{"product_id":"calm-clarity-isbn-9780143130970","title":"Calm Clarity","description":"\u003cb\u003eAuthor of the viral Medium piece, \"Poor and Traumatized at Harvard,\" Due Quach shares her Calm Clarity program to show readers how to deal with toxic stress and adversity.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe often don't realize how much control we have over our thoughts, feelings, and actions--on some days, the most minor irritation can upset us, but on others, we are in our best form and can rise to challenges with grace. These fluctuations depend on the neural networks firing in our brains, and we have the power to consciously break hardwired thought patterns. Due Quach developed an intimate understanding of the brain during her personal journey of healing from post-traumatic stress disorder.\u003cbr\u003e     According to Quach, people function in three primary emotional states: Brain 1.0, Brain 2.0, and Brain 3.0. In Brain 1.0, people act out of fear and self-preservation. Brain 2.0 involves instant gratification and chasing short-term rewards at the expense of long-term well-being. Brain 3.0 is a state of mind that Quach calls \"Calm Clarity,\" in which people's actions are aligned with their core values. As Quach confronted PTSD and successfully weaned herself off medication, she learned how to activate, exercise, and strengthen Brain 3.0 like a muscle. In \u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity\u003c\/i\u003e, she draws on the latest scientific research and ancient spiritual traditions alike to show us how we too can take ownership of our thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to be our best selves.\"\u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity\u003c\/i\u003e tells Due Quach’s story of transformation, weaving her rich life experience with in-depth scientific insights from across diverse fields. Due has created practical and accessible tools for readers to not just be inspired by her transformation, but to set off and experience their own profound changes as well.\"  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Sharon Salzberg, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eReal Love\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eReal Happiness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Our world is in need of healing because there is so much pain and negativity being transmitted. \u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity \u003c\/i\u003eprovides a powerful, practical, science-based approach to healing and transforming our pain and cultivating compassion to enable others to do so also. The compelling story of Due Quach's personal modern-day metamorphosis from a skeptic into a mystic will touch the hearts and minds of seekers everywhere, and her ongoing efforts to bring these tools to low-income communities to end the transmission of toxic stress and trauma is inspiring.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Richard Rohr, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eFalling Upward\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Quach offers an extensive exploration of neuroscience and trauma resolution that led her from a struggling beginning with her impoverished Vietnamese family, to Harvard, a Wharton MBA, and business success. She delves into the importance of meditation, ancient wisdom teachings, and the latest scientific research in transforming 'outer success' into a deep inner peace and calm clarity. This is an extraordinary work by an extraordinary woman.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Allan Lokos, author of \u003ci\u003ePatience: The Art of Peaceful Living\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Due’s rich personal narrative is interwoven with deep research into the way our brains work, offering lessons and tools that all of us should embrace for our own good and for the good of the world we live in.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Philip W. Lovejoy, Executive Director of the Harvard Alumni Association\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity \u003c\/i\u003eis refreshingly readable, easily accessible, and understandable, a very valuable addition to contemporary books on transforming our minds and creating the foundation of a happy life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, author of \u003ci\u003eHappiness Is an Inside Job\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Imagine leading an organization where taking personal responsibility, having positive interpersonal relationships, performing at the highest level, and thinking creatively are commonplace. This is the future: \u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity’\u003c\/i\u003es mixture of cognitive science, spirituality, and enlightened thinking are already transforming everything we know about life and work.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Howard Blumenthal, Visiting Scholar, The University of Pennsylvania\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity\u003c\/i\u003e is an essential guide for the masses, to not only understand how the brain works in a simple but scientific way, but also to find a pathway to inner peace and a joyful life.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Tom Cronin, founder of The Stillness Project and producer of \u003ci\u003eThe Portal \u003c\/i\u003edocumentary film\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One of the best books I have ever read. Yes, this book is about rewiring your brain for greater wisdom and joy, but it also shares Due's compelling story of resilience and grit, a very personal account of shifting from entanglement to enlightenment.