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Giveaway and Interview: Cultivating Radiance by Tamara Gerlach

Note: The winners for this giveaway have already been chosen. Subscribe to Tiny Buddha to receive daily or weekly emails and learn about future giveaways!

The winners:

Have you ever wondered how authors live their messages—if writers who explore mindfulness are generally present and peaceful, or if others who research happiness are predominately upbeat and joyful?

This often goes through my mind when I read a book that inspires me. I didn’t have to wonder this as I read Cultivating Radiance: 5 Essential Elements for Holistic Self-Care. I’d recently met the book’s lovely author, Tamara Gerlach, who appears to glow from the inside out.

Owner of Encore Gymnastics, Dance, and Climbing, Tamara formerly served as a National Team Coach for USA gymnastics. Since 2001, she’s worked as a life and business coach, empowering people to change their lives and have fun doing it.

In her new book, Tamara offers a number of action-oriented suggestions for a positive attitude and a joyful life. With easily digestible chapters, each jam-packed with insight, Cultivating Radiance reminds us to nurture our inner beauty—and shows us how.

The Giveaway

To win one of 5 free autographed copies:

  • Leave a comment on this post.
  • Tweet: RT @tinybuddha Giveaway and Interview: Cultivating Radiance by Tamara Gerlach http://bit.ly/pNsJUf

You can enter until midnight PST on Tuesday, October 11th. If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can still enter by completing the first step.

The Interview

1. Your new book is titled Cultivating Radiance: 5 Essential Elements for Holistic Self Care. How do you define radiance?

Radiance is that inner light that we are all born with. We’ve all had that feeling of being totally “on” but we sometimes allow life’s challenges, disappointments, and unhealthy relationships to dim our light. So, Cultivating Radiance is really a collection of tools to turn your light back up…way up.

2. What inspired you to write this book?

Years ago I hit a personal low point and realized that I only needed to change one thing about my life: everything. The way I looked at my life and my attitude. I needed to awaken my passion, start taking care of myself, and create a vision for my life.

I had always been the “woman who could do it all herself,” but at that point, I felt broken. I reached out for help and found that I had surrounded myself with some truly inspiring people who had amazing gifts to teach me.

That started my journey to discovering what makes people truly radiant. After years of speaking and giving workshops on self-care, the book sort of birthed itself as a way to communicate the message of developing our inner light.

3. You’re an entrepreneur, author, speaker, life and business coach, wife, mother, Buddhist, yogini, athlete, and world traveler. You certainly wear a lot of hats! What would you say is the most important practice for maintaining radiance during busy, and potentially stressful, times?

For me, it’s meditation. Some days I sit for 30 to 45 minutes, but I also practice being mindful throughout my day regardless of how busy I am. I find that when I am mindful of the energy around me I get hurt less, both physically and emotionally.

It is so easy to get caught up in “doing” daily life, but I try to stay connected, present, and practice “being” my full self. On days when my mind visits a less-than-radiant future and my life feels out of control (like about a week ago), I just stop, shut my eyes and take 10 deep breaths.

Then, I smile and remind myself that I am doing the best I can and everything will be okay. I also take regular “mental break days” where I schedule an entire day devoted to the things that recharge me. I always include time in nature, meditating, and oftentimes I will journal.

4. You end each section of your book with a discovery question, an activity, a gratitude suggestion, and a mantra. Why is gratitude integral to cultivating radiance?

I have always known how important gratitude is, and thought it would be one of the “elements,” but when I began interviewing people for the book, every one of them talked about gratitude, so it became part of every chapter.

It is the foundation of radiance. We can practice being grateful for everything in our lives; whether we see it as “good” or “bad,” everything is a lesson. The real question to ask is, “What can I learn from this?” Expressing our gratitude helps us to keep a positive attitude, connect with others, and to open our hearts.

The discovery question and activities come from my gymnastic background. No matter what level of athlete I was coaching, we could talk about a skill all day, but the gymnast couldn’t learn a skill until they were given the chance to physically try it.

