Unhappiness, says best-selling author Harriet Lerner, is fueled by three key emotions: anxiety, fear, and shame. They are the uninvited guests in our lives. When tragedy or hardship hit, they may become our constant companions.With stories that are sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking, Lerner takes us from "fear-lite" to the most difficult lessons the universe sends us. We learn:
How to have the courage to speak, act, and show up when we are anxious and afraid
How to deal with the fear of not being good enough and the shame of feeling essentially flawed and inadequate
How to stay calm and clear in an anxious, crazy workplace
How to manage fear and despair when things fall apart
How "positive thinking" helps and harms
How to be our best and bravest selves, even when we are terrifiedNo one signs up for anxiety, fear, and shame, but we can't avoid them either. As we learn to respond to these three key emotions in new ways, we can live more fully and move into the future with courage, clarity, humor, and hope. Fear and Other Uninvited Guests shows us how.