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Rick Bellingham, EdD, CEO of iobility\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity\u003c\/i\u003e captivates not only the mind, but also the heart, soul, and imagination. Due Quach skillfully interweaves scientific understanding with spiritual wisdom and grounds these important insights in everyday life by sharing how they enabled her inspiring personal journey of healing and transformation. This book can help anyone looking for effective tools to manage anxiety and their inner critic.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, coauthor of \u003ci\u003eWired to Create\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity\u003c\/i\u003e is the powerful story of a woman’s journey from early chaos to a life of profound purpose. Combining the latest research on the brain with a skeptical dive into ancient spiritual wisdom, Due Quach develops an impressive program of ‘brain hacks.’ These tools can help all of us, especially those who have traumatic histories, to fashion a better life by thinking more clearly and more calmly.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Robert Kreider, former President and CEO of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Accessible yet deep, \u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity\u003c\/i\u003e helps readers achieve inner transformation, untangle emotional knots, and find clarity. This book is a revelatory and inspiring guide on the spiritual path that also helps people develop the leader inside them.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Patricio Barriga, CEO and President of Fagor America Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eCalm Clarity\u003c\/i\u003e is both inspiring and practical. Due Quach combines her incredible personal journey with a deep scientific exploration and practical tools to help people investigate their own paths. This book is for seekers, pragmatists and all those who are looking to live a deep, meaningful life.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Larry Schwartz, Founding Chair of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Due Quach has given us an exceptional gift—she's taken research on neuroscience and mindfulness and made it easy to understand. But more than that, she's used this research to build a set of practices that will help you to optimize your nervous system and rise to the challenges you face. And she's done this with a keen awareness of the social realities of our time. Highly recommended!\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Paul Zelizer, founder of Awarepreneurs\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Quach has broken down complex neuroscience into an easily understandable three-stage framework, making it possible for anyone interested in personal fulfillment and joy to follow a simple path and attain success.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Krishna Pendyala, President of the Mindful Nation Foundation, Chief Empowerment Officer of ChoiceLadder Institute, and author of \u003ci\u003eBeyond the Pig and the Ape\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Following Due on her journey is so inspiring that you can’t help but think about your own path and life’s purpose. Her fascinating insights into current brain science and ancient Buddhist teachings provide the foundation for her Calm Clarity program, which all of us can use to live happier, more fulfilling lives.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Robin White Owen, creative producer, MediaCombo, Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The book is a tour de force—really well written, clear, easy to follow, and inspiring.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Tom Tritton, former president of Haverford College and the Chemical Heritage Foundation\u003c\/b\u003eDue Quach (pronounced \"Zway Kwok\") is the founder and CEO of Calm Clarity, a social enterprise that uses science to help people master their mind and be their best self. A refugee from Vietnam and a graduate of Harvard College and the Wharton MBA program, Quach overcame the long-term effects of poverty and trauma by turning to neuroscience and meditation. After building a successful international business career in management consulting and private equity investments, Quach created the Calm Clarity Program, which is accessible to people of all backgrounds. She now leads Calm Clarity workshops in inner-city high schools, university lecture halls, and corporate executive board rooms alike. She is also the founding chair and executive director of the Collective Success Network, a nonprofit that supports low-income, first-generation college students in achieving their academic, personal, and professional aspirations. The Collective Success Network collaborates with the wider business community to create innovative approaches to foster socioeconomic diversity and inclusion. After living and traveling all around the world, Quach is once again a proud resident of Philadelphia, her hometown.1.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A Traumatic Start\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Pain that is not transformed is transmitted.-Richard Rohr\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the      overcoming of it.-Helen Keller\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The wound is the place where the Light enters you.