5. Of the five sections in your book—Beliefs, Optimistic Attitude, Passion, Self-Care Alignment, and Vision—which do you feel we generally struggle with the most, and why?

The book starts with beliefs because they are the foundation that we build our radiance upon. Many of us have limiting beliefs that keep us from our light. We may have underlying beliefs that we are not enough, don’t matter, or don’t deserve to be happy.

I used to work myself like a rented mule, because no matter how hard I worked, I believed that it was never enough. Our limiting beliefs show up in so many aspects of our lives, and begin to feel so “normal” that we don’t even realize they are there.

Until we change our beliefs we will go from job to job, or relationship to relationship, not understanding why we are unfulfilled.

6. You’ve written, “As my outside ages, my intention is to become stunningly beautiful on the inside.” Do you think the aging process can challenge our radiance?

Yes—and it doesn’t have to be. I have a beautiful role model in my aunt Billye. She is almost 83 years old but still lights up a room when she enters. Sure, her body is shrinking, and her skin is wrinkly, but her spirit is vibrant and alive. She is truly radiant and she just keeps getting better!

7. What is the most important message you’d like readers to take away from your book?

YOU CAN be radiant any time you want. You don’t have to be young, attractive, and thin to be radiant. We are all born radiant.

YOU DO have time to take care of yourself and can have more energy to take care of the important people in your life.

YOU HAVE what it takes to light up the room, and inspire joy, freedom, and balance in every part of your life.

For more information about Cultivating Radiance, available on Wednesday, October 12th, visit cultivatingradiance.com. Tamara is offering a number of free bonus items with purchase, all listed on the site!


FTC Disclosure: I receive complimentary books for reviews and interviews on tinybuddha.com, but I am not compensated for writing or obligated to write anything specific. I am an Amazon affiliate, meaning I earn a percentage of all books purchased through the links I provide on this site.

About Lori Deschene

Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others to do the same. You can find her books, including Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, here and learn more about her eCourse, Recreate Your Life Story, if you’re ready to transform your life and become the person you want to be.

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Crystal

Beautiful, to both of you, Lori and Tamara!  Thank you for letting us know the sun is shining when we’re hiding somewhere in the dark lol!  

Wren

It’s interesting that you posted about Radiance today. I’m currently doing The Joy Equation course from Stratejoy, and just identified Radiance as one of my top 8 values. I’d love to read this book and learn how to put that into practice!

Vicki Casal

Great interview . . .  another book to add to my Must Read list.  Would love to win it here. 

Thank you!

lilpearlly

Radiance… always a wonderful topic. Thank you

Melissa Scott

What a great interview, thanks for sharing! I LOVE all the questions/responses, but number 3 really hits home right now! Thank you for sharing that… “It is so easy to get caught up in “doing” daily life, but I try to stay connected, present, and practice “being” my full self. On days when my mind visits a less-than-radiant future and my life feels out of control (like about a week ago), I just stop, shut my eyes and take 10 deep breaths.Then, I smile and remind myself that I am doing the best I can and everything will be okay.”

Bunnysan

Already following the Tiny Buddha twitter AND RSS feed and now the weekly email! I would love to win this book, it sounds great!

Heather Raven

I have been cultivating abundance.

Kmangold67

Would love to read your book!

Grammyd01

Wonderful.  I love it when someone sees older people as glowing!

Mnoltie

I have just joined and would love the opportunity to read this book and gain some more insight, thank you for the opportunity

Julzie

great interview, i look forward to your posts everyday! thank you for getting me thru difficult times/divorce, etc…. would love to win a copy!!!

Nemethjames64

looking forward to learning……

Anonymous

I want to win!!

P4ch1nk0

Neato! Gonna read this after I read my compilation of sutta.

Rusticway

Would love to (need to!) win this book!  Thank you for offering the giveaway contest!

Mel8122

Am looking forward to the book!

