What It Takes to Heal by Prentis Hemphill Summary
Overview of What It Takes to Heal
In "What It Takes to Heal," national bestseller Prentis Hemphill bridges personal transformation with social justice. Endorsed by "The Body Keeps the Score" author Bessel van der Kolk, this revolutionary guide asks: can embodied healing practices transform not just individuals, but our collective movements and communities?
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Key takeaways
When We Stop Trusting Our Own Tears
What does it mean when you can't cry? Not because you're stoic or strong, but because somewhere deep in your body, the message was carved: *stop before I give you something to cry about.* This was the reality at age twenty-seven-a grown adult who'd forgotten how to let tears fall. The body had learned its lesson so well that even alone, even safe, the waterworks would shut down before a single drop could escape. So began an unusual experiment: a crying date. Hot tub, headphones, sad songs, and a repeated mantra: "I'm safe enough to feel what needs to come." Twenty minutes in, as Sade crooned "King of Sorrow," something shifted. The familiar tightening came-that impulse to swallow it all down-but this time, there was a conscious choice to relax the face, soften the chest, breathe. What followed wasn't pretty or Instagram-worthy. It was convulsive, shoulder-shaking, belly-deep sobbing. Years of suppressed hurt rushing through like a dam finally breaking. This moment reveals something revolutionary: healing doesn't happen in our heads. It happens in the tissues that remember, the muscles that hold, the tears that were never allowed to fall.
The Dreams That Set Us Free
The Body Keeps the Score-and the Solution
The Distance at Which We Can Love
The Gem Hidden in Every Conflict
Courage: Speaking All One's Heart
Love as the Revolution We Need
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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