The Mastery of Love is a powerful read which uncovers the roots of our wounds and beliefs, which all have the origins in our childhood. Our belief sysThe Mastery of Love is a powerful read which uncovers the roots of our wounds and beliefs, which all have the origins in our childhood. Our belief system is what guides us but do we have the right beliefs? We gained our beliefs under the guidance of our parents, teachers and society, but are those the right beliefs?
Love for another human being shouldn’t be attached to expectations, which we often do have. Any kind of relationship can be improved but we need to start with ourselves.
Opinions of other people don’t matter. It is you who matters and what you think. Forgiveness is crucial in any journey. Pride is the problem. You are truly the only person that can heal yourself.
The author relates his messages with insightful stories. It is a powerful read that demonstrates it all comes from inside out. We need to begin our journeys with ourselves.
The author brings the wisdom of the Toltec who were known throughout southern Mexico as “women and men of knowledge.” He relates the wisdom with easy to grasp examples. It is a quick read which is not meant to be read quickly. It’s rather meant to be read one or two chapters per day to absorb the wisdom.
It’s a wonderful read which I highly recommend....more
Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger is a quick and fascinating read. From his life’s experiences, Schwarzenegger lays out how he was able to achieve soBe Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger is a quick and fascinating read. From his life’s experiences, Schwarzenegger lays out how he was able to achieve so much while coming from humble beginnings.
Schwarzenegger begins with having a clear vision. If you don’t have it, then start with creating little goals and keep completing them; day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. The process never ends as life is a continuous journey of growth.
In Austria, Schwarzenegger got inspired by then famous bodybuilder and made it his goal to become the best in the field. So he went from vision to action. He felt passionate about bodybuilding. Thus, he felt like it wasn’t a matter of discipline for him to go to the gym as he loved doing it.
It was interesting to read how refreshing walks are and how many famous people used walks to create their time and space and were creative within that time and space.
Dream big. Ignore naysayers. He used any kind of negativity into motivation. No plan Bs as that would be already setting plan A for failure.
“Fulfilling a dream gives you the power to see further and deeper – further out into the world toward what is possible, and deeper into yourself to what you are capable of.”
“I learned that the only limits that truly exist are in our minds.”
The will to work is important part. You have to be diligent and consistent in your work.
After retiring from bodybuilding, he went into acting, then politics, and now philanthropy as you need to continue setting new goals.
His harsh childhood didn’t break his spirit, it rather helped him to find his passion and purpose. He chose the higher road and became his own creator, rather than taking a negative approach and blaming the system. I find his story and his ethics to make something of himself very inspiring.
My favorite chapter-title is “Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind.” In this chapter, he talks about the lesson he received from his first mentor who supported him in his dream of bodybuilding, who told him that he “can’t just be hungry for success and money and fame and muscles. We have to be hungry for knowledge as well… the world was the ultimate classroom, and that we need to be like a sponge, soaking up as much of it as we could…always be curious…it was better to ask good questions than to make smart statements.” Listen, learn, and grow.
I set to write a short review, but Schwarzenegger’s life’s journey is truly fascinating, how he propelled himself up, his high ethics, and the phenomenal drive to achieve unimaginable. This non-fiction is filled with his life’s stories which support what he aspired to do and continues to do.
The book explores the power of the mind. Your life journey begins with your thinking and the understanding what makes life meaningful. It’s up to you The book explores the power of the mind. Your life journey begins with your thinking and the understanding what makes life meaningful. It’s up to you if you want to settle in your life or if you want your life to be fulfilling journey. It takes courage to create what you dream about. Thus, you need to surround yourself with people who will cheer you on as you risk and grow.
What makes your life memorable? It’s the people you encounter. Life is about experiences, not accumulating things. Some people will come into your life and then leave. That’s part of the journey. “If you choose a life of continuous progress, you will lose more people from your life than you will keep.”
The book explores the mind sets that you need to understand in order to thrive in your life.
What you wish for is what you need to become first. If you crave adventure, then you need to get on the road and you’ll meet like-minded people.
There are some limitations that you put on yourself or others put on you. For example, you’re not good enough for this or that. Many proved those limitations wrong. You need to break the shackles of such limitations and take responsibility for your actions.
Some of us were born with a talent, but that doesn’t guarantee success. It’s the drive, discipline and work we put into it.
