Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World - Paperback

by Shannan Martin (Author)

"There is absolutely no greater writer than Shannan Martin to walk us through this moment."--Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of Awake

- Learn how to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of life outside of our control
- Discover how to notice the ordinary, accessible delights hiding in plain sight
- Experience life as beautiful and deeply good, even when it's tough

In life, there are moments that are terrible and moments that are sublime. Most of our lives fall somewhere in between--the ordinary hours crammed with small griefs and pops of joy. We move through the world with one fist full of possibility and the other clutching panic. It's easy to slip into the belief that the life we dream of is waiting somewhere past the daily grind. But this is our actual life; we only get to do it once. So much is out of our control--but not everything. What can we do today to offset the heaviness and remain upright and hopeful through it all?

With humor, humility, and a voice all her own, Shannan Martin introduces you to the heart-changing concept of counterweights: the essential practice of holding both the good and the bad with honesty and hope. She shows you how to notice the ordinary, accessible delights hiding in plain sight--reminders that even in tough times, life can be beautiful and deeply good.

If you're overwhelmed, weary, or burned out, Counterweights is your invitation to receive the chaotic abundance of being alive, cultivating strength and joy along the way.

Back Jacket

"There is absolutely no greater writer than Shannan to walk us through how to be a person right now. She is one of my most trusted voices on earth." --Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of Awake

It's easy to wish things were different--to with the world didn't feel so heavy, to wish we didn't feel so powerless. We have this sense that there is a better life, a better world out there, just around the bend. But this is our actual life, and it mostly falls somewhere between the terrible and the sublime--ordinary hours crammed with small griefs and pops of joy. We move through our days with one fist full of possibility and the other clutching panic. And we only get to do this once, so we want to make it count.

What can we do--today--to remain upright and hopeful through it all?

With humor, humility, and a voice all her own, Shannan Martin introduces you to the heart-changing concept of counterweights: the essential practice of holding both the good and the bad with honesty and hope. She paints a compelling picture of noticing the ordinary, accessible delights hiding in plain sight--reminders that, even in tough times, life can be beautiful and deeply good.

If you're feeling rattled, overwhelmed, or burned out, Counterweights is your invitation to take charge of what you can. Notice beauty. Carve out some comfort. Lean into the mundane moments and quirky rhythms that help you remember what you love about life, in all its dazzling chaos. Every counterweight you collect along the way tips the scales toward wholeness and resilient joy.

Author Biography

Shannan Martin is the bestselling author of several books, including Start with Hello, and the popular Substack The Soup. She is a speaker and writer who found her voice in the country and her story in the city. Shannan works as a cook at The Window, a local nonprofit dedicated to feeding its community. She and her family live as grateful neighbors in Goshen, Indiana. Find her on Instagram @shannanwrites.