UNFOLDING The Perpetual Science of Your Soul’s Work by JULIA MOSSBRIDGE New World Library $14 (softcover) reviewed by Liz Bardon The self-help genre has often been accused of promoting "navel-gazing," the self-centered introspection that allows people to ignore the larger problems of the world. In Unfolding, self-examination is only the beginning of "unfolding," or consciously revealing your inner self. For author Julia Mossbridge, self-actualization happens when you learn to share yourself with the world. To help her readers reach self-actualization, Mossbridge fills her book with exercises designed to help readers discover their gifts, have faith in themselves, and share their gifts. Mossbridge is a scientist by training and firmly believes in an experimental/experiential approach to self-discovery. There are more pages devoted to exercises than to text in this book. The amount of text is just right; it supports and structures the exercises without taking over and telling the reader how his or her personal self-discovery should be progressing. Spirituality is a vital component of this "scientific" approach to self-actualization. The cover blurbs make this book sound like a purely scientific book of experiments, but spirituality is integral to Mossbridge’s approach. In fact, an entire section of the book is devoted to developing a relationship with God. Like many people, I pull back a bit when I hear the phrase "a relationship with God," but I did read every word in this section of Unfolding. I found that I wasn’t offended at all. While Mossbridge uses the word "God," she expects her readers to use whatever terminology they choose for a power outside of themselves. Her relationship with God is a simple but profound knowledge that she is never alone, that guidance is only a prayer away. I found it refreshing to read a book that openly allows and encourages spirituality in everyday life. Ultimately, the exercises are what make this book unique. They include meditations, journaling, and self-analysis. The journaling exercises are recorded in an Unfolding notebook. The last exercise in the book turns the completed Unfolding notebook into a handbook, a place to look for insight and guidance as you share your newly discovered gifts with the rest of the world.