"Shattered Illusions: Reflections on my Disastrous Mid-Life Crisis" is part memoir, demonstrating step by step how I achieved my personal growth. The book is an account of the author's life beginning in 2006 when she volunteered after Hurricane Katrina, in a disaster relief kitchen in St. Bernard Parish, LA. This experience causes her to question her traditional career path and awakened a desire to live a more meaningful life.

The book uses journal entries interspersed with analysis describing how the mind uses habits and patterns as well as behavioral psychology to explain her journey of self-discovery. The author based many life-changing decisions on her intuition, she leaves a government job and moves from Washington, DC to Seagrove, NC. She decides to convert her restored mill home into a B&B and open an herb store at the same time. Isolated and impoverished, Gunter slowly regains self-confidence by focusing on being of service to others.

• Linda L Gunter Certified Neurosculpting teacher (a form of visualization/meditation from stress reduction) • In my company Transition Decisions Consulting, I teach decision-making habits (with a focus on avoiding overwhelm i.e. after a disaster for survivors) how we deceive ourselves, becoming aware of ourhabits/patterns—making conscious value driven decisions; practicing mindfulness; working for the community by building empathy/practicing forgiveness. How to motivate changes in behavior – moving beyond just telling people what to do; practicing Active Listening; applying complexity science to decision making for recovery; reciprocity – measured in Oxytocin; organizing tools for the mind (perspective taking, managing change, diet and exercise). Available for speaking to community groups recovering after a disaster.