STOPPING --- HOW TO BE STILL WHEN YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING
by David Kundtz, Foreword by Richard Carlson. MJF Books, 1998
 FORWORD by Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (pxi-xii)

DEFINITION OF "STOPPING" = Stopping is fundamentally optimistic and hopeful. The process of stopping is based on the belief that you are perfectly fine just the way you are and that you will continue to discover more and more of your own truth, beauty, and goodness --- if you just make time for stopping! (p262)

PART 1 --- STOPPING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT (p1-50)

    [1] Facing the "Mountain of Too Much" (p3-8)

    [2] Why "Cramming and Cutting" don't work (p9-11)

    [3] Doing nothing! (p13-16)

    [4] A fast train on the fast track (p17-19)

    [5] Stopping at the speed of light (p21-23)

    [6] Intentional living --- from routine to choice (p25-30)

    [7] Stopping before everything (p31-33)

    [8] Contemporary contemplation (p35-38)

    [9] Finding the spaces between the notes (p39-42)

    [10] Stopped --- awake and remembering (p43-46)

    [11] Stop and "Go for it!" (p47-50)

      How can you both "stop" time and "seize the day" at the same time?

      (1) Inherent in "stopping" is the idea of creating enough space in your life, whether for 30 seconds or for 30 days (or 30 years!) to make sure that you have "FIRST THINGS FIRST," that you are NOT so distracted that you lose the moments of meaning in life --- whatever else you might be in the process of gaining! (p48)

      Note that the complete definition of "stopping" is "Doing nothing as much as possible," where the relative term "Doing Nothing" sometimes means not doing much, or doing something that takes very little energy, or doing something that you love to do!

      Paradoxically, "doing nothing" is "doing something very beneficial." Again, "stopping" should not be confused with inactivity, since fully living life is what "stopping" is all about!

      Thus, stopping is not running from life or avoiding responsibilities. On the contrary, it is moving into life and its responsibilities in a new way. It is having the courage to go precisely where your meanings and values lie and spend time there. Stopping is like an embrace --- it holds close and dear those moments which matter the most to you!

      (2) Seize the Day (= Carpe diem) is an encouragement to take advantage of the time you have. It means to "follow your dreams" and "take the risk to change and grow!" If you really want something --- have the guts to go for it --- don't let anything get in the way! (p48-50)

      But, you need to choose the right "day" to "seize" so you will be successful!

      (3) So what about "doing nothing" in the face of the meaning of Carpe diem? The two attitudes differ in sequence of application. In other words, before you seize anything, go for anything, dream, follow, or risk anything, you had better know what it is that you are seizing, going for, or risking!

      Because you already have too many choices and obligations in your life, you will have a tendancy to be impulsive and to act before you think --- or "go before you stop," you will need to start from a "STOPPED" position or your efforts may be unsuccessful!

PART 2 --- THE THREE WAYS OF STOPPING (p51-120)

    [12] Stillpoints, stopovers, and grinding halts (p53-55)

    [13] Stillpoints --- the heart and soul of stopping! (p57-60)

    [14] Breathing is inspiring (p61-65)

    [15] Stillpoints in a turning world (p67-72)

    [16] Stopovers --- more of a good thing (p73-75)

    [17] Stopovers on the way (p77-82)

    [18] This is your body talking (p83-84)

    [19] Excuses, excuses! (p85-89)

    [20] The watersheds and sea changes of life (p91-96)

    [21] Grinding halts are good for you (p97-104)

    [22] Growing "Like corn in the night" (p105-107)

    [23] Freeing and finding your truth (p109-111)

    [24] Everyday spirituality (p113-120)

PART 3 --- THE GIFTS OF STOPPING (p121-162)

    [25] Stopping's benefits (p123-124)

    [26] The gift of attention (p125-132)

    [27] The gift of relaxation (p13-137)

    [28] The gift of solitude (p139-144)

    [29] The gift of openness (p145-150)

    [30] The gift of boundaries (p151-154)

    [31] The gift of embracing your shadow (p155-158)

    [32] The gift of purpose (p159-162)

PART 4 --- EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES OF STOPPING (p163-216)

    [33] Moving down to the roots (p165-167)

    [34] When society says "DON'T!" (p169-173)

    [35] "I'm afraid!" (p175-178)

    [36] Seeing the enemy (p179-184)

    [37] Owning your fear (p185-189)

    [38] A telling relief (p191-195)

    [39] The doctor's unthinkable thought (p197-199)

    [40] Saying it to God (p201-203)

    [41] Some help in getting help (p219-222)

    [42] "Yes, but..." (p209-215)

PART 5 --- DISCOVERING YOUR WAY TO STOPPING (p217-262)

    [43] "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" (p219-222)

    [44] Permission granted just to be (p223-226)

    [45] The pathway to your stopping woods (p227-240)

      (1) Reading (p228-229)

      (2) Writing (p229-230)

      (3) Visual beauty (p230-231)

      (4) Touching (p231-233)

      (5) Beautiful sounds and fragrances (p233-234)

      (6) Sacramentals (p235)

      (7) Rituals (p235-237)

      (8) Spaces and places (p237-238)

      (9) Animals (p238-239)

      (10) Seasons, weather, and movements of the earth (p239-240)

    [46] Stopping while going from here to there (p241-243)

    [47] Moving while stopping (p245-248)

    [48] The young, the old, and the violent (p249-253)

    [49] Stopping is caring! (p255-257)

    [50] Trust yourself! (p259-262)

BIBLIOGRAPHY (p263-266)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (p267-268)

PERMISSIONS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (p269-270)

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