Fire in the Soul: A New Psychology of Spiritual Optimism

Why do bad things happen to good people? If there is goodness in this universe, why do human beings suffer? Is there a personal God who punishes us for our sins? Or do our very wounds contain the seeds of an individual or even planetary awakening to a state of greater wisdom, compassion, creativity, and love? In Joan Borysenko’s view of our universe, the truth is found in the last statement. Pain, anxiety, and fear are the inner physicians that permit us to experience transformational healing, but only if we adopt a philosophy of spiritual optimism. Demonstrated in this book via personal anecdotes, stories of her therapy patients, and biblical scripture, spiritual optimism is the point of view that every difficult experience is an opportunity to grow as a person and achieve spiritual homecoming. When our souls are on fire—caught in the proverbial “dark night”—old beliefs and opinions can be consumed and new souls can emerge. Mythologist Joseph Campbell described this process as a terrifying night-sea journey and indeed most of us need a guide to find our way home in times of extreme suffering. This book is meant to be that guide, to help readers discover their own inner guidance in times of fear, trauma, and crisis.