Bluebuddha1961

Sounds like a book that many of us should read right now…

Wendy Boggs

Oh my!  This book looks like JUST what I need to read right now.  Life is quite hectic and I am very prone to worry and anxiety.  It is hard, sometimes, to stop and question what I can learn from the moment.  This book looks quite interesting and I’d love to take a peek at it!

Angelboux

Thanks for this opportunity – I would love to receive a copy!! Heather

h.l.

I have been paying attention to the Way, noticing what the universe provides and accepting with gratitude. The free book offer was the top post on my news , so whatever the result of the contest, i will be checking this book out!

Lsiadys

I am just starting along this path, and Tamara’s name keeps coming up. This book is on my must read list and would welcome and cherish a copy. Also, love the Little Buddha Site!!!

Lanny309

I love the interview!! I look forward to my Tiny Buddha emails everyday. I make sure to sit down for lunch and read it in silence… It gives me the opportunity to do a little “self-care” amongst the chaos of a crazy day! I would love to win a copy!

Ms Sherri Conrad

I want to grow into radiance!!
ms.sherri.conrad@gmail.com

Barbara Hocker

Sounds like a great book. I look forward to aging with radiance.

Sanclark

Sounds like a great book, I would love to receive a copy and devour it!!

Learning from others only helps us in the long run. Finding out what drives people’s dreams, visions and goals is a rewarding experience for me.

Christy

Would love to win! 🙂

Alentahc

I’d love to receive a copy…I think it’s the perfect motivation I need right now!

Babycat_68

I would be honored to have a copy of your book. I have really been working towards developing a stronger sense of inner peace and could use further direction and inspiration. My destination within view but I could use more light. Thanks Lori for the opportunity!

jessica

I would love a copy of this book. Thanks for hosting such wonderful giveaways!

Corey

Having been through a rough time recently, I have been searching for way to improve my life. THis site has offered many helpful ways and I would enjoy learning more!

Kimberley

Great interview.  This is definitely a book I would enjoy!  Thanks for the giveaway!

Wendy Murphy

Would love to win a copy of the book! Thanks!

Tia

don’t let anyone kill your spirit! 🙂

Elgb

I have been thinking of my transformation lately as I learn more about myself and my patterns.  It’s difficult to lovingly look at those things without judging myself mercilessly, but my beginning is here and I am assuming it will never stop in this world until I am transformed into something else altogether in another world.  Laura  elgb@aol.com

Jlavigne01

I love the message of the book and it very much aligns with my Holistic Health Coaching practice! I would love the book and would love to recommend it to my clients.

Sandybeach5

Sounds like a wonderful book to read and then share!

Anonymous

Win or buy; I think I’d enjoy that read. Is available via Nook or Audible as well?

Crazy4vt

I would love to win this book!  Thanks for the opportunity!

Shannon L

Thank you for the opportunity to win what is sure to be a live altering book

Barbara Zornig Stolk

Love your site!

Jwass4

As someone who turns 39 next week, I have been pondering beauty, the aging process, and worrying about losing my “radiance”.  I like the author’s attitude that this does not have to be the case!

Barbara Zornig Stolk

Love everything on your site!

Barbara Zornig Stolk

RT Giveaway and Interview: Cultivating Radiance by Tamara Gerlach http://bit.ly/pNsJUf

Heather

This sounds like a wonderful book!  Thank you for the give-away and the opportunity to win a copy.

Cysa2009

i’d love a copy

sil

Thank u for shring this…needed it more today than any other day 🙂  (whether I win the book or not)

Suzi K

My mom passed away in May.  I am 29, and am not married yet nor do I have kids, both of which i hoped to share those experiences with her.  I know that she will always be near, but to say my “light has dimmed” is an understatement.  I miss her so much and know I need to start living again, and to turn my “light back on”, but I am struggling to do so.  Your book sounds great, and definatly up my alley at this point…..

brian wall

Awesome book ! Put me into the draw please and thans

Rhonda

Tiny Buddha has helped me tremendously in the past several months.  I’m so glad I found it!