Anne Wilson Schaef (1934–2020) was an American clinical psychologist and author on healing, recovery, addiction, spirituality, renewal, and women’s issues.
Born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Schaef completed her undergraduate degree in pre-med/psychology at Washington University in St. Louis and earned a PhD in clinical psychology from Union Institute in Ohio. She then practiced as a psychologist and business consultant.
In 1984, Schaef left psychology and psychotherapy and created a self-help practice called Living in Process to help recovery from addiction. When Society Becomes an Addict (1987,) in which she compared Western culture to an active alcoholic, became a New York Times bestseller.
Schaef had over 5.5 million books in print, including Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much (1990,) Beyond Therapy, Beyond Science (1992,) and Living in Process (1998.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Anne Wilson Schaef
Sometimes it helps to know that I just can’t do it all. One step at a time is all that’s possible—even when those steps are taken on the run.
—Anne Wilson Schaef
Topics: Patience
Obstacles often are not personal attacks; they are muscle builders.
—Anne Wilson Schaef
Topics: Opposition
It is in the interests of our society to promote those things that take the edge off, keep us busy with our fixes, and keep us slightly numbed out and zombie like. In this way our modern consumer society itself functions as an addict.
—Anne Wilson Schaef
Topics: Drugs
Trusting our intuition often saves us from disaster.
—Anne Wilson Schaef
Topics: Intuition, Difficulty
I realize that humor isn’t for everyone. It’s only for people who want to have fun, enjoy life, and feel alive.
—Anne Wilson Schaef
Topics: Humor
Self-confidence is so relaxing. There is no strain or stress when one is self-confident. Our lack of self-confidence comes from trying to be someone we aren’t.
—Anne Wilson Schaef
Topics: Being True to Yourself
It is possible to be different and still be all right.
—Anne Wilson Schaef
Topics: Being Ourselves
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