-Rumi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Let's face it. A lot of terrible things happen every single day to      bring people into Brain 1.0. No one is immune from tragedy. We all      live in a world that traumatizes us and makes us feel like victims      of broken systems, vulnerable to exploitation by con artists,      criminals, and crooked politicians. Our environments are full of      temptations for drugs, alcohol, food, retail therapy, and other      pleasures and thrills as a form of easy escape. At the same time,      the world is also full of wonder, majesty, and inspiration that      naturally bring people into Brain 3.0. In every corner of the      Earth, people are working hard to improve life for their families      and to make a difference in their communities.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The fact that the misery and the awesomeness of our planet are not      evenly spread out has always been very hard for me to come to      terms with. The more I learned about how unfair the distribution      of resources can be and how unequal the access to opportunity can      be, the more my sense of outrage grew. Seeing signs that the      system is not only rigged against the poor and powerless but also      set up to exploit them has always triggered my Inner Godzilla.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Being born on Earth is like a lottery. A small lucky proportion      are born into loving families blessed with inner resources (like      education, emotional intelligence, and resilience) and a degree of      financial stability, where parents are generally able to shelter      children from the harsh realities of this world for as long as      possible, give them a safety net in case they fall, and then coach      and equip them to prosper in their careers and to raise a family      of their own. Loving, caring, \"privileged\" families like these      naturally develop and pass on Brain 3.0 from generation to      generation. But a lot of people aren't lucky. The vast majority of      people, like me, are born into families that cannot shield them      from horrors. Too many parents are so traumatized that they get      trapped in Brain 1.0 and can't help transmitting their pain and      suffering to their children just by role modeling what for them      are normal behaviors and expectations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As I dive deeper into Brain 1.0, please keep in mind that what I      mean by Brain 1.0 is a pattern of neuronal network firing rather      than a specific part of the brain. In the Brain 1.0 pattern, the      amygdala, a part of the brain that is involved in reading emotions      and looking for signs of danger and threat, is highly activated      and puts the entire body into a state of \"red alert\" that      scientists refer to as hypervigilance, a prolonged state of      anxiously looking out for danger and threats and not being able to      relax (a.k.a. freeze-fight-flight mode). Whenever the body is in      this very strong state of stress, there is reduced blood flow to      the frontal lobes that help us carry out higher-order mental      processes; thus we have less \"processing capacity.\" This is why      when we are afraid and anxious, it can be nearly impossible to      think clearly, take in and process information, and make sound      decisions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e According to the Sanctuary Institute, a pioneer in the area of      trauma-informed care, \"trauma is defined as an experience in which      a person's internal resources are not adequate to cope with      external stressors.\" In the Sanctuary Model developed by Sandra      Bloom, the experience of trauma can fall along a wide continuum      that includes discrete events as well as ongoing, cumulative, and      less tangible experiences such as poverty, racism, discrimination,      and neglect. The Sanctuary Model also reframes many of the      behavioral symptoms related to trauma as the misapplication of      maladaptive survival skills developed to cope with adverse      experiences.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In psychiatry, for a person to receive a diagnosis of PTSD, the      trauma needs to be related to a direct personal experience of an      event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or      sexual violation. However, I have found that many people carry      painful emotional scars from circumstances that may not fit this      hurdle of being life threatening. When we are young children, we      are completely dependent on adults for our well-being. Therefore,      not having attentive parents, caregivers, and teachers; not having      a sense of belonging at home, at school, or in the community; not      getting sufficient emotional nurturing; or generally not having      the sense of safety and security needed for solid emotional      development can be overwhelming and prompt us to turn to      maladaptive coping strategies that can later get in the way of our      well-being and ability to form healthy and nurturing relationships      as adults. Therefore people sometimes use the terms \"little-t      trauma\" or \"micro trauma\" to refer to distressing experiences that      are not life threatening but still inflict psychological pain and      suffering.