The Untethered Soul
By Michael A. Singer
What genre? Mindfulness, Inner Freedom, Self-Discovery
Why read? This book is about freeing ourselves from the inner noise that holds us back. Singer explores how we become trapped by our thoughts, emotions, and fears—often without realizing it. By learning to observe our mind instead of being controlled by it, we can unlock a sense of peace, clarity, and freedom, and remind ourselves of who we truly are, and what actually matters. A must-read for anyone looking to live with more ease by, in part, letting go of limiting beliefs.
3 Concepts That Inspired Me
You are not your thoughts: Most of us spend our days listening to a relentless inner dialogue—judging, worrying, planning, fearing; equating all these thoughts with who we are. Singer argues that you are not your thoughts; you are the observer of them. Once we understand this, we can separate ourselves from mental chatter, make space for clarity, and realign with who we really are.
Resistance creates suffering: “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional”. The more we resist uncomfortable emotions, the more power we give them. Growth happens when we allow emotions to move through us instead of holding onto them. Instead of trying to control everything, we can practice openness and trust.
Freedom comes from changing how we relate to the world around us: We often carry emotional baggage—old wounds, resentments, limiting beliefs—that weigh us down. Singer reminds us that real freedom isn’t about changing the world around us; it’s about changing how we relate to it. When we stop clinging to what we can’t control, we experience inner peace and lightness.
2 Excerpts I Enjoyed Reading
On living with an open heart, even in pain:
“Do not close your heart just because it has been hurt. The more you protect yourself from pain, the more you close yourself off from joy. An open heart is a heart that feels everything fully—the highs and the lows, the beauty and the loss. When you resist nothing, you become free.”
On true inner peace:
“Most people search for peace by trying to change the external world—getting the right job, the right partner, the right house. But real peace isn’t about arranging life in a perfect way. Real peace is what happens when nothing on the outside has to change for you to feel okay on the inside. When you let go of the idea that peace is ‘out there,’ you realize it was within you all along.”
1 Question I’m Asking Myself
What is one thought or fear I can practice recognizing and gently letting go of, instead of trying to control?
With love, Vanessa