Book Recommendation: Mapping the Terrain of the Heart

My first book rec is Mapping the Terrain of the Heart by Stephen Goldbart and David Wallin- a book I refer to often in my psychotherapy practice. It offers our emotional world as an inner terrain to get to know and it also goes through the different capacities we need to build to have longstanding, deep romantic relationships. Not a self help book, not an academic work but somewhere in between.

If you are someone who wants to grow individually as well as relationally, this is a lovely book to check out.

Book Recommendation: The Art of Receiving and Giving

This book is for those who struggle with knowing, exploring or living into their own domain. It is an exploration of what being responsible to your desires and the desires of those in your life truly looks like and also what it feels like in your body. So many of us are taught to go along with other people’s desires and consent when we don’t actually consent. Some of us have grown up believing it is more humble or spiritual to not know what you want in life and to focus on others only.

This book puts the focus on the gift that comes from your no and your yes, as well as truly honoring someone else’s no and yes as well. I have found this a truly helpful concept to have not just in my head but in my body as I live life with conviction and love.