The OPA! Way: Finding Joy & Meaning in Everyday Life & Work

by Alex Pattakos, Elaine Dundon

Overview

Named the "2015 Self-Help Book of the Year" at the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards

In chasing "the good life," many of us sacrifice our relationships, our health, and our sanity, but at the end of the day, we still find ourselves with lives and work that bring us little fulfillment. Life isn't about the pursuit of happiness, which is superficial and fleeting. It's about meaning, which helps us realize our full potential, and knowing that our lives and work matter—regardless of circumstances.

Dr. Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon, two bestselling authors and leaders of the Meaning Movement, give readers The OPA! Way: Finding Joy & Meaning in Everyday Life & Work. Inspired by the wisdom of ancient Greek philosophy and traditional village values, and backed by years of research, The OPA! Way provides a breakthrough approach and practical tools to renew your outlook and rejuvenate your life. Pattakos and Dundon demystify the subject of meaning by sharing insights, stories, and three core lessons to guide you on your odyssey:

Connect meaningfully with Others
Engage with deeper Purpose
Embrace life with Attitude

Stop searching for happiness and start searching for meaning. Create the life you want, The OPA! Way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781940363257
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	11/18/2014
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Alex Pattakos, described as a "Modern-Day Greek Philosopher," is the cofounder of The OPA! Way®, a new, Meaning-focused paradigm and lifestyle inspired by Greek philosophy and culture. Dr. Pattakos is the author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts, an international best-selling book (available in 22 languages) based on the wisdom of his mentor, the world-renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. Also nicknamed "Dr. Meaning," Alex is dedicated to bringing meaning to work, the workplace, and into everyday life. With expertise in political science and psychology, he has worked closely with all levels of government, including the White House under three presidents, and has served as an adviser to the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A U.S. Army veteran, he is also a former therapist and mental health administrator, political campaign organizer, and full-time university professor of public and business administration. Dr. Pattakos as a member of the International Academic Board of The International Center for Leading Studies, based in Athens, Greece.

Elaine Dundon, CEO of The Meaning Group, is the co-founder of The OPA! Way®, a new lifestyle program for finding Joy & Meaning in everyday life and work, uniquely inspired by Greek philosophy and culture. Elaine began her career in business strategy and marketing, including brand management at Procter & Gamble. A thought leader in the field of Innovation Management, she authored the international best-selling book, The Seeds of Innovation, as well as created and taught a ground-breaking course on Innovation Management in the business program at the University of Toronto, Canada. Her work in the field of innovation has been featured globally in numerous leading publications.

As her work in Innovation Management evolved, her focus shifted to the "Human Side of Innovation" and specifically, Meaning, which her experience and research have shown is the key source of success. Elaine is a keynote speaker, advisor, and facilitator, and a leader of the Meaning Movement.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction

Chapter 1 OPA! Our Odyssey 3

Chapter 2 OPA! More than a Word 13

Part 2 Others (O): Connect Meaningfully with Others

Chapter 3 Connect with The Village 25

Chapter 4 Connect with Hospitality 43

Chapter 5 Connect with Honor 57

Part 3 Purpose (P): Engage with Deeper Purpose

Chapter 6 Engage with "Know Thyself" 87

Chapter 7 Engage with Arete 111

Chapter 8 Engage with Evdemonia 131

Part 4 Attitude (A): Embrace Life with Attitude

Chapter 9 Embrace The Fullness of Life 159

Chapter 10 Embrace Aphobia 185

Chapter 11 Embrace Well-Being 209

Part 5 The Odyssey Continues…

Chapter 12 Everybody Say "OPA!" 243

Acknowledgments 249

Join the OPA! Movement 254

About the Authors 255

Editorial Reviews

"The OPA! Way facilitates our discovering again, awakening, the psyche of our own personal and collective psychology amidst the business of today's life. In its pages, there is much wisdom to be gained for living more positive, fulfilling, and meaningful lives."
—Dr. Brent Potter, New York Journal of Books

"The OPA! Way is a meaning-filled alternative, a doorway to a fulfilling, majestic, and joy-filled existence, seen through the prism of perennial Greek insight."
—Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters

"At a time when the world seems to be plunging ahead into a future dominated by information technology . . . The OPA! Way offers something else: a life based on values that go back to ancient Greece; a world in which friends and neighbors spend time together exchanging ideas and experiences; and a future in which service to others offers the richest personal rewards."
—Michael S. Dukakis, former Massachusetts governor and US presidential nominee; distinguished professor of political science

"This is a profound, soul-enriching philosophy that captures the true meaning and essence of our lives. The OPA! Way is guaranteed to change the way you see the world forever. I recommend everyone read this book."
—Debbie Matenopoulos, author of the bestselling cookbook It's All Greek to Me and two-time Emmy Award nominee

"The authors are able to show us the profound truth that meaningfulness lies in connecting with meaningful relationships, deeper purpose, and an appreciative attitude. Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon have just written another bestseller!"
—Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, editor of The Human Quest for Meaning, 2nd edition

"A must-read . . . as the daily affirmations of The OPA! Way are time-tested methods on how to live the good life and ‘enjoy yourself' in the pursuit of happiness in a way that honors and best serves the well-being of individuals, communities, and, in turn, all of humanity."
—George Elias Stephanopoulos, executive producer of Golf in the Kingdom and creator of the film Swing Away

"This is an extraordinary book with many insights and directions for leading a healthier, happier, and more meaningful life. Congratulations to Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon for your exceptional contribution to Living."
—E. Mike Vasilomanolakis, MD, chief of staff and director, cardiology division, Community Hospital of Long Beach, California; Grammy Award-winning music producer

"Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon have done it again. With The OPA! Way, they brilliantly articulate that we all need meaningful relationships, must engage with deeper purpose, and must tackle life with the goal that we can truly make a difference. This book is indeed a prescription for lives worth living for all of us!"
—The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, MD, member of Parliament (Canada)

From the Publisher