone get clarity is always a joy, many examples of that in this book

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Sort of; I listened to it in big chunks, but having some time to digest (and APPLY) the information step by step is highly suggested

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book especially to selfhelp-nuts, who maybe are getting bored of high concepts with debatable applicability. The simplicity of this will be refreshing.

To the point

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This book was hard for me to take at times. Initially my brain rejected it however after absorbing the information, I find myself thinking more about my interactions with life and relationship to everything and everybody. Reality is a hard place to be sometimes however in the big picture it's easier than resistance. I have listened a couple of times now and often listen to chapters as needed . Helps me be my own therapist!! I have also listened to other books by this author.

Life changing

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Though already familiar with the Work, I found that Loving What Is provided a much deeper imprinting of the truth. The range of sample inquiries all boiled down to the same message, that reality is what is and it’s perfect. Don’t see it? Do the inquiry.

Loving this book

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Although the title sounds almost trite, the wisdom here is life changing. Byron Katie doesn't just explain the cause of our suffering, she provides useful tools to help you discover it for yourself. It was really great hearing this read in the authors' voice. The chosen case studies seemed to represent a good sample of problems that people face. It is amazing how such a simple concept applies to nearly every situation. I'll be listening to this again in the near future!

So much wisdom in one book!

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This book changed my paradigm and helped me see the world in a totally different way. It teaches a process of thinking that gives space to experience more peace in life...everyone needs that! I'm so grateful for Byron Katie's work and this book that shares it!

This book is a game changer

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