Shadow Work Author Debbie Ford Dies at 57

Internationally bestselling self help author, Debbie Ford, died at home in San Diego last night after a lengthy struggle with cancer.

According to New Consciousness Review, Ford’s many books “are still considered pioneering work in the world of emotional and spiritual education.”

Considered a thought leader for her generation, Debbie burst onto the scene with her first book, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, in 1998, showing the world that even loving and self-aware people have a darker side. She took readers on a journey of identifying, facing, and embracing their shadow selves. Her Shadow Process Workshop became the foundation of her work in nearly two decades to follow. She penned nine best-selling books and was working on her 10th book at the time of her death. Her books are translated into over 20 languages and have sold millions of copies.

Ford’s first book, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, created a sensation upon publication in 1998. It was followed by Spiritual Divorce: Divorce as a Catalyst for an Extraordinary Life (2001); The Secret of the Shadow: The Power of Owning Your Story (2002); The Right Questions: Ten Essential Questions To Guide You To An Extraordinary Life (2004); The Best Year of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It (2005); Why Good People Do Bad Things: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy (2008); The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse: A Breakthrough Program for Connecting Your Soul’s Deepest Purpose (2009); The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self (with Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson 2010); and Courage: Overcoming Fear and Igniting Self-Confidence (2012).

On the Debbie Ford web site today, Ford’s sister, Arielle, remembers sibling:

Debbie innovated groundbreaking work around the human shadow and grew into her role as a teacher, sharing her insightful shadow work through her many books, lectures, workshops, coaching programs, TV and radio shows, and even a movie -- helping hundreds of thousands around the world transform their pain into “their best life.” Debbie helped so many people go beyond their limited perspective of themselves and reconnect to the love, joy, and peace of their true selves.

In a 2002 interview with January Magazine, Ford told me:

My hope is that people can embrace their story. That they can understand the feelings and the beliefs and the behaviors that live inside their stories well enough that they can choose the life outside of it. That they'll go for their greatness. Knowing that there's only a choice: you can either go to your grave with your story and with your shadow beliefs that you're not going to get everything you want: you can't have it all. Or you can try stepping out into a different level of consciousness. Because they both exist at the same time: our story and the world of possibility. And at any time you can jump realities.

That interview with Ford is here.