Living a full life in a fast-paced world

Inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy,” Martha Beck divides the quest for integrity into four stages, corresponding to Dante’s journey: the Dark Forest of Errors, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Using this metaphor, the author helps readers connect with the deepest aspects of themselves to transform themselves, thereby realizing what they truly desire instead of chasing after what society imposes.

Through the combination of psychology and literature, complex concepts become more accessible to readers. Not only that, the metaphors in Dante's journey are also "modernized" by Beck to connect with the problems that modern people are facing, such as depression, anxiety, and disorientation.

Beck emphasizes that living with integrity is not about pleasing everyone, but about living in a way that brings peace to your soul. This is a powerful and necessary message, especially in today's climate when many people feel pressured to conform to societal norms.

“If you’ve ever found yourself suddenly angry with someone you love, or you’ve sat down to finish a project and ended up spending five hours online shopping for a home tattoo kit, you’re probably split inside,” Martha Beck points out. “You’re trying to act in ways that, deep down, don’t feel right. Whenever we do this, our lives start to spiral downward.”

Unlike many books on ethics or personal development, “The Righteous Path” does not present empty theories but instead offers practical exercises and self-questioning questions, helping readers gradually realize what needs to change and how to change.

Perhaps one of the most striking examples is the story of Rayya. She was a heavy drug addict who had been high on the streets of New York for 20 years. But by finding her own path of integrity, she got clean and lived an honest, straightforward life. And when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, it was her integrity that led her to decide to spend the rest of her life living fully with music , love, and dying peacefully.

Martha Beck is the author of nine nonfiction books, one novel, and more than 200 articles. Although a New York Times bestselling author, Martha Beck says she wrote primarily to save herself, “to confront and resolve my own suffering.”

She is also a monthly contributor to The Oprah Magazine. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Harvard University.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/song-toan-ven-trong-cuoc-doi-hoi-ha-3265036.html