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When we experience trauma or long-term exposure to very stressful      conditions, our brains, minds, and lives get reorganized as if the      trauma were still going on, such that the trauma contaminates      every new encounter and event. The amygdala stays hyperactivated      as a \"default\" state, and the functioning of the frontal lobes      becomes disrupted and impaired. Since the left frontal lobe is      involved in the experience of positive emotion, when Brain 1.0      disrupts its functioning long-term, we can easily get trapped in a      chronic negative emotional state. Furthermore, any bodily      sensations that remind people of the trauma easily become      overwhelming, so they often adapt by subconsciously dissociating      as a way to block, suppress, and numb the painful sensations and      memories.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In The Body Keeps the Score, a groundbreaking book providing a      scientific perspective on healing trauma, psychiatrist and      researcher Bessel van der Kolk explains that \"traumatized people      chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in      the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are      constantly bombarded by visceral warning signs, and, in an attempt      to control these processes, they often become expert at ignoring      their gut feelings and in numbing awareness of what is played out      inside. They learn to hide from their selves.\" He further      explains, \"People who cannot comfortably notice what is going on      inside become vulnerable to respond to any sensory shift either by      shutting down or by going into a panic-they develop a fear of fear      itself.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What's even more sobering is that the negative impact of trauma is      not confined to the person who experienced the trauma-it is      transmitted across generations. Research has found that      experiencing trauma can cause changes in gene expression that can      be passed on to offspring. These changes result in an increased      risk factor for developing post-traumatic stress disorder. I can      testify from firsthand experience that children born to parents      who are traumatized have a high likelihood of being exposed to      trauma and of seeing traumatic experiences as normal.      Unfortunately, the impact of trauma in childhood-what scientists      refer to as \"adverse childhood experiences\" (ACEs)-is even worse      than in adults because it negatively affects the development of a      child's brain and body in ways that make him or her more      vulnerable to chronic illnesses like asthma and diabetes, as well      as depression, anxiety, and addiction as they grow up. Unless the      cycle is broken, traumatized people often get locked into Brain      1.0 as a way of life, and then pass on this pattern of brain      development and activation to the next generation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e While many people have heard of trauma, what many don't realize is      just how widespread trauma is, and how close to home it can be.      According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),      a study of a large sample of 17,337 people insured by Kaiser      Permanente in the late 1990s asked participants whether as a child      they had experienced any of of the following ACE indicators, such      as \"experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse;      experiencing physical or emotional neglect; witnessing domestic      violence in the home; living with someone who abused substances,      was mentally ill, or who was imprisoned\/sentenced to serve time;      and experiencing parental separation or divorce.\" The findings      revealed that approximately 64 percent, or two out of three      people, had suffered at least one adverse childhood experience and      that 12.5 percent, or one out of eight people, reported four or      more ACEs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Further, the data unequivocally showed that participants with      higher ACE scores had higher rates of obesity, chronic disease,      mental health problems, and addiction disorders. Experiencing at      least four ACEs became recognized as the threshold for severe      trauma because the risk of developing serious health issues and      engaging in risky behaviors increases dramatically at that point.      According to ACEStooHigh.com, for the group of people who      experienced four or more ACEs (and yes, I fall into this      category), the risk of developing chronic pulmonary lung disease      increases by 390 percent, hepatitis by 240 percent, and depression      by 460 percent, and the risk of committing suicide increases by      1,220 percent compared to people with an ACE score of zero.      Furthermore, the site states, \"people with an ACE score of 4 are      twice as likely to be smokers and seven times more likely to be      alcoholic\" and \"people with an ACE score of 6 or higher are at      risk of their life span being shortened by 20 years.\" What      researchers found most remarkable was that the participants in the      study were relatively affluent and educated white-collar      professionals who had health insurance. About 75 percent of the      participants had either attended some college or earned a college      or graduate degree and about 75 percent of the participants were      Caucasian. No one expected that the ACE rates would be so high in      this demographic group.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I couldn't help wondering as I looked at the data: what would the      ACE scores look like in the area where I grew up? Thankfully, I      wasn't the only one who wanted to know. After I returned to      Philadelphia, I learned that a group of institutions had already      created a task force to conduct the Philadelphia Urban ACE Study.      