How to Be an Adult: A Handbook on Psychological and Spiritual Integration

by David Richo

Overview

Living life as a happy, mature adult does not always come easily to all of us. In this best-selling work, David Richo conveys to his readers just how to do this, based on his many years' experience as a psychotherapist and workshop leader.

The author uses as a model the heroic journey whose three phases—departure, struggle, and return—explain what happens in us as we evolve from neurotic ego through healthy ego to the spiritual Self. Departure is explored by helping the reader deal with fear, anger, and guilt, and building self-esteem. Through struggle one learns to maintain boundaries and build intimacy in relationships. And the result is a return to wholeness and love through integration.

This thoughtful, approachable work is filled with checklists, diagrams, and literary quotations for meditation, making this a book to read and digest a little at a time for best results. How to Be an Adult will guide readers on their positive journey from fear, through power, to love.
†

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780809132232
Publisher:	Paulist Press
Publication date:	01/01/1991
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	72,311
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

Editorial Reviews

Richo uses the metaphor of the heroic journey to describe the process toward psychological and spiritual maturity. First he discusses ``personal work'' and the three challenges to adulthood: fear, anger, and guilt, as well as the self-esteem that comes from meeting those challenges. Then he discusses relationships and the dual problem of maintaining personal boundaries and establishing appropriate intimacy. Finally, he discusses the techniques of integration: flexibility, befriending the shadow, using dreams, and developing spirituality through openness to the self and unconditional love. This guide contains useful quotations, summary reflections, and affirmations, as well as other techniques that give concrete advice on the process of growth. Recommended for seminary and public libraries.

Library Journal