I began meeting with people with a variety of struggles as I attempted to carve out a new career direction under the title of “counseling” when one the of people I was meeting with called me out. “This isn’t counseling! I’ve met with lots of counselors and this is something else. What are you doing here with me?” I realized with a bit of shock which revealed both what I already knew and didn’t know at the same time that I didn’t know either. I had let my heart and intuition lead and they were ahead of my mind. I was pleased that lots of good things seemed to be happening in these meetings with people but I really didn’t know why. This book was a journey that was meant to honor specific women in my life who ultimately helped me answer the question of what this way was that I was discovering. For some reason I didn’t understand initially, women consistently answered the question in ways that were more helpful me than my male friends and colleagues. I followed this thread historically as I wondered why wisdom was so often portrayed as a woman and so this book fell into three themes: 1) a self exploration through dialogue with key women in my life 2) a deeper exploration of the life stories of six of these women and their suffering and relationship with me helped reveal what I was becoming and 3) a fictional exploration of wisdom itself.
I have seen this book aid both people who have suffered and those who offer help to those who suffer as it offers resonance and ways forward to both groups.
A podcast interviewing Eric about this book:
"I have seen this book aid both people who have suffered and those who offer help to those who suffer as it offers resonance and ways forward to both groups." - This statement is SO TRUE! From my perspective, as someone who both suffers, and offers help to those who suffer, I am impacted in both places. As I read this book, I felt seen and understood about my own pain in ways that helped me understand myself and let go of burdens I have felt my whole life. AND also, as I read, new ways of looking at others and their pain came clearer, and I have found myself with some fresh energy and new compassion sitting knee to…