What's in the Way Is the Way: A Practical Guide for Waking Up to Life

by Mary O'Malley

Imagine for a moment that you had no pressures in your life―no problems to fix, no deadlines to meet, no struggles to overcome. Do you feel that sense of spacious relief? It’s not an illusion, teaches Mary O’Malley. It really is possible to live with that profound openness all the time, even while tending to your everyday tasks and obligations. In What’s in the Way Is the Way , Mary offers practical guidance for meeting all of your experience with an abiding sense of ease, trust, and peace of mind.

This accessible book is divided into ten phases, featuring inspiring wisdom and step-by-step exercises to heal the core beliefs that keep you stuck. With each chapter, Mary invites you to come into the present and see yourself and your circumstances in a different way―unclouded by preconceptions, struggle, or fear. Join her on this illuminating journey to

• How fear controls our lives―untangling the conditioning that keeps us from trusting our complete experience
• The healing power of curiosity―a natural way to meet our lives without needing to change or judge anything
• Trusting what happens even when we feel threatened, ashamed, or afraid
• Why we become more active, engaged, and effective when we stop "doing" life and start being fully present for our lives
• Remembering exercises―simple, powerful practices for reconnecting with our natural state of curiosity, trust and love

"No object, person, or experience will ever bring you the deep and lasting peace that comes from simply being open to life," writes Mary. With What’s in the Way Is the Way, this renowned teacher brings you a powerful guide for turning your obstacles into your greatest allies and teachers―and showing up for your life with all your vulnerability, passion, and magnificent perfection.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Mental Health, Personal Development

264 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the core teachings of Buddhist philosophy, although O'Malley doesn't characterize it as such, the advice and exercises in this book are useful and wise. Rather than living in fear, shame, anxiety and so many of the other fear-based emotions and thoughts that permeate our lives, O'Malley offers encouragement and practical advice for opening up to the wonder of existence. O'Malley inspires us to respond rather than react to our lives, and helps us recognize the self-defeating stories that we create and how to replace them with curiosity and openness.

If you read widely in this field, you may find little that's new; that doesn't lessen the value of hearing the lessons in O'Malley's voice. The message always bear repeating.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book on spiritual awakening: learning how to be present and release strong emotions, be in your body, and face life with astounding clarity, groundedness, and light. The author does repeat a phrase over and over at the start of each contemplation, and this felt annoying, but, that's small compared to the enormous power of this book. It offers a direct experience process to learn how to meet yourself where you are.

It was like having a coach and guide to mentor me through the process of trusting my own feelings. It deepened my meditation process and it is a process I will return to again and again.

Thank you, Mary O'Malley. You created a beautiful book!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Similar premise as the one behind The Obstacle is the Way, but based on Buddhist concepts rather than Stoic philosophies and FAR more expansive and contextualized at that. Her voice can be a bit new-agey/corny, but I really liked the metaphors and imagery she came up with to re-contextualize these ancient principles. It really did make them much more absorbable.

It was also every bit as repetitive as The Obstacle is the Way (maybe even moreso), but because of the depth, breadth and particular reconceptualization of the concepts behind it it was a repetition I was grateful for rather than annoyed by - I wanted this information seared into my brain.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essence of what this book is about is letting go, and the willingness to be curious about what is showing up in your life right now in this moment. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Edelweiss/Sounds True for an e-galley...I LOVE this book!

[Leah Eiselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!! A true gift. I came across it totally “by accident”; which served to further demonstrate that everything in my Life is meant for me.

[Daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

O'Malley sometimes uses new-agey language. O'Malley sometimes sounds fishy to skeptical ears. But this book, this book...

I'll update this review to summarize the book. For now, just impressions.

This book is awakening eliciter if you let it do its job within you. Trust it because you'll read a chapter and things will start moving in your daily subjective experience. This book doesn't cover itself in buddhism or meditation. But it is basically speaking about the awakening process occuring through meditation practice. Whether you practice or not, the book can elicit experiences and put you on a path of genuine liberation.

My only concerns about this book is it chilled me so much months ago that I had to stop reading it because it was litterally shattering all my worldviews very effectively & I hadn't much motivation for anything but to rest in spacious awareness and enjoy the pure beauty of Life.

So I finished it because I got back in the clouds of the mind and O'Malley is the best I've come across so far to cut through the mind-made me. If you suffer, read this & read some action oriented books like CBT, Palo Alto, some Pema Chodron or stuff like that so that there will be skillful balance & you will basically train yourself in koan (zen paradox) because of the paradoxical parallel reading.

So curious about a book speaking about what aspiration does to action in concrete & operational terms. Hit me up if you know some, guys & ladies!

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant as it puts into book-form Mary O'Malley's profound insights and soul nourishment.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really easy to read. Another approach to the same kind of content offered by Eckhart Tolle and others. I found it really accessible and deeply resonant.

[Kas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book thinking it more focused on reframing life’s challenges and hardships and leveraging them into a joyful experience. That was not exactly it. It’s more about living in the present, releasing control, bodily awareness, and the mind work involved in noticing the stories we tell ourselves. However, I don’t think it does any of these things particularly well. Would be a good introduction to these ideas, but it doesn’t add much for those already familiar with these concepts.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

life changing!

I like the concepts in this book. That we need to feel what is happening & not let the ego runaway with wild imaginative & destructive thinking & behavior. Our upbringing & education have forced us to hide our feelings with negative consequences. Mary shows us step by step a gentle way back to authenticity.

[Olivia Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a much-needed read on my journey to understand my response to life's obstacles. Each chapter felt like a counseling session filled with wisdom, aha moments, and practices on recognizing the stories you tell yourself.

Some parts and words that felt a little woo-woo, but at its core, this book would be helpful for anyone who feels like they're on an uphill battle with life.

[Naty Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

everyone should read this at least once

Life is such a intelligent force that constantly has to prove it self to us our stubborn minds.
Let life
Let it be
Let go
Let it go
Loved this book, I’ll have to read it again and again.
Is easy to read, it’s true is calming and hopeful

[MarySue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book containing profound ideas, helpful concepts and exercises. It should be read and re-read.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at about 35%. I kept hoping for some life changing content but it was just very wordy and didn’t get to the point quickly enough. I may try again later but putting it down for now.

[Suzanne Henwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mary O’Malleys work. Full of gold. Full of deep knowing and common sense. Full of healing opportunity

[nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most important message of this book is the title : what is in the way is the way. All the challenges in our lives are here for us. They are not our enemies.

[Ashley Wynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorited

[Lauren Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for EVERYONE. Period.

[RACHEL · Rating 3 out of 5]

“What’s in the Way Is the Way” provides a series of steps of working through all the stuff in your life to find life itself. However, I found it all a little thin for my taste.

My copy came through Goodreads First Reads.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.

With all the stresses of life, my main one currently being university. I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought it was superb!! would definitely read again and recommend .

[ed Lucas]

/ Excellent as advise on dealing with difficulties in life. Good principles to ponder and embrace challenges individually.

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a how to not have pressure in your life. I found the book both interesting and informative. I have used much of the thought process in my own life.

[Stephanie Barko]

March selection of South Austin Spiritual Book Group

[Missy Obergefell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really important concepts contained here. Not quite enough style to keep my attention.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

New ageish but I actually found it quite good. Will probably reread in new year.

[Dorlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read - Really helps to visualize all the clouds in our lives that block being able to see God's Kingdom, here on Earth, and our place in it!