Susan Piver has gone on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Today Show" and CNN to talk about her bestselling book series "The Hard Questions," which helps explore life transitions.

Now she's using her knowledge to tell us "How Not to Be Afraid: Opening Your Heart to Confidence, Intimacy and Joy" (St. Martin's Press, 2007). Piver believes this type of meditation leads to fearlessness and joy on three different levels -- within yourself, between you and others, and in life in general.

Called the spring cleaning of your life, the book focuses on helping people break through the "stuck" behaviors that keep us in bad relationships, bad jobs and anything else that negatively impacts us.

Piver's premise, gleaned from the principals of Buddhism, gives such suggestions for taking on the things we wish would go away and thus causes great changes in our lives. One question she says to ask is, "Who else will benefit if I make this change?"

"Think of two or three people who will also benefit if you accomplish this task," writes Piver, who encourages people to write these names down and "imagine what they'll feel like when you tell them you finally took your car in for a tune-up or quit that dysfunctional relationship. We can often find the courage to do certain things when we know someone else is also going to benefit. People often suggest putting yourself first in order to achieve your objectives, but just as often I find the opposite to be true. When I stop and remember who is in my life, why I love them, what they need and how dearly I would love to give it, I find courage to take on what I've been avoiding."

IfYouGo

Susan Piver

When: 7 p.m. April 11

Where: Transitions Book Place, 1000 W. North Ave., Chicago

FYI: (312) 951-7323 or www.susanpiver.com