75 unusual solutions to common problems
A person learns and develops certain patterns of thinking and behavior that serve as a map for navigating through life's territory. However, reality changes and if the map does not reflect it, it becomes problematic. Instead of helping, it starts to hinder and a person becomes stuck or lives according to other people's models and prescriptions. The good news is that the map is subject to change, and reality responds to change. And then we understand that Life can be a miracle.
Inspired by the ideas of the psychologist Alexey Bachev, which she learned about during a seminar for psychologists, Ivinela Samuilova decided to check them for herself and it turned her life around. Written in record time and recently awarded the "most inspiring book" award, the novel "Life can be a miracle" has been provoking the interest of readers for a decade with its unusual perspective on reality. The current anniversary edition contains 75 articles that the Bachev - Samuilova tandem have written over the years in response to reader questions on current issues. In the familiar context of humor, but with depth and empathy for human plight, the collection offers original techniques for dealing with problematic thinking that anyone can adapt to their own personal adverse life situations. A useful and timely read that will stimulate your imagination and put you in a good mood.
- Volume: 280 pages
- Cover price: BGN 15.95
- ISBN: 978–954–26–2109-6
- Publishing house "HERMES" OOD
About the authors
Alexei Bachev
The prototype of the main character in the book Life can be a miracle - Alexey Bachev, is a psychologist with nearly 30 years of experience. After graduating, he collaborated in the experimental school of foreign languages of the creator of suggestology, Dr. Georgi Lozanov - a world-class Bulgarian scientist who developed the so-called desuggestive pedagogy. Desuggestion (liberation) from learned patterns of problematic thinking became the basis of the original approach that Alexey subsequently developed. His effectiveness was confirmed initially as a military field psychologist, where quick and adequate actions and short-term results were often life-saving. Alexey's last official position was as a psychologist in the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria. He currently works with clients individually and conducts group trainings to apply his unusual ideas in everyday life. The methods of the non-traditional psychologist are used by sports clubs, businesses and other organizations for which the timely identification and use of new resources is of key importance in conditions of a highly competitive and uncertain environment.
Ivinela Samuilova
Ivinela Samuilova is one of the most read and loved modern Bulgarian writers, and the title of her debut novel "Life can be a miracle" seems to be prophetic of her creative destiny. In just a decade, the novels "If life is not a miracle", "The woman who was looking for love", "Where are you going, traveler?", "Grandma, tell me a memory" and "That said Grandma Ega", as well as the collections with non-fictional prose "Riddles from the sky", "Travels for the soul of Bulgaria", and in co-authorship with Iliana Nikolova - "And it smelled like grandmother's feasts and memories". The writer's translated books are no less numerous, including novels by the beloved modern Spanish author Mamen Sanchez and the icon of English classic literature Jane Austen.
Ivinela Samuilova graduated from a language high school in the city of Vratsa and a master's degree in theology at Veliko Tarnovo University. Her creative pursuits are focused on the inner world of man and his relationship with God, the world and his fellow men, and her motto is that people do not need teachings, but inspiration for life.
ABOUT THE NOVEL "LIFE CAN BE A MIRACLE"
“There are two ways to live your life: as an ordinary thing or as a miracle” - Albert Einstein
This is the motto of a book that ten years ago attracted the attention of many reading people in Bulgaria and not only because of the cheerful colors of its cover.
Together with the summer of 2011, Ivinela Samuilova's debut novel "Life can be a miracle" brought an unusual optimistic fresh breath to native literature, offering reading with original and funny ideas for people who like to stop in front of the shelves labeled "self-knowledge".
So if you are someone who doesn't settle for the conventional description of reality, who prefers to be part of a meaningful and friendly universe instead of an alien and hostile matrix, who doesn't take himself too seriously, who wants to explore his own possibilities, who insists on living with his soul - this book is for you.
"Life can be a miracle" is an interesting phenomenon on the Bulgarian book market. For the first time, this book offers psychology for everyday use, presented in a novel written by a Bulgarian author, at a level that is not inferior to many foreign bestsellers in the same genre. And for 10 years now, readers' interest in the ideas presented in the book has not decreased. Ten years of life for a book is a miracle in itself…
Since its publication until now, the novel has gone through dozens of editions, and in 2014, it was chosen by readers to take first place in the national contest "The book that inspires me".
