Book Review: The Tao of Inner Peace by Dr. Diane Dreher

First, The Backstory about This Insightful Book...

Twenty years ago, I found myself in the bookstore at Santa Clara University inspecting a display of books by one of their professors, Dr. Diane Dreher. I chose The Tao of Womanhood, The Tao of Leadership, and The Tao of Inner Peace because I couldn’t decide on just one. They all looked so interesting and helpful. After I read all three, I was so impressed that I contacted Dr. Dreher to thank her for her thought-provoking, inspiring books. And that was how our friendship and collegial conversations began. And have continued ever since.

I immediately resonated with Diane’s approach informed from the Tao Te Ching—with a focus on helping us align with the cycles of nature for a more ease-full life. Living System Thinking and Principles as paths to cooperate with life’s rhythms, have informed my work from the start. When developing the PCI Parent Coaching Model, for instance, I included the concept of “Parenting as a Living System” as one of the four core components. We humans are not machines, after all. The living world has much to teach us, as well many gifts for our taking when we recognize we are in fact, an integral, vital part of that world.

Diane points out in the Introduction, “All life is a process…Like all living systems, we and our world are continuously evolving.” (p. xvii) And so, her book, The Tao of Inner Peace, has evolved as well over the years with a new e-book edition in September 2021 and a new audio edition, January 2022.

A Timely and Timeless Treasure...

Diane begins: “We have experienced unsettling events…” Yes, this was true two decades ago when she first wrote those words, and now for sure, as well. I think most of us can honestly say we are overwhelmed with stressful days for ourselves and whenever we think of others, whether near loved ones or distant strangers undergoing extraordinary suffering. In fact, if we look in too many directions, it is easy to become ever more fearful, frustrated, and hopeless. And yet, we can’t put our heads in the sand and pretend cruel realities don’t exist. How to find inner peace while living in these turbulent times?

In one of his podcasts, Craig Hamilton explains his ideas about “Nothing is Wrong and Everything Needs to Change: The Paradox of Radical Contentment in a Troubled World.” While I think my own “radical contentment” is an ever-evolving aspiration with the weary world constantly reminding me of others’ difficulties and my own troubles on my shoulders, I do think he has a very important point to consider—how embracing paradox can help us. In fact, that thread runs through the entire Tao Te Ching.

“The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.” 

And Diane’s lovely book, The Tao of Inner Peace, is filled with the wisdom of holding steady when experiencing two opposing forces. Diane is a master at bringing out practical ideas, asking “Tao Questions,” and providing motivating stories as well as grounding affirmations. Each of these sections in every chapter helps us in various ways to find that peaceful place within during our storms. 

The Tao of Inner Peace can serve as an excellent impetus for daily reflection. Each chapter begins with a salient quote from the Tao Te Ching and ends with a list of affirmations that Diane has created to help us move forward with confidence. It’s easy to peruse the book and choose a chapter that is most pertinent to our current well-being. From “Facing our Fears,” to “Seeking Simplicity,” to “Harmonious Action,” the chapters move from the personal to the social so that the book ends with opportunities to contemplate “Building Cooperation” and “The Tao of Community.” 

The entire book is an excellent meditative handbook—a wise guide to help us search our inner world and discover new strengths and capabilities to bring new possibilities to our outer world.

And I must say, the book continues to help me. I started this review in May 2022! And here we are in October and I am finally completing it. As I re-read several chapters, what jumped out for me was the crucial importance of timeliness. Trusting that we are exactly at the right time to do what we are doing in this moment—at PCI, we say “trust the process”—does not always come naturally. So, I was grateful for this. Diane’s words helped me to relax and know that this review will reach those it is meant to at this time:

“Following nature, Tao people learn the vital lesson to timing. They enjoy every season of their lives, practice the wisdom of beginnings and endings, prevent problems by making careful choices. When problems do come up, they meet with wisdom and insight. Recognizing the cycles within and around them, they know which action is best at every stage.” (p. 166)

I wouldn’t say I am a “Tao person” yet…but a work in progress. How about you?