Now Available:

Dr. Attalla’s ‘The Soul: Seven Principles for Psychological and Spiritual Wellbeing’

What’s it about?

Dr. Nader Attalla presents a “whole-person approach” to overall wellbeing and explores the spiritual, alongside the biological, psychological, and social factors that define and impact our daily lives and functioning. His book highlights the value and significant benefits of spiritual understanding, as a roadmap to our innate capacity for happiness, success, health, love, inner peace, and creativity.

As a family physician, addiction medicine specialist and psychiatrist, Dr. Attalla lays out a practical and tangible guide to help readers obtain optimal mental health through seven principles. These same principles have been taught in numerous patient seminars and groups run by Dr. Attalla and his Soul Team, with the hope of reaching and helping others.

For those undergoing daily stress, depression, anxiety, addiction, eating and personality disorders, trauma, anger, and sleep issues, this book is for you.

Who will benefit from this book?  

• Medical students, residents, and physicians interested in discovering more about spirituality from a medical perspective.  

• Psychotherapists and counsellors who wish to include spirituality with other psychological interventions such as dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.  

• Patients struggling with depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and addiction issues.  

• Religious leaders and spiritual teachers interested in understanding spirituality from a mental health perspective. 

• Twelve-step-program attendees who want to learn more about the recovery process.  

• Parents wanting to fulfil their children’s spiritual needs.  

• Youth searching for meaning in life and those living through existential crises.  

• Atheists seeking spiritual connection without involvement in organized religions and dogmas.

What are people saying about it:

“Knowing the seven principles is like knowing the truth about happiness. It is the key which can free you from many limitations, boundaries, and conflicts…No matter where you are in life, you will find something meaningful and of great value by practicing these principles. I have seen profound transformations when my patients, colleagues, and I began applying these principles in our daily lives. They are simple yet powerful. Devote yourself to them and transform yourself and your relationships with loved ones and everyone around you.”

Mehwish Hanif,  MD, CCFP
Family Physician
Clinical Lecturer | Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary
Cofounder of the Soul Program

“In my clinical practice, I have often highlighted Non-Attachment (“be OK with or without”), and Acceptance (“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference”) for my mental-health patients. In retrospect, I believe it’s because these two principles resonated with me personally and comforted me greatly in challenging times. 

Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, we confirmed, or, for the first time, realized the fragility of our society and our definition of normalcy. We encountered many instances of powerlessness as we foraged the unknown territory of overwhelming instability (including ever-changing policy, by-laws, further social isolation, and even loss of our loved ones). In navigating these uncertain times, we experienced degrees of frustration, devastation, and hopelessness. In such times, I felt that the seven principles, especially the two mentioned above, were solid foundations that gave me the energy to carry on with hope. 

Dr. TaeEun Ahn, MSc, MD, CCFP 
Family Physician
Clinical Lecturer | Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary
Cofounder of the Soul Program

Dr. Nader Attalla’s seven principles utilizes a multi-faith approach to universalize core elements of the human experience. Each principle carefully links to the next to create a roadmap for self-discovery, with the ultimate goal of living as one’s authentic self. By following the principles, one can attain peace and harmony within oneself and with those around them.

Dr. Magdalene Leung, MSc, MD, CCFP
Family Physician
Cofounder of the Soul Program

I have witnessed, first hand, how the principles, taught by Dr. Attalla, have changed patient’s and professionals mindsets and lives. All seven principles are significant and serve us and others well, when used appropriately and applied often. Each one compliments and works harmoniously with the others, to provide balance, purpose and peace in our lives. They are uncomplicated reminders of how to find value in ourselves and nature and leave others better than how we found them.

The ones most impactful to me are Non-Attachment, Acceptance, and Powerlessness.

I love the idea that we will be ok, with or without, in all situations, despite what or who we have or don’t have. This idea that our happiness is not dependent on “things,” but how we choose to embrace life… The principle of Acceptance is also beautiful, in the sense that we believe others, despite their behaviour, are trying their best, with the tools they have and experiences they’ve had. This thinking removes blame and frees us to assume the best of people. Powerlessness is important because, regardless of your perspective on religion or spirituality, you can surrender your burdens to something bigger than yourself, which is humbling and freeing.