When it comes to an idea to do something, just do it even if you don’t have a clear vision. It will eventually lead you to somewhere. The main point is you don’t need some kind of structured vision from the start to succeed at something.
Traumatic experiences can have two results, for one it can lead to bitterness, for another it can create internal structure for success. It is up to you how you respond.
The book explores those mind sets and more with supporting experiences of others. How they changed or progressed in their lives as their thinking changed. It is written engagingly with good flow. It’s a fast and fascinating read that can have a positive impact on many.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
As much as I loved book I - The Five People You Meet in Heaven, I could not connect with this one. I agree with other people who said that making a seAs much as I loved book I - The Five People You Meet in Heaven, I could not connect with this one. I agree with other people who said that making a sequel to a very successful book wasn’t a good idea. This book feels forced. ...more
What is the purpose of your life? How can your life matter? There is more to life than simple existing. How do you find your purpose in life?
To betterWhat is the purpose of your life? How can your life matter? There is more to life than simple existing. How do you find your purpose in life?
To better understand it, many study the works of geniuses. There are many of them in different disciplines, including science, arts, and philosophy. I always thought that the greatest of them was Leonardo da Vinci, but the author reasons it was Jesus. The one that never gets to be mentioned as genius and who left the most lasting impact. And there is a big difference between other geniuses and the one of Jesus. The others saw new ways in their fields; Jesus saw a new way to be human. His genius is reverse from the others. Not everyone is born a prodigy, but everyone has ability to transform into better.
Jesus’ genius was “how he engaged people from every walk of life, and how he dealt with controversy, conflict, and opposition.” The little interactions we experience every day matter and how we handle them.
The author interestingly illuminates different kinds of geniuses with concise examples; how we see it in modern time and how they were approached by Jesus and what a difference his methodology made. I enjoyed how he recaptures what, for example, empathy or ethics mean. My favorite was the genius of grace and how he profoundly learned that lesson that shapes his life to this day. He reminds us that in those most strenuous situations in life it might be hard to keep that grace, but those are the lives’ lessons worth noting and learning from. It’s not always easy to rise above the fray, but “grace gives us room to grow, to change, to mature.” The past doesn’t define our future.
McManus is a gifted wisdom-teller, who was an average student and an introvert. While studying genius in college and searching for his purpose in life, he ran into Jesus of Nazareth and that put him on his extraordinary journey, defying those who didn’t see him achieving much in life. He rose to achieve Doctorate degree and to be an advisor to the CEOs and others among many other achievements. He is a true testament to what he preaches about.
P.S. There was a time when I was reading book after book in spirituality to a point when everything started sounding the same. After taking a few-year break, I came across The Way of the Warrior by this author, followed by reading The Last Arrow. His writing is like a fresh air we need to breathe, a fresh perspective, something I highly recommend.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
“Becoming a monk is a mindset that anyone can adopt.”
Why would anyone want to do that? To find a peaceful mind “and build lives that brim with purpos“Becoming a monk is a mindset that anyone can adopt.”
Why would anyone want to do that? To find a peaceful mind “and build lives that brim with purpose and meaning.” You can have a usual life – getting a job, getting married, and maybe having a family. But there is something deeper. Thus, the search for something deeper is explored in this book.
Interesting – “We experience every emotion with the change of the breath. When you learn to navigate and manage your breath, you can navigate any situation in life.”
Good point – “…the only thing that stays with you from the moment you’re born until the moment you die is your breath.” That’s why controlling your breath is very important.
How do you control it? Through meditation.
What are the benefits of meditation? To clear your mind and to make better decisions. - Clearing away distractions, thus to be able to focus on what matters most – finding meaning in life. The cleansing process includes external influences for example negativity and internal obstacles for example fear. - Growth – to “reshape your life so that you can make decisions with intention, purpose, and confidence.” - Giving – “looking to the world beyond ourselves, expanding and sharing our sense of gratitude, and deepening our relationships.” Thus resulting in “the true joy and surprising benefits of service.”
I’ve read many books in this genre and was very excited about this book when I learned about the author and his transformative journey. I thought that the story would be focused on his life, his journey, and his transformation. Instead, it turns out to be a pretty technical book at times, which involves subjects that were discussed in many other books. The part that pertains to the author is the most interesting part.