The findings were published at the end of 2013, just as I was      getting ready to conduct the first pilot test for the Calm Clarity      Program with public high school students in Philadelphia. In this      study, the researchers added five new indicators to include      traumatic experiences that are common among an urban population      but were not included in the original CDC study: experiencing      racism, witnessing violence, living in an unsafe neighborhood,      living in foster care, and experiencing bullying. The findings      showed that 83 percent, or eight out of ten people, reported at      least one ACE using the updated indicators (using only the      original ACE indicators, the number would be approximately 70      percent, a little bit higher than the Kaiser Permanente study) and      that 37 percent, or nearly four out of ten people, had four or      more ACEs using the updated indicators (using the original      indicators, that number would be approximately 22 percent, almost      double the rate in the Kaiser Permanente study).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The report also included a map showing the percentage of the      population with four or more ACEs by zip code, which confirmed      what I suspected all along: the area of Philadelphia where I grew      up and currently live is in the top bracket, with 45 percent or      more of the population having a score of four or more ACEs. These      revelations from the ACE studies made me ask a few questions: For      people in communities experiencing these rates of trauma, wouldn't      they need to have such a strong Brain 1.0 to sense and navigate      the many dangers in the surrounding environment that Brain 1.0      could become their default state? Knowing these numbers are so      high, is it even possible to help people in these situations shift      into Brain 3.0? If yes, then how? Then it occurred to me that the      primary place where I could find answers to these questions was in      my own life story. How did I come out of Brain 1.0?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e For me, growing up in an environment that put people in Brain 1.0      was like fighting a steep uphill battle on my own, both in the      external world and inside my head. The biggest danger was always      the loss of hope-which nearly died whenever my inner demons got      the upper hand. Yet by somehow managing to emerge from this      gauntlet of adversity in one piece, I've come to embrace my      experiences as serving a purpose: resistance training for the      soul. For me, overcoming adversity opened a path to enlightenment,      which I now think of simply as the ability to shine light into      darkness. Early on, there were many moments in which I let      darkness disempower me, but I eventually found a way to transform      these experiences into wisdom, compassion, and understanding. What      happened as I conquered my inner demons was that my emotional and      mental immune system got so much stronger and I developed the      ability to acknowledge and do something about the ills of our      world without getting infected by them. As terrible as trauma is,      my life shows that it can be a vehicle for transformation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Born into Generations of Displacement\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e For me, being a refugee means having a family tree with a lot of      holes and gaps that can't be filled in. It's generally very hard      for children to make sense of war, but it was much harder for me      to do so growing up because I knew that if the Vietnam War had not      happened, my family probably wouldn't have ended up as refugees in      the United States, in a country where we had far more      opportunities but no roots. Over the years, as I tried to trace my      roots, I discovered that I couldn't find any that went very deep.      What I learned from piecing together the stories my parents and      relatives had shared and placing them into the greater backdrop of      world history was that several generations of my family were      displaced by a series of wars over the past century. My ancestors      didn't get to settle down for long before they had to migrate      again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Assembling a clearer picture of my family's history has enabled me      to connect mental health issues, such as anxiety, various forms of      addiction, and abusive controlling behavior, which have run in my      family for at least four generations, to undiagnosed and untreated      trauma. Learning how war, violence, and displacement contributed      to a family culture where being in Brain 1.0 was normal has      enabled me to be more compassionate and forgiving toward my      parents, other relatives, and myself for the amount of trauma and      suffering we have yet to heal. I hope that sharing about my      family's past will encourage more people to examine and      compassionately attend to the deep psychological wounds that their      own family may be nursing.A Mind-Hacker's Guide to Shifting into Brain 3.0","brand":"Tarcher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304899596517,"sku":"NP9780143130970","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780143130970.jpg?v=1767723290","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/calm-clarity-isbn-9780143130970","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}