destressifying: The Real-World Guide to Personal Empowerment, Lasting Fulfillment, and Peace of Mind

I have loved reading “destressifying”, by davidji! It was chock full of information, ranging from scientific evidence-based studies, to meditation practices/exercises. One of the first three things that I learned or was surprised about were the amount of scientific information contained in the book. I was not only surprised by the information collected in these studies, but was astonished that Western Medicine would fund these studies. I work in clinical research and I know how hard it is to receive funding for research studies. I was happy to see that some “big name” universities and medical schools were involved in this research that proved just how beneficial meditation is. I was surprised, secondly, to find out just what all goes on in our bodies during the “fight or flight” response, as well as to learn that there is a “threat to our ego” fight or flight response for modern eras. It seems like we should not have to be constantly bombarded with the fight or flight instinct in response to stress, given that we haven’t been hunter gatherers for millennia. Then again, there are still people in this world who don’t have enough to eat, who may live among wild and ferocious animals that pose a very real threat to their life, or those in war zones who are in a constant state of stress and the need to flee or fight. I was surprised by the study that said those who don’t perceive their stress as a problem to their health were more likely to survive after 8 years, than those who either interpreted stress as having a negative impact on their health or those who felt they had more stress in their lives than others. This shows that it is all about how we react to the perceived stresses in our life, not the actual stresses themselves, that affect us. Lastly, I was surprised at all of the various types of meditation practices that are available. I know that some in the book that are mainly breathwork and they don’t really interest me, although I tried them. I like the guided meditations or ones where you simply focus on your breathing or mantra more than breathwork. It’s amazing just where our minds can take us with guided meditation. You can be told to picture yourself walking down a path and that path can be completely imagined and made up, or it could be an actual path you’ve been down before. The path can change throughout the meditation and I think that is so cool! I was also glad to find out that meditation is NOT about stopping your thoughts, because I honestly believed that I was doing something wrong or wasn’t “doing it right” when I meditated prior to this.

As someone who has struggled with stress for years, I was intrigued by davidji's new book, destressifying. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. What I appreciated most about this book was the scientific approach to stress. It's true, stress itself is not necessarily bad for us. In fact, studies have shown that it can actually have positive effects on our health and well-being. The real issue lies in not having the right tools to manage and address stress when it arises. That's where destressifying comes in. With practical and effective techniques, davidji guides readers towards personal empowerment, lasting fulfillment, and inner peace. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to better understand and manage their stress levels. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Awesome book! So many great tools to destressify you and your life. It has been a game changer for me. So much info that began reading it a second time to absorb it all. Highly recommend

destressifying has literally changed my life! This book has opened my eyes and given me the tools to make conscious choices, become emotionally intelligent, and master my needs! I became aware of how chronically stressed I was and how easy it is to take control of your life and become the best version of you. I enjoyed learning the science of stress, which allowed me to become aware of the moment I felt stress in my body and how to release it so that acute stress doesn't become chronic. davidji thoughtfully separated the contents of this book into three easily digestible parts for you to destress in all areas of your life.In Chapter 9, davidji wrote, " Our language does not simply describe our reality; the language we use creates its own reality!" I never felt like I could find the right words to say in a given moment and this quote was so meaningful to me. Learning "The Three Gates" and the difference between habitual communication and conscious communication has helped me listen and vulnerably respond, rather than just waiting for my time to speak again. Understanding Maslow's hierarchy of needs has been paramount to understanding why someone can be chronically stressed. From this understanding I am now more aware of why I may be feeling stressed if my biological and safety needs aren't being met. In addition, learning how our interpretations of an event leads to our emotions and being able to recognize when that first trigger emerges, we are able to halt an emotional overload that can lead us to lashing out and scorching the village! I highly recommend this book for every being because everyone can benefit from destressifying in our modern world!

This book is fabulous! It is a very detailed book on the science of stress (for NON scientists). All the concepts are woven into an easy read on how meditation plays a substantial role in managing stress. This book can be interesting for both the novice and neuroscientist. Both will walk away motivated and educated.As a Coach and a personal meditator who teaches people about the stress and wellbeing, this is now my GO TO BOOK. If this book sparks your interest in meditation, take a look at his book "Secrets of Meditation" and "Sacred Powers". Davidji is truly an expert in everything meditation. Be prepared to transform your life!

Very interesting, easy reading as well as comprehending how to incorporate into daily living.

I bought this book as part of the curriculum for a meditation teacher training and it was full of great information about the scientific process of stress and how meditation and mindfulness can be used to counteract the effects of stress. It's full of practical exercises that anyone can use and that I regularly use with my mediation students (and family/friends!) The author, davidji has a really great way of distilling information that is accessible to all people from all schools of belief and walks of life. A great addition to anyone's library!

This book is not only scientifically informative, it actually provides practical exercises that anyone can do to change their state. Highly recommend!

Great read

I recommend everyone to have the book destressify next to your bed. It has so many helpfull recommentations and tipps for you daily life situation that I take it to hand almost every day. If you master you 16 seconds meditation than your life may change. Also if you know who sits in your front row it may simplify your life. I highly recommend reading it and using is as a advisor in your situations.

His biggest fan.

There are many books and advice on dealing with stress. This book is unique in the sense that it is largely about how to prevent stress happening in the first place. Davidji’s writing is so engaging, real life practical and a pleasure to read. I have applied elements of this book during and after reading and it makes such a huge difference. This is one of those books in life that I will return to again and again. Everyone should read it and the world would be a better place.