Most of us walk through each day expecting few surprises. If we want to better ourselves or our lives, we map out a path of gradual change; perhaps in therapy or a 12-step group. University of New Mexico psychologists William Miller and Janet C'de Baca were longtime scholars and teachers of this approach to self-improvement when they became intrigued by a different sort of change that was sometimes experienced by people they knew something--often described as "a bolt from the blue" or "seeing the light." And when they placed a request in a local newspaper for people's stories of unexpected personal transformation, the deluge of responses was astounding. These compelling stories of epiphanies and sudden insights inspired Miller and C'de Baca to examine the experience of "quantum change" through the lens of scientific psychology. Where does quantum change come from? Why do some of us experience it, and what kind of people do we become as a result? The answers that this book arrives at yield remarkable insights into how human beings achieve lasting change--sometimes, even, in spite of ourselves. Table of Contents I. The Context 1. Something Old, Something New 2. The Landscape of Quantum Change 3. Before II. Insights 4. The Insightful Type of Quantum Change 5. Boom 6. Taking the AA Train 7. A Mirror and Two Roses 8. Awakening 9. Ripples III. Epiphanies 10. The Mystical Type of Quantum Change 11. The Reluctant Mystic 12. Something Like a Star 13. A Voice in the Fireplace 14. At Pecos 15. Trampoline IV. Reflections 16. After 17. Are Quantum Changes Always Positive? 18. What Happened? 19. Messages to Humankind Epilogue An Invitation Appendix. Values: What Matters Most to You? William R. Miller, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico, and the author of the bestselling professional book, Motivational Interviewing. His 25 books and many scientific publications reflect his interests in the psychology of change, the treatment of addictions, and the interface of psychology and spirituality. Janet C'de Baca, PhD, received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of New Mexico. She is currently a research scientist with the Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest, in Albuquerque. Drs. Miller and C'de Baca began their collaborative research on quantum change in 1990, and this book is the first full report of their work. from the publisher's website |