Most importantly, however, Life Can Be a Miracle is a book that touches with its sincerity and overflows with vitality, and which readers claim is therapeutic-uplifting, uplifting, and inspiring to look at life as a wonderful adventure.
Ivinela Samuilova met Alexey Bachev in 2008. At the time, he was a psychologist in the Ministry of Defense. She is extremely intrigued by his personality and the way he works with people who seek his help, and begins to record what the psychologist does. When she wrote Life Can Be a Miracle, the author convinced Alexey to keep his real name in her novel because she wanted more people to have a chance to get to know him and his approach to reality.
Told in an authentic, touching and personal way, the story of the main character Adi shows the life of a large part of people today - a life stuck in the social frameworks that define for us what is "possible and impossible", "real and unreal ", "attainable and unattainable", "acceptable and unacceptable".
From a young age, Adi unreservedly believes that her life will be extraordinary. Gradually, however, he gets stuck in the routine of everyday life and loses touch with himself. She realizes that, dragged down by her fears, beliefs and (pre)conceptions, she has replaced her true identity.
Adi believes that only if he discovers his Calling will he be able to make sense of his existence and restore the integrity of his scattered (in different roles) personality. Then she meets the more special psychologist Alexey, who helps her look at herself and her life from a different angle.
Alexei's extraordinary lessons, which began with a tiny piece of blue cheese and a huge fork, reveal practically how we can stop the hypnotic following of learned patterns in our daily lives and restore our original connection with the world. Only in this way is it possible to turn our ordinary life into an extraordinary experience.
Due to the interest in the topic, the author decided to continue the story, but this time from a diametrically opposite point of view. Her next novel - If Life Is Not a Miracle - has the same motto as the first, but this time the story is on the other half of Einstein's thought and seeks answers to the question of why, when we can live our lives as a miracle, we choose to be unhappy.
Two more stories with the main character Adi follow: "The Woman Who Was Looking for Love" and "Where Are You Going Traveler?". In them, the author expands, enriches and deepens Alexey's ideas, connecting them to such important topics as love and the meaning of life. The Woman Who Searched for Love won the Human Library Foundation's Yearning for Human Books competition, and Where Are You Going, Traveler? was chosen by readers as runner-up to Life Can Be a Miracle in the Literary Competition for inspirational book.
Is there a formula to unlock the good in others?
(Article from "Handbook of Practical Miracle Occurrence")
Hello Alexey!
I commend you for the flexible solutions you offer for every problem.
My request is slightly selfish, considering the unfortunate fates of many people, but it could also be seen from an altruistic point of view - I am looking for some universal form of unlocking the good in others… Smiles and a kind tone do not always work. People often take it out on you for no apparent reason. I want a positive change, a positive attitude, I want a little more kindness, I want people's hearts to be open, if I could handle it all…
Hello, Your request is interesting: a universal form to unlock the good in others. Let's take your request in turn.
First: the universal form. Unfortunately, I cannot provide one. One of the highlights of my method, expressed very precisely in Ivinella's books, is that this approach does not offer universal recipes and algorithms.
The approach is oriented towards the possibilities of using those resources that a person can reach according to his personal ability and desire to get rid of harmful and inhibiting patterns and use the potential that is available to him.
And so we come to your second request: unlocking the good in people. With the potential at our disposal, unlocking is not a problem. But what is the "good in men"? Judging by the rest of your letter, I would guess that it is about your interpretations of what is good and how people should treat you "nicely" in order not to disturb your comfort (and not "get it all to you' as you put it).
Actually, your request for a positive attitude should be addressed to yourself. If you are impressed by people's negative reactions (that is, those that you define as such according to your own map), cancel this attitude of yours and put in its place another one that will reflect other behaviors that you like and fit more.
To do this readjustment of your attitude, you can try one of the basic techniques that we practice in the courses: "approve" - "cancel".
The exercise is very easy. It is only required that you be careful and reflect both the "bad" and "good" behavior of people towards you. Every time someone behaves in a way that is not acceptable to you, say to yourself: "I cancel!" - and pass.
Conversely, when you receive an attitude that is "good" for you, encourage it by saying, "I approve!".
Thus, it will slowly begin to dawn on you that the behaviors you approved of will occur more and more often in your reality, while the "bad" ones will disappear from it.
I will end with one of the main principles of practical magic, which is also a synthesized answer to your question: "We do not work directly with situations and people, but with our attitude towards them".
Regards, Alexey
