About the Book
"Leni reminds us that we are not powerless. We can choose connection over isolation, seek out and listen to diverse voices and conversations, and build bridges to understanding." --Parker J. Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak
IN A WORLD WITHOUT EASY ANSWERS, BEGIN WITH HEARTFELT QUESTIONS
In this profound blend of memoir and insight, clinical psychologist Leni de Mik invites readers into a journey from Nazi-occupied Holland to a life of healing, reflection, and purpose.
Rooted in her father's legacy in the Dutch Resistance, de Mik explores healing from trauma, reclaiming connection, and responding to moral uncertainty with courage and compassion.
Each chapter offers stories and "heart questions"-gentle prompts for journaling, self-inquiry, and deeper awareness.
Readers will discover how to:
Rebuild emotional resilience
Move from isolation to community
Act with integrity in uncertain times
Listen inwardly and live outwardly with care
Perfect for readers seeking emotional balance, inner clarity, and a path to compassionate action.
How Shall I Stand Between River and Land? is not just an invitation to self-discovery, but a timely call to action from one of our last witnesses to a pivotal moment in history. It speaks directly to those discouraged by cultural shifts, afraid for the future, yearning for genuine connection, and committed to building a more just world.
About the Author :
LENI DE MIK, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with a remarkable journey spanning continents and challenges. Born in Nazi-occupied Netherlands in 1941, she survived wartime hardship and immigration, experiences that shaped her profound understanding of human resilience. With over 40 years of clinical practice, Leni (pronounced "Lainey") has worked as a teacher, activist, author, and therapist. Rooted in her Christian Calvinist upbringing but deeply influenced by Zen and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, Leni was among the first certified to teach Cultivating Emotional Balance-a secular program emerging from dialogues between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leading behavioral scientists. Dr. de Mik lives in Minneapolis, continuing to explore the depths of human compassion. PARKER J. PALMER is a writer, teacher, and activist whose work speaks deeply to people in many walks of life. Author of ten books-including several best-selling and award-winning titles-that have sold over two million copies, Palmer is the Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as fourteen honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, and an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press. In 2021, the Freedom of Spirit Fund, a UK-based foundation, gave him their "Lifetime Achievement Award" in honor of work that promotes and protects spiritual freedom. He currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
Review :
This book, amidst the fear of war and economic instability, offers a beacon of hope and a roadmap for personal growth and resilience in these troubled times.
-Suzie Housley, Midwest Book Review
In this extraordinary book, Leni de Mik illuminates our understanding of resilience and transformation . . . Her insights and practical guidance for an authentic and meaningful life harmonize beautifully with decades of research on human resilience.
-Ann S. Masten, author of Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development, and Regents Professor Emerita of Child Development at the University of Minnesota
The world is crying out for wise elders to step forward in these troubling times. Leni de Mik's new book is a clarion call to return to our hearts in a world gone mad. We all benefit from her 80+ years of experience and wisdom as she chronicles a life of activism in service to life. Read it now
-Patricia and Craig Neal, past publisher of Utne Reader, and co-founders, Center for Purposeful Leadership, co-authors, The Art of Convening
It is a terrible loss to define ourselves as victims of trauma and grieve the collapse of our easy way of life. Leni's book shines with the clear light of wisdom gained from fully living life no matter its harshness. Here, we learn questions and practices to awaken the power of the heart, no longer diminished as victims, people engaging wholeheartedly with life as caring and confident contributors. Thank you, Leni.
-Margaret Wheatley, author of 13 books, from Leadership and The New Science to Restoring Sanity
Feeling adrift in an uncertain world? Leni de Mik's How Shall I Stand Between River and Land? offers a welcome guide . . . If you're looking for courage, confidence, and balance in our chaotic times, this is a must-read.
-Erin Meyer, New York Times best-selling author of No Rules Rules and The Culture Map
As a long-time Buddhist teacher and author, I am happy to say that this is a book that has no "stink of Buddhism" (Leni also has spent years as a Buddhist practitioner) or of any specific religion, which lends to both its value and its deep spirituality.
-Tim Burkett, author of Nothing Holy About It, Zen in the Age of Anxiety, and Enlightenment Is an Accident
Weaving together wisdom, experience, and life stories, Leni de Milk has created a tapestry for living a heart-centered life. Blending practical guidance and thoughtful reflections, How Shall I Stand Between River & Land? offers inspiration for those seeking a balance between personal growth and a purposeful relationship with the world around them.
-Helen Davidson, blogger and life-story facilitator for older women at agelesspossibilities.org
Life stories, this story, must be read with intuition, that is between the lines, to appreciate her heart's wisdom.
-Steven Miles, MD, Prof Emeritus of Medicine and Bioethics, University of Minnesota, author of The Torture Doctors: Human Rights Crimes and the Road to Justice
This book is amazing! It is part memoir, part psychology, part admonition to the reader-there is so much in it! To me, it represents a lifetime of living, experience, and thought. Simply amazing.
-Marilyn J. Kaman, international judge, United Nations mission in Kosovo
