Unbinding the Heart

A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, and Unconditional Love

$2.99 US
Hay House | Hay House LLC
On sale Feb 01, 2012 | 9781401930752
Sales rights: World
In Unbinding the Heart, author, speaker, and Huffington Post regular Agapi Stassinopoulos invites readers on an inspiring journey of inner exploration to reconnect with their true selves.

Born in Greece, a country that celebrates life, Agapi learned the essential truths of happiness through the examples of wisdom, caring, playfulness, and generosity she saw all around her, starting with her own mother. She came to realize that everyone is born with an open heart, but that we quickly learn to put conditions on our happiness-comparing ourselves to others, casting judgment, doubting ourselves, allowing fear or entitlement or self-righteousness to take hold-and slowly our hearts begin to close. We isolate ourselves, feeling alone, disconnected, and unheard; and in doing so we immobilize our spirit, stifle our authentic expression, and cut off our joy.

As she went on, Agapi, like so many of us, came under the soul-constricting influences of the larger world. In her struggle to find her place and her voice, trying to balance the acting career she dreamed of with the spiritual life she longed for, she discovered a path that was uniquely hers. Unbinding the Heart shows how she found her way home to herself.

In 32 personal, heartfelt stories full of insight and humor, Agapi takes us from her mother's bountiful kitchen, where the seeds of fearless living were planted, to the London classical stage, to an epiphany on a New York City bus-and inspires readers with the confidence to let go of the beliefs that bind them and come to a deeper understanding of life and love.
“Besides being a loving sister, Agapi has an innate wisdom and a gift for communicating it to her readers. The insight and passion that she brings to Unbinding the Heart, and the lessons it holds for bringing freedom and grace into our lives, make it a must-read book.”
— Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group 

“I laughed, I cried, I got a craving for hummus . . . read this book, it’s smashing.”
— Tracey Ullman

“A joyous, loving, generous romp!”
— Seth Godin, author of Poke the Box

“Agapi shares her heart with us through her personal stories, full of hope and possibilities, and inspires us to open our own hearts to more loving for ourselves and others.”
— Donna Karan, founder of Urban Zen

Unbinding the Heart is like a sumptuous Greek feast. It is a place filled with family, friends, and lovers, offering sustenance for the mind and spirit. Agapi’s colorful stories are full of spiritual depth and personal insight which will nourish the soul of her readers.”
— Lisa Oz, author of Us

“Agapi’s book is a life changer one that triggers us to find the richness in our hearts and share it with others.”
— Blake Mycoskie, founder and chief shoe giver of TOMS

Unbinding the Heart, with its beautiful prose, comes at a perfect time, reminding us that even if life’s grip becomes cold, we have the resources to heal ourselves. The book is as warm as any hearth in any loving home. It is a call to the remembrance of love’s power.”
— Anna Deavere Smith, actress and playwright

“Agapi’s book is like a warm hug that inspires you to live as authentically and openly as possible.”
— Marlo Thomas, actress and best-selling author of Growing Up Laughing

“This book dives into the center of Agapi’s heart and shares pearls of wisdom of how to keep one’s heart open and fluid, which has a direct relationship to the health of your physical heart. You’ll gain such value and wisdom in reading this book.”
— Dr. Dean Ornish, author of The Spectrum and Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease

“The power of Agapi’s message, grounded in her mother’s wisdom, transcends simple advice to others. She has the rare ability not only to write such wisdom, but to magically convey it, person to person. I am in awe and gratitude.”
— Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Reinventing Medicine, Healing Words, and One Mind

About

In Unbinding the Heart, author, speaker, and Huffington Post regular Agapi Stassinopoulos invites readers on an inspiring journey of inner exploration to reconnect with their true selves.

Born in Greece, a country that celebrates life, Agapi learned the essential truths of happiness through the examples of wisdom, caring, playfulness, and generosity she saw all around her, starting with her own mother. She came to realize that everyone is born with an open heart, but that we quickly learn to put conditions on our happiness-comparing ourselves to others, casting judgment, doubting ourselves, allowing fear or entitlement or self-righteousness to take hold-and slowly our hearts begin to close. We isolate ourselves, feeling alone, disconnected, and unheard; and in doing so we immobilize our spirit, stifle our authentic expression, and cut off our joy.

As she went on, Agapi, like so many of us, came under the soul-constricting influences of the larger world. In her struggle to find her place and her voice, trying to balance the acting career she dreamed of with the spiritual life she longed for, she discovered a path that was uniquely hers. Unbinding the Heart shows how she found her way home to herself.

In 32 personal, heartfelt stories full of insight and humor, Agapi takes us from her mother's bountiful kitchen, where the seeds of fearless living were planted, to the London classical stage, to an epiphany on a New York City bus-and inspires readers with the confidence to let go of the beliefs that bind them and come to a deeper understanding of life and love.

Praise

“Besides being a loving sister, Agapi has an innate wisdom and a gift for communicating it to her readers. The insight and passion that she brings to Unbinding the Heart, and the lessons it holds for bringing freedom and grace into our lives, make it a must-read book.”
— Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group 

“I laughed, I cried, I got a craving for hummus . . . read this book, it’s smashing.”
— Tracey Ullman

“A joyous, loving, generous romp!”
— Seth Godin, author of Poke the Box

“Agapi shares her heart with us through her personal stories, full of hope and possibilities, and inspires us to open our own hearts to more loving for ourselves and others.”
— Donna Karan, founder of Urban Zen

Unbinding the Heart is like a sumptuous Greek feast. It is a place filled with family, friends, and lovers, offering sustenance for the mind and spirit. Agapi’s colorful stories are full of spiritual depth and personal insight which will nourish the soul of her readers.”
— Lisa Oz, author of Us

“Agapi’s book is a life changer one that triggers us to find the richness in our hearts and share it with others.”
— Blake Mycoskie, founder and chief shoe giver of TOMS

Unbinding the Heart, with its beautiful prose, comes at a perfect time, reminding us that even if life’s grip becomes cold, we have the resources to heal ourselves. The book is as warm as any hearth in any loving home. It is a call to the remembrance of love’s power.”
— Anna Deavere Smith, actress and playwright

“Agapi’s book is like a warm hug that inspires you to live as authentically and openly as possible.”
— Marlo Thomas, actress and best-selling author of Growing Up Laughing

“This book dives into the center of Agapi’s heart and shares pearls of wisdom of how to keep one’s heart open and fluid, which has a direct relationship to the health of your physical heart. You’ll gain such value and wisdom in reading this book.”
— Dr. Dean Ornish, author of The Spectrum and Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease

“The power of Agapi’s message, grounded in her mother’s wisdom, transcends simple advice to others. She has the rare ability not only to write such wisdom, but to magically convey it, person to person. I am in awe and gratitude.”
— Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Reinventing Medicine, Healing Words, and One Mind