Sit Down to Rise Up - by Shelly Tygielski (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In Sit Down to Rise Up, mindfulness teacher and activist Shelly Tygielski shares her transformative journey of radical self-care and mutual aid, illuminating how these practices can ignite powerful social change and personal empowerment. Through stories and practical guidance, she demonstrates the profound impact of showing up for yourself and your community. This book is a blueprint for anyone seeking to cultivate resilience, compassion, and a sense of purpose in a fractured world. Discover how small acts of kindness can create ripple effects that lead to broader movements for justice and equity and how, despite the challenges we face, we should never lose hope or lose faith in humanity. Join Shelly in exploring how every human life matters and how together, we can rise up to build a better future.

Review Quotes

"[Shelly Tygielski] is saving people's lives . . . and giving them hope."
-- President Joe Biden

"A bid for awe over anger."
-- TIME

"[Shelly Tygielski] is like a superhero whose special superpower is her heart."
-- Arianna Huffington, bestselling author of Thrive

"Shelly has proved that one person can bring awe into the life of another, that we can all make a difference, and that asking for help is incredibly brave."
-- Maria Shriver, award-winning journalist and bestselling author

"Shelly's story and her ability to take action will show people how much power they really have. Sit Down to Rise Up is for anyone who is ready to heal themselves and help heal the world."
-- Yung Pueblo (Diego Perez), New York Times bestselling author, activist, and influencer

"Kindness can be contagious and [Shelly] proved that."
-- Kelly Clarkson, Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and television host of The Kelly Clarkson Show

"The writing is friendly and warm, brimming with energy, imagery, and positivity -- and there's nothing fluffy about it. Indeed, this advice stands to be life-changing."
-- Foreword (starred review)

"Shelly Tygielski is the real deal, a force of nature."
-- Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, bestselling author of Wherever You Go, There You Are

"A road map . . . to what it means to give and receive love."
-- Chelsea Handler, from the foreword

"Shelly is one of the great mindfulness teachers of our time, a captivating storyteller, and the epitome of what it means to authentically live a heart-based life."
-- davidji, bestselling author of Sacred Powers

"This work of heart will change your life as it provides us all with a practical guide to transforming our selves from the inside out to create more collaboration and well-being in our shared world."
-- Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Mind, Aware, and IntraConnected

"Through Shelly, we're reminded that our weary hearts are more than strong enough to love the world as we love ourselves."
-- Susanna Schrobsdorff, former TIME editor at large

"This is a do-not-miss book for anyone skeptical of the idea of self-care. It will inspire you to show up in ways big and small."
-- Busy Philipps, award-winning actress and bestselling author

"Shelly is making mindfulness and self-care more accessible to everyone but specifically for individuals who have experienced trauma. In Sit Down to Rise Up, she makes the important argument that the inner journey for each person must be connected to our actions and words in the outer world for true well-being to emerge."
-- David Simas, former CEO of the Obama Foundation

"In this remarkable new book, Shelly illuminates the ways in which love has become her primary motivation, her guiding principle, and a unifying theme for her revolutionary work as a teacher, writer, and activist. . . .  Her book is a gift to its readers and to those they will touch."
-- Bryan Welch, former CEO of Mindful Communications and Mindful Magazine

"From the very first page, Shelly's stories blow you away. . . .  If the entire world read this book, we would solve all of our problems, fast. Of all the many mindful voices in the world, Shelly's is one we should be listening to."
-- Justin Michael Williams, author of Stay Woke: A Meditation Guide for the Rest of Us

"A must-read for anyone interested in living a life of meaning, purpose, and service."
-- Rich Fernandez, PhD, CEO of Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute

"Shelly has the extraordinary ability to turn confusing, frustrating, even demoralizing moments into opportunities for connection and love. Here she teaches us how to do the same. This book draws on her rare combination of wisdom, warmth, and an extraordinarily practical mind."
-- Jessica Yellin, award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and founder of News Not Noise

"This book, and Shelly's story, deeply inspired me in the way few self-help books do. Yes, self-care is at its heart, but Sit Down to Rise Up transcends our culture's common focus on individual wellness, demonstrating the greater power and purpose in applying these principles to communal care. In doing so, it helps to answer life's central question of 'what are we here for, anyway?' "
-- Emily McDowell, writer, illustrator, and founder of Em & Friends

"[This] book is all about how to respond to stress in a way that stimulates growth."
-- Next Big Idea Club (where Sit Down to Rise Up was a Fall 2021 Finalist)

"[Shelly] shares what she learned with others so that we can unpack the deep spaces and places in our own minds."
-- Tamron Hall, The Tamron Hall Show

"Shelly Tygielski writes her first book  . . .  for all Americans to understand why self-care isn't self-centered, but truly a selfless act."
-- Yoga Magazine

"Although it would be difficult for most people to recall a year more harrowing and fraught with uncertainty than 2020, there were still some bright spots, thanks to women who decided to press ahead and bring light and hope to their communities. Meet [Shelly] -- who went above and beyond the call this year to inspire  . . . and comfort people in need."
-- The Washington Post

"[Shelly is] a rare example of how embracing fear and using your platform can lead to big-scale, meaningful change."
-- Forbes

"After the Parkland shooting, Shelly Tygielski was there for my family and our community to offer support, love, and healing. Her embrace of my family and our community continues to this day. This is how she lives her life."
-- Fred Guttenberg, activist and author of Find the Helpers

"Sit Down to Rise Up helps us rediscover what we already know to be true: that long-lasting fulfillment in life is inextricably tied to community and purpose. In this book, Shelly Tygielski provides us with the grounding and agency to bring our best selves forward into a world that needs us."
-- Jeff Krasno, founder of Commune and Wanderlust

"Shelly Tygielski's writing synthesizes deep wisdom, practical science, and direct experience. She clearly illuminates the power of caring for ourselves. The radical self-care she invites us to engage in goes beyond self-centered wellness. It is anchored in a resolve to contribute to our collective well-being."
-- Dr. Angel Acosta, director of fellowship at the Garrison Institute

"I love this woman! She's transformed my life in so many ways, and once you read this book, she will transform yours, too."
-- Jhoni Marchinko, Emmy Award-winning screenwriter on Will & Grace, 2 Broke Girls, and Murphy Brown

About the Author

Shelly Tygielski is a CNN Heroes-featured trauma-informed mindfulness teacher, self-care activist, and the founder of the global grassroots mutual aid organization Pandemic of Love. ShellyTygielski.com

Beloved comedian, bestselling author, TV personality, and activist Chelsea Handler lives in Los Angeles.