Book will help to unlock the healing power within us all
IN a fast-paced and often toxic world, Francis O’Toole is on a mission to get people to stop a while and reflect on life.
The Slane writer has just published his second book called ‘Mindfulness Unlocked’, which he hopes will show people how to tap into the healing powers they have within them.
“We all live extremely busy lives, and sometimes we can find ourselves on a treadmill, and we have to find time in the day to stop, step off the treadmill and spend a minute or two checking in with ourselves to find a moment of peace and calm,” says Francis. “People spend so much money looking for instant solutions, whether that is through counselling or medication, and if you believe you have the power to heal within you, you can learn to grow and flourish.”
Francis works as a guidance counsellor in a secondary school in Navan, and has been on quite the spiritual journey, given he spent a chunk of his younger life in the priesthood.
“I loved being a priest, and spent many happy years in rural communities, but I gave everything I had, and I was young and felt something was missing from my life,” he explains. “I feel there can be a disconnection between the church and those with faith, and I decided to leave the priesthood and went into teaching.”
In fact, after he left, he went onto marry, and his two children are now one of the most precious parts of his life.
“People often ask me do I ever regret leaving the priesthood, especially after my relationship did end in divorce’ says Francis, whose daughter Zoe is now 20 and a student of performing arts, and son Micah is 16 and in school in Drogheda. “But I just take a look into my children’s eyes, and I know I would never look back.”
While Francis still has a very deep faith, he feels the church needs to move with the times.
“I probably would have stayed a priest if I could have married and had children too, but my faith in God is still as strong, and I can identify with the challenges people have in their lives.”
“Whether I’m working with young people or adults to help shape their lives and futures, I like to do ‘ordinary things in life extraordinarily well’.
His second book is a collection of stories written around an oracle - a priestess in Greek mythology, who supposedly delivered messages from the Gods to those who sought advice.
“The oracle is a woman, as they make a great contribution to society, and I like the idea of an important message being revealed to the reader,” he explains. “Everyone’s life can be full of richness, and we need to learn how to tune out the negativity – the Irish are great at focussing on the negative – and look instead at what is positive in our lives.”
This is the second book from the former priest, the profits from his first book ‘Walking on Air’ having been donated to the Peter McVerry Trust.
“It was about resilience, that followed the challenging yet rewarding journey I took from the seminary, through to priesthood, marriage, fatherhood and divorce.” says Francis, who is originally from Thurles, but lives now in Slane. Co Meath. “It was actually a near-death experience from a surfing accident that prompted me to first write – a sort of wake-up call from God if you like – and I now make the most out of every minute of every day.”
While his days are spent advising teenagers on their future, he feels the same message works for people of all ages.
“Sometimes you can’t change your environment, but you can change your mindset,” he says. “If you want to grow and flourish, this is the book you need to read.”
‘Mindfulness Unlocked’ by Francis O’Toole is available on Amazon, Waterstones, Newgrange and Tara priced €15. It is edited by Fiona Ashe of FlasheForward Communications, with book design by Caoimhe Mulroy, Once Upon a Design and photography from Jimmy Weldon.
“You can’t change your environment, but you can change your mindset”