Letting Go: 25 True Stories of Peace, Hope and Surrender – An Interview | VictorSchueller.com

I am so delighted to share the newest book from my friend Alex Blackwell, titled Letting Go: 25 True Stories of Peace, Hope and Surrender.  I am even more delighted to share it with you because I am thrilled that my story, “The Man in the Store,” was included among the 25 stories in this book. I am happy to share this interview with Alex about his newest work.  Be sure to check out his offer below if you are interested in getting your hands on this book. What is the inspiration behind the book? 10 years ago it was clear that I had to let go of fear, shame and guilt if my marriage was going to survive. For the first 18 years of my marriage, I was insecure, thinking that my wife, Mary Beth, was going to leave me. My obsession put pressure on her to tell me constantly, and show me, that she loved me. My insecurities were born back in my childhood. As a child of an alcohol parent, I thought I was the reason my mother drank – I thought it was my fault and I thought it was impossible to be loved authentically and unconditionally. To save my marriage, I had to start learning to let go of these negative attachments and embrace the life in front of me. By letting go of the pain, shame and guilt a little at a time, Mary Beth started seeing the positive changes in me. Last June, we celebrated our 28th anniversary. We’ve never been happier – I’ve never been happier. So, the inspiration behind this book is to celebrate the amazing and life-changing gifts that letting go provides. Who should read the book? 25 True Stories of Peace, Hope and Surrender is for anyone who wants to put a painful memory or experience in the past. It’s also for people who are holding on too tightly to their children, even though it may be time to let them go. The book doesn’t offer a formula or guide for letting go, it just offers the inspiration and encouragement needed to begin the process. I also think there is value in reading about the experience of others so you won’t feel alone with how your experiences. The stories in the book will elicit an emotional response because each one is filled with honesty, truth and hope. Do you share a “true story?” I do. My story appears in Part Four – Letting Go: Parenting. The title of the story is World – I Present My Daughter. It’s about the day my older daughter, Caitlin, graduated from college. That day was full of so much pride and happiness. It was also a bittersweet day because I knew my daughter belonged to the world now, and not just to my family. Even though her mother and I have always encouraged her to make a life of her own, when that day actually came, it was harder than I thought. But by realizing I had to let go, allowed Caitlin and me to begin building a wonderful adult relationship that is growing stronger each day. What bonuses are you offering people who purchase your book? I’m happy to give everyone who purchases Letting Go: 25 True Stories of Peace, Hope and Surrender, the Peace and Balance Book Bonus Pack. This bonus pack provides 10 free tools from some inspirational people. Highlights include:

• Guy Finley: You will receive Guy’s popular course, Seven Steps to Oneness: Journey to a Whole New Life, which is a FREE 8-hour course on 8 MP3 downloads. During this groundbreaking audio program you will discover, explore, and learn to work with timeless principles that will help you to empower the evolution of your soul.
• Tiny Buddha: Book purchasers will get Lori Deschene’s Tiny Wisdom, On Mindfulness. Part of the Tiny Wisdom eBook series from tinybuddha.com, this book shares 20 short reminders for a more present, peaceful life.
• Andrea Owen: Andrea shares her book, How I Turned My Mess into My Message, detailing exactly how she came from a place of darkness, despair and self-loathing, to a place of happiness, self-confidence and self-love.

How does someone receive the Peace and Balance Book Bonus Pack? It’s easy. Simply email the Amazon purchase confirmation email to: bookbonus@thebridgemaker.com. How is your book different from the thousands of other self-help books on the market? As I mentioned earlier, this book isn’t intended to be a how-to guide or a self-help manual full of obvious advice, it’s a transparent, and sometimes raw, look at real-life experiences that have nudged people to let go of negative attachments that were no longer serving them. I think there’s value, and a sense of connectedness when we discover that we aren’t walking alone. What is next for you? I will continue learning how to let go of the things that keep me from enjoying life to the fullest. It’s a daily choice to do this. Some days I stumble and hold on to the garage a little too tight; and on some days I throw it as far away from me as I can, but on all days I attempt to move forward with dignity, self-respect and lots of hope. I will also continue to share inspiration at my blog, The BridgeMaker. As far as my next book? It will be fiction, a novel, but a novel with message that is rooted in the themes that most important to me like forgiveness, seeking positive change and of course, letting go. Thanks, Alex, for joining me, and thanks so much for including me in your book!