Brooklyn Harrington, RSW
Group Co-Facilitator
Cofounder of the Soul Program

It is an honour to contribute to the realization of this book with the information gathered from Dr. Attalla’s seminars about the seven principles. The book offers practical intervention that will serve patients as well as clinicians in integrating spirituality and mental health. It is a great reminder of how to undo our wounded egos and inspire the integration of our highest virtues, such as Unconditional Love, Acceptance, Non-Judgment, Gratitude, Powerlessness, Hope, and Faith. In practicing these spiritual principles, I was personally able to give meaning to my own difficulties…My suffering was an occasion for deep transformation, a movement toward wholeness and inner peace. And in true humility, this is a lifetime path. As a new mother blessed with a child after many years of infertility struggles, these spiritual principles will serve me for the rest of my life. Nobody is exempt from suffering, but we can all make it an occasion to grow.

Rather than simply be given a prescription and diagnosis, we need tools to balance our bio-psycho-social and spiritual health. The goal of the therapist is to offer the best conditions so that our true nature can operate. Dr. Nader Attalla is a true doctor of the soul…I am grateful for this book, which gives practical tools to guide us back to wholeness, and for his devotion to the wellbeing of all.

Mélissa Vallières, RN

The Seven Principles, in which Dr. Attalla bases his methods of healing and self-awareness, have a place in every being’s life. No matter age, gender, religious belief, or background, each principle will resonate…and improve one’s quality of life greatly when practiced. One may find gratitude will flow naturally as a by-product of practicing the other six…

Unconditional Love and Non-Judgement enables one to let go of a need to control others and see that all of us harbour good and not-so-good qualities. They enable us to be OK and press forward despite the hurt or disappointment…as a result of another’s actions. We also can have boundaries whilst loving unconditionally!

The ever-pressing journey to continuously surrender to life’s hurdles and triumphs is supported through Non-Attachment and Acceptance. Personally, these two principles (…also supported by the legendary Dr. David Hawkins) may be the toughest I will work on throughout my life, but if I/we do not, there is more likelihood of becoming psychologically stuck in the inevitabilities of life.

I hope everyone that comes across a copy of this book takes the time to read and reflect, as it will create a personal paradigm shift for the better.

Catrina

When I am lacking in the principle of Non-Attachment, whether I’m attached to a person, an ideal of that person, an expectation, a hope for something I have no control over, or a wish that things could be different…the attachment alone creates almost debilitating anxiety. Anxiety that makes it difficult to concentrate on anything…let alone live a productive life. When I can move myself to a place of non-attachment and accept that things are what they are, and the future will be what it is meant to be, I find peace and the ability to live my life more freely.

Sonja

How the seven principles helped me in my personal life and contributed to the journey towards recovery:

Non-attachment: My career as a bookkeeper defined me for decades. Upon retirement, there was a void in my sense of self. Over the last eleven years, I have learned that there was much more that described me as an individual…

Acceptance: I had more difficulty learning to accept people than situations or events. I thought that either people should change, or I could change them. Neither is possible; accepting people the way they are (good and bad) is the only way I can effectively get along with them.

Non-judgement: The best tool I have to help not judge those around me is to put myself in their shoes. Just because my addiction has not left me homeless does not give me the right to look down on those who are. Everybody has a story, and I know the names of some of the people who collect bottles in my alley. Acknowledging them with a smile is good for both of us.

Gratitude: One of the things I am most grateful for is our robust health-care system. Other than a few glitches along the way, it has saved me from dying from HIV and enabled my partner to have brain surgery. I do put in much effort to navigate and access the system.

Hope: The light at the end of the tunnel is my mantra for recovery. Though I can barely stay sober for three weeks, the skills I am learning from therapy and pharmaceutical help give me hope. Without them, I would surely die of alcoholism. Unconditional Love: I receive unconditional love from my two dogs and give it in return. This model is so simple that it is easy to extrapolate to my partner and eventually to all those around me. Deistically, I am focusing on my partner and family first, then my friends and acquaintances.

Powerlessness: The concept of powerlessness has two dimensions for me. First is that over alcohol, as stated in Step One of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is the unmanageability of my life that I have trouble defining. The second is my powerlessness over people, places, and things.

Once I realized that I have little or no influence over most of everything that goes on in the world, the path to surrender became much more visible and uncluttered.

Gordon

I have been a patient of Dr. Attalla for three years. I first sought treatment due to my battle with anxiety which, at times, was debilitating. Working with Dr. Attalla and learning the seven spiritual principles as part of my therapy has given me the tools to help experience a more deeply gratifying life.

One of the greatest challenges at the beginning…was being too tied to the outcome of situations. As I learned about Non-Attachment and applied it to my life, I felt myself becoming OK to be with or without. My periods of anxiety started to decrease, and the acceptance of my powerlessness began to grow.

I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Attalla for his loving guidance, support, and encouragement. As I learn to adopt and apply each of these seven principles, I am drawn closer to my higher power and filled with the unconditional love that is needed to live life to the full.

Terry