I love to read, but I can’t say that I am a big fan of the “self-help” genre. Truth be told, I am a fiction addict. That said, I am very interested in holistic health and have been doing a lot of reading on health, positivity and happiness. (I loved The Happiness Project.) I was offered a free copy of Dr. Murali Krishna’s new book “VIBRANT: To Heal and be Whole” for review. I was told that in this book, Dr R. Murali Krishna shares his insights on human resilience and the power of living a vibrant life. And that the book focuses on the healing connection between mind, body and spirit. Lastly, the proceeds from book sales will benefit the “Dr. R. Murali Krishna Family Eliminate the Stigma of Mental Illness Award Endowed Fund” through the INTEGRIS Foundation. Dr R. Murali Krishna MD, DLFAPA is the President, Chief Operating Officer & Medical Director at INTEGRIS Mental Health Oklahoma City, OK.
The book arrives and it was inscribed and signed by the author! He wrote, “Dear Erica, With best wishes for a VIBRANT life and sincere appreciation for all that you do. Dr Krishna.” Nice touch.
Vibrant is a chronological account of Dr. Krishna’s journey from his childhood in India to becoming a leading physician and mental health specialist in Oklahoma City. Each chapter begins with a quote or story and can stand alone as a lesson he learned or concept he is trying to present. He writes of his wise grandfather and his other family members. His mother suffered from mental illness and he has spent his career helping to decrease the stigma of mental illness and improve the care that those with mental illness receive. In the mean time, he found ways to live the happiest life possible and pass along the lessons that he learned along the way.
Some of the powerful statements in the book for me were in the introductions and conclusion of the book:
- [His grandfather] used to tell [him], “Murali if you have a house, it can burn down. If you have jewels, they can be stolen. The only thing that cannot be taken from you is your brain.”
- “Happy people like themselves. They feel that they have something to offer and they like to know that they are contributing. Being a productive citizen of the world gives us a sense of accomplishment.”
- On happiness, “Today is part of life’s journey. Don’t miss it!”
- On enjoying the moment, “The answer is not complex. It is simple. Stay in the present. Be mindful. Be present. Be focused on what is in front of you.”
- On connection and gratitude, “See everyone as your fellow traveler in life. Look beyond what we see with our own eyes. Try to view people from a grander perspective.”
- On trauma, grief and loss: “Find someone you trust and open up to them. It may be a friend, a spouse, a neighbor – find at least one other human being and share your story with [him].”
- On healing and perseverance: “Spiritual healing is what happens to us as we search for the real cause of the pain. The journey is more important than finding the answer.”
- On love and marriage:
- “Challenges are what make us stronger. When challenged, introspective people will find strength from their inner core. You can find your potential during challenging times.”
- Also, 5 components of love and commitment of the strongest couples: “They know that love evolves and they nurture it, they have a common purpose, they are willing to maintain their individuality and still know when to put their spouse first, they accept their spouse unconditionally and they are truly grateful for one another.”
- On balance: “Start slowly in exploring how to reapportion your life. Make changes gradually, but deliberately. Start living your life with intent. Be deliberate in how you choose to spend your day.”
- On resiliency (after the Oklahoma City bombings): “Resilient people are everyday people who rise to the occasion when faced with a challenge, change or adversity. We all have the capability to be resilient and do extraordinary things.”
- On life’s lessons: “Trust in god, be grateful and live freely, be present; be a witness and dream big.”
Each section has personal stories that lead Dr. Krishna to reach these conclusions and learn these lessons. I liked this book. It was a fast read and made me think. I especially liked the feeling that I got that one person can make a difference. I think so often we think our actions can’t make a difference, but Dr. Krishna worked with like minded people to make some major strides in health care and mental health care in his city and state. The book was co-written by Kelly Dyer Fry and this causes some of the writing to seem a bit stilted as she speaks of Murali in the third person. I think this also caused the voice to be a bit weaker than the section that was directly from Dr. Krishna. That said, I think it was a worthwhile read.
Great news! The book will be available for FREE on Amazon for five days from Monday, September 16th thru Friday, September 20th 2013. Click HERE during those dates to download your copy of Vibrant: To Heal and be Whole (or now for $9.99).
Do you like “self-help” books? Which are your favorites and why?
Please note: I was not compensated for this review. I was given a copy of Vibrant: To Heal and be Whole by Dr. Krishna for review purposes. All opinions are my own.