The Only Constant

This is a huge compliment to the author: I found The Only Constant to be as helpful as Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart.
Life goes on, despite the brutality it doles out that leaves us drowning in its wake. This is a gentle, well-worded book that embraces your wounds and helps you move forward. It might be just as useful for someone who has lost their dearest love as it would be for someone in need of a push to find a more suitable job. I will revisit it again and again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rodale, Inc for allowing access to a digital ARC.

There is one constant every human being on this planet deals with, whether rich or poor, regardless of ethnicity or country of origin. What is it?

Change.

In her new book "A Guide to Embracing Change and Leading an Authentic Life" she covers the many different aspects of change and how it affects our lives.

The first type of change that comes to mind is self initiated change. You may be unhappy with the current circumstances of your life yet there is a comfort in maintaining the status quo. Zebian wonderfully addresses this, encouraging the readers to get in touch with the feeling in their own bodies on whether to pursue a change or stay as is.

Self initiated change is just one of many types of change Zebian discusses in her book. What about change you had nothing to do with? A death of a loved one, a rejection by your romantic partner, a loss of a job, or something else? Zebian gives guidance on how to navigate this type of change,. too.

Throughout the book Zebian gives examples from her own life and from others she has counseled. In this way A Guide to Embracing Chance is an easy read - almost as if you were in conversation with the author yourself.

Reading "A Guide to Embracing Change and Living an Authentic Life" had a positive impact on me. I have decided to drop some projects I have a leadership role in, listening to my body's signals, and asking myself "am I doing this just to get approval of others, or do I really enjoy this endeavor?" I think reading Zebian's book will encourage you to reevaluate your current life choices, too.

Dr. Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-Canadian activist, author, poet, educator, and speaker based in London, Ontario whose popularity "instapoetry" on Instagram would only offer a peek into her substantial gifts. Dr. Zebian gained popularity as the "Me Too" movement rose and would offer TEDx talks and a variety of popular media interviews.

Since 2016, Dr. Zebian has been writing about a wide variety of themes related to her life experiences of love, friendship, honesty, and identity. Dr. Zebian writes from both feelings of displacement and heartbreak through to healing from abuse, rebuilding, connecting, and living an authentic life.

It's that willingness to embrace change and lead an authentic life that most comes to life In her latest book "The Only Constant: A Guide to Embracing Change and Leading an Authentic Life."

With "The Only Constant," the author weaves together autobiographical material and gentle wisdom to guide us toward coming to terms with impermanence and embracing change that allows us to move toward becoming the persons we were meant to be. While "The Only Constant" is a gentle and often tender guide, Dr. Zebian understands that change isn't easy but it's the gateway to "authentic transformation."

From job changes to relationships, loss/grief to simple and everyday realities, Dr. Zebian helps us filter away the noise and guides us toward accepting ourselves in the here and now and openly confronting the obstacles that try to keep us from who we are meant to be.

Along the way, she shares her own personal experiences from change. This is, perhaps, most poignant, when she discusses processing through and rejecting her culture's definition of what constitutes a "good woman." Respectfully, she leans into her own beliefs so that she could live a more honest life. Along the way, she becomes a mentor, guide, and facilitator for our own life changes big and small.

"The Only Constant" is straightforward and practical guide leading us toward and through unfamiliar territory. It's a companion that nurtures and affirms us as we deal with our fears, anxieties, and obstacles in embracing change. Yet, it's also the nudge we need to step into these feelings and make the changes necessary to live more authentic lives.

Dr. Zebian discusses why change is hard, what stops us from changing, how to deal with changes we don't expect or want, and ultimately comes down toward embracing change and leading the authentic life we want.