All of us, in one way or another, have been there. An unexpected situation crosses our path, and we are literally slammed by reality. The situation can have many faces—the death of a loved one, a serious disease, disability, betrayal, divorce, unwanted exile, parental alienation, bankruptcy, war, and natural disaster, to name a few. It may take the form of an emotion or sensation that becomes unmanageable within us—loneliness, frustration, the feeling of disconnection from others,...