Unbinding the Heart Paperback – Big Book, 1 May 2013

The book arrived really fast and in perfect condition. A beautiful book with a gorgeous cover. The authors personal experiences are presented in a very engaging manner. Just halfway through the book, but loved it. !!

In the last six months, I went through a spiritual transformation which revolutionized my understanding of a question I had been dwelling upon for my whole life: What is my life’s purpose? For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled over finding a clear-cut answer to this question, not because I don’t have enough dreams and interests, but because I have too many of them. For a significant part of my life I’ve dreamed and believed that I was meant to be a performer. I loved singing, dancing and acting, and I dreamed of the day I could audition for a Masters in Music Theatre. However, when it was finally time for me to complete my application and prepare for the auditions, a force greater than myself took over my entire being and awakened me to an entirely new me, complete with a new set of aspirations. Apparently, my love for reading and writing had overpowered my passion for singing and acting.This awakening came hand in hand with a series of limiting beliefs and ideas, that my ego ensured to plant firmly in my consciousness. The ego is that illusory part of us which persistently strives to convince us that we will never be ready to go for what we desire. “Your English isn’t good enough to be a writer,” “English is not your first language, you’ll never make it,” “Outsiders never make it.” These are a few of the multitude of limiting beliefs that my ego has used to attack me over the years. Thankfully, in the course of my spiritual path I’ve managed to eradicate most of these beliefs, face my fears and follow my passions. As a result, I decided to take my love for writing to the next level, by dedicating my time to this blog and writing my first book, Born to Thrive: A practical guide to Self-Empowerment.- The Journey to Ithaca -“Agapi Stassinpopoulos – A Greek name printed on a spiritual book. I have hope!” These were my first thoughts when I gazed upon the ethereal picture on the book’s cover, portraying an idyllic sea-side view of a Greek island. Being a Greek writer myself on a journey towards publishing my own book, I was relieved to see my apprehensions fade into the shadows. The book was a living example of my dream – a true success story! My diligence and determination to choose love instead of fear, were stronger than my ego’s sneaky tricks, and so I knew that the book came as a response to that. My angels and guides had orchestrated the perfect set of circumstances, so that I could rendezvous with a book that dispelled my ego’s illusory reservations.Unbinding the Heart: A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity and Unconditional Love, is comprised of 32 autobiographical stories of a Greek girl’s journey to Ithaca. Filled with laughter and passion, grief and nostalgia, the stories epitomize the meaning of a full life, brewed with a heartening sense of Greek wisdom. The plot is based on Agapi’s dream to become a famous actress. With her cordial sense of authenticity, Agapi takes us inside the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts in London where she completed her degree in acting, and throws us into the skin-deep glam of her Hollywood dreams and dragons. Over the course of the book, and following a series of successes and failures, her journey takes an unprecedented turn that puts her on a spiritual path, which completely reinvents her perspective on life.“My promise to myself was not to become a famous actress, it was to live up to my name – Agapi, unconditional love. I saw that the real promise of my life was to give unconditionally, not just on the stage, but on the bus, or wherever I might find myself, today or in years to come. The promise was to share my gifts and let nothing stand between the world and my love.”I get teary-eyed every single time I read this quote, for it provided me with the awakening and enlightenment I had been praying for. As we grow up and live life’s experiences, we formulate a perception of who we are, what we want and how we are going to get there. In time, this perception becomes so powerful that it manifests into a persona, which we believe to be who we really are. In reality, this persona is simply one of our ego’s many masks, limiting instead of expanding our awareness of our true self. Following through Agapi’s journey of surrendering her own persona, I realized that our only purpose in life is to seek, remember and experience the unconditional love that lies within us. Ironically, when we finally let go of the must-dos and should-haves, and focus solely on extending the love that defines us, then Spirit affords us with the specific pathway through which we can share that message with the world.Agapi Stassinopoulos’ Unbinding the Heart, helped click into place the biggest missing piece to a puzzle I’ve been trying to assemble for years. The endearing tone and Greek humour that’s rampant through the pages, combines with spiritual tips and teachings that are carefully blended with the storyline, to best depict the blessing that always lie behind life’s obstacles. That blessing is no other than remembering and reconnecting with our inner Agapi, and letting it inspire the journey to our own Ithaca. book reviews at www.georgelizos.com Read more

This review is from a letter I wrote to Agapi after reading her book.Agapi-mou, a day ago I finished your book in my dentist's office in Utah. The dentist came in the room at that moment and I didn't even try to hide my tears. I just said, "my friend has written this most beautiful book. It can touch many people and be a best-seller." I think the book and your rich sharing would touch anyone, yet knowing you and the family over the years made the depth of your sharing your experiences that much more profound.I rejoice at your the colorful, senusal way that you so beautifully and heartfully expressed the odessey of your life. You transformed your experience into loving, gratitude and creativity delighting the readers of your book with revealing moments from your life. I loved the way that you weren't afraid to be vulnerable and moved to the learning with each "revealing." You honored Elli and your Dad and shared their originality and humanity. Elli was such a teacher of how to live life listening to one's own drumbeat. And what a force of nature she was....is. She came so alive on the pages. And the power of forgiveness, how it weaved through the book so seamlessly. Personally, the chapter on "It Is Done!" had a particularly profound resonance for me. I think your book can help people heal the intricate network of feelings we have with our parents and loved ones.Thank you for sharing you from your very depths. The book is a gift to people and such a heart opener. Bravo Agapi-mou! Love, Timothea

Good book very Interesting interesting

This book was, to me, like floating on a cloud, weightless and flowing free with pure luscious love surrounding me. OK, if that sounds a bit much, be assured it is as close as I could come to the pleasure of reading this book. Lying in bed it was as though my eyes had their own life, riveted to the pages and reaching for more. Using the book to fall asleep simply didn't work.It is about life. Hers, but it could as well be yours. I kept bringing mine into it with perfect flow, as though that was the plan. My mind rushed around the stories as though they were mine, seeking and discovering awakenings from each one for myself.. It's exhilarating to be puled into the inner adventure with such rich deliciousness. You never want her or her stories to end. There's no teaching or preaching since it isn't about you. Except that it is. Her stories and thoughts seep into you like the sun on the earth.Just let yourself go. Pick up the book and purely enjoy. Agapi means unconditional love. And that's what it left me with.