The Life of Love: An Invitation

'The Life of Love: An Invitation - Fifty-two Reflections on Emotional and Spiritual Healing' (2014/2023) by Sharon Southwell is a self-help work at the still relatively untouched intersection of psychology, spirituality, and religion. Structured in 52 Reflections, each followed by Invitations, 'The Life of Love' invites readers to grow in love by embracing life-giving connection to themselves, to others, their community, to art, nature and to their ultimate context, whether they experience this as God or as some other immanent or transcendent spiritual connection. Although 'The Life of Love' is grounded in Christian ideas and references it is aimed at spiritual seekers more broadly.

Southwell recalls, "As I worked with clients struggling with change, I began to wonder about how and where to access the sort of profound change that enables a person to make different choices. Is love the place where spiritual and psychological insights about healing, growth, and change meet? If love is associated with healing of all sorts, how do I seek it more intentionally for myself and encourage others in this journey? These were the questions that led to the book and that I encourage readers to explore. This is a book for people who want to be better lovers in the widest possible sense, and for people seeking emotional, spiritual, and relational healing and growth."

The author is a clinical psychologist from Australia who lives in Scotland. She grew up in Zambia and the Philippines, the child of missionaries. She has participated in Salvation Army, Catholic and Anglican church communities, each for over a decade. In 'The Life of Love' she draws on this rich personal Christian heritage, parallel insights from other religious and spiritual traditions, and two decades of work in welfare and clinical settings.

This book is also available as a paperback through Amazon, the publisher Lulu (lulu.com/spotlight/thelifeoflovebk), and the Ingram Spark distribution network.

Website: lifeoflovebk.wordpress.com (for resources on each Reflection)
Audio: insighttimer.com/sharonsouthwell1 (meditations from the book)
Facebook: facebook.com/thelifeoflovebk (motivational snippets)

Author website: sharonsouthwellauthor.wordpress.com