“The Continuum Concept” by Jean Liedloff

One of Nicola’s 100 Best Books for Inspiration in the 21^st century!

Synopsis

The Continuum Concept introduces the idea that in order to achieve optimal physical, mental and emotional development, human beings – especially babies – require the kind of instinctive nurturing as practiced by our ancient relatives. It is a true ‘back to basics’ approach to parenting.

Author Jean Liedloff spent two and-a-half years in the jungle deep in the heart of South America living with indigenous tribes and was astounded at how differently children are raised outside the Western world. She came to the realisation that essential child-rearing techniques such as touch, trust and community have been undermined in modern times, and in this book suggests practical ways to regain our natural well-being, for our children and ourselves.

Favourite Extract

If we had the opportunity to live the sort of life for which we are evolved, a great many of our present motives would be affected. For one thing, we would not imagine that children must be happier than adults, nor that the young adult must be happier than the old. As we have seen, we hold this view largely because we are in constant pursuit of some goal that we hope will restore our lost sense of rightness about our lives. As we attain the goals and find ourselves still missing that nameless something kept from us since infancy, we lose by degrees our belief that the next set of hopes will relieve our persistent longings. We also teach ourselves to accept “reality” to ease the pain of repeated disappointment as best we can. At a certain point in mid-life, we begin to tell ourselves that we have missed, for one reason or another, the chance to enjoy complete well-being and must live with the consequences in a state of permanent compromise. This state of affairs is hardly conducive to joy.

Nicola’s Creative Reading Group reading list

Year 6 – “The Self (Personal Development)” (Oct 2011 – Jun 2012) 

“The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight” by Thom Hartmann
“The Continuum Concept” by Jean Liedloff
“You’ll See It When You Believe It” by Wayne Dyer
“The Dark Side of the Light Chasers” by Debbie Ford
“Conversations with God Book 1” by Neale Donald Walsch
“Dare to Connect” by Susan Jeffers
“A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle
“A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson
“The Power of Your Subconscious Mind” by Joseph Murphy