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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Glenn Alden shares a dream in which he sees Thor, an old training partner, offering steady support while Alden experiences depletion and self-pity. This contrast leads him to ask why giving appears sustainable for some people even when life is difficult, leading him to write this guide, Beyond the Shadows. Alden argues that people move between openness and withdrawal as their internal surplus changes. He links this surplus to the current inner condition and bodily state, shaped by influences outside conscious notice. He explains that perception is formed internally, drawing on examples that show how experience shapes one's present reaction. Alden ultimately returns to the idea of persistence, telling us that mental patterns formed early do not change quickly, and uses the metaphor of planting a seed to describe gradual changes that occur beneath one's awareness before visible results appear.
Beyond the Shadows: Breaking Old Patterns, Finding a New Path by Glenn Alden is an honest and sympathetic book, written in a kind, conversational voice that feels like a late-night chat with a good friend. Alden discusses things such as brainwaves, explaining them in plain language, and connects them to stages of life, so the science is totally approachable. As someone who will replay conversations I had 35 years ago in my head, and feel a twinge of embarrassment over them, his strategy on bringing awareness back to what is happening now, and not rehash yesterday or rehearse tomorrow, is the balm I did not even know I needed. I was also heartened by Alden's candid talk about belonging in groups and the sting of exclusion, which readers will relate to. I ended Beyond the Shadows feeling calmer and far more optimistic, and there's no doubt that others are going to feel the same way. Very highly recommended.
