Rhythms of Renewal

Starred review from November 11, 2019
Rhythms for Life podcast host Lyons (You Are Free) turns again to her own life in this wise account to offer readers help and hope in the midst of what she calls society’s “collective panic attack.” As she writes, “with a little intention and a lot of perseverance, stress and anxiety can be transformed into peace and purpose.” Lyons offers four “rhythms”—rest, restore, connect, create—to help readers turn the corner from stress to peace. Rest includes taking inventory of priorities, ensuring deep sleep, and observing the Sabbath. To restore, she recommends making space for play, walking, working out, and pushing out of one’s comfort zone. Connect encourages readers to initiate friendships, practice hospitality, and apologize first. And to create, she asks readers to recover their life passions and to take risks. Chapters are accompanied by three reflection questions and exercises to put her advice to action. While Lyons is open about her deep faith, her strategies are directed toward all readers. To make her lessons relatable, Lyons
opens about her personal struggles and joys, including the recent adoption of her daughter, Joy. Lyons’s many followers and newcomers alike will find a plethora of actionable ideas in this spirited work. Agent: Chris Ferebee, The Christopher Ferebee Agency.