If you haven’t done much reading in this genre, then you may feel differently about this book. ...more
In this book, the subject of going from passive to proactive life is deeply explored. What benefits it brings to the society even if you stumble and eIn this book, the subject of going from passive to proactive life is deeply explored. What benefits it brings to the society even if you stumble and even if you may think what you do is insignificant; at the end it is important.
Is a life of adventure really worth the risk? What choice would you make if opportunity knocked on your door?
People are so busy with the mundane and ordinary that when the miraculous and extraordinary knocks on the door, we are too busy to answer it. We miss experiencing life. Missed life is a life unlived. It’s better to make mistakes and learn from them than waiting for a perfect time or perfect opportunity (you never know if it will come your way).
Even with success you can become stagnant. Whatever you accumulate, you need to use it, continuously making progress. And what we accumulate sometimes becomes our enemy as it holds us back from experiencing something new.
Find your passion and let it be your fuel to initiate a new step in your life. Crave some kind of adventure or wherever your passion leads you to get out of the passive state. Uncertainty is part of the journey and willingness to take the risk. And to give us strength to do that we need to keep faith and believe in the higher purpose and the higher power.
Positive influence inspires others to do good. “We are all contagious. Let’s make sure that we infect people with the right thing.” Many times, the events of significant importance can be traced back to the humble beginnings.
If we were perfect and had a perfect life, then truly there would be no point of living. Let yourself fail. That’s not God’s punishment. That’s part of your life’s journey. “God’s instructions are to go, live life, take risks, move forward, advance.”
McManus’ writing always brings passion, which fuels you to go out and change your stars and be part of the bigger picture. What may seem insignificant to us at the moment, later can create a tremendous impact. That’s why we need to become proactive even with little things. “A person’s life does not require some extraordinary event to distinguish it. A life well lived can be equally inspiring and its contribution also great.” Pandemic brought out a lot of issues, but ask yourself would you rather be one of those being part of the productive system or the one abusing it? And remember life well lived is also a great contribution. ...more
I have read my share of books in the genre of spirituality. I have come across authors that grasped my attention and I dived into their messages. And I have read my share of books in the genre of spirituality. I have come across authors that grasped my attention and I dived into their messages. And a year ago, I came across this author’s latest book “The Way of the Warrior.” He left me in awe with his wisdom and power of passing on meaningful messages in a straight forward manner.
The focus of this book is what does it mean to live without fear or regret? The author, and pastor and Mosaic, while facing cancer, he makes a decision – “while cancer may define how I die, it would not define how I live.”
The intention of this book is: never surrender, never settle, save nothing for the next life.
You have no control over your abilities such as talent, intelligence or physical attributes. But what you can control is whether you live your life by the status quo or you defy the odds.
Average is a safe choice. It protects you from the risk of failure and it also separates you from future of greatness. Therefore, you do not want to settle. It’s better to make a mistake and learn from it, rather than stay safely in the same place and learn nothing. Let go of things that don’t matter and experience what matters.
Through author’s experiences and others, the author presents clearly the case what it means to never settle and to be truly free, what is most important in life and how you get to those conclusions.
Life is about choices, figure out who you are, what matters to you and start taking choices that drive you in that direction.
And when you figure out the meaning of your life, then “you need to find your people.” Surround yourself with people who make your life even more meaningful. “If you want to live a life of adventure, then choose a tribe that makes life an adventure.” (Yep, that’s my tribe)
The author mentions flying to Asia and his luggage going to Cairo, Egypt, and at the end, making it without his luggage. I can testify to that. A year ago, while flying to Istanbul, Turkey, my luggage got stuck at JFK due to snow storm. There were other fellow-travelers who were in the same boat and got affected by it. But I went to Turkey to experience the beauty of its places and rich culture; I didn’t allow a lost luggage to affect my spirit for travels. At the end, yes you can actually make it without a luggage and still have a phenomenal time.
I recently visited Egypt and been continuously asked about security. Where one sees restrictions, another sees something extraordinary. The point is – find your meaning, what makes you happy in life, and explore it. Don’t let others put restrictions on you.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
The book is about inner peace, which is the key in achieving spiritual wholeness. And the peace is achieved not by accident, but rather by artful inteThe book is about inner peace, which is the key in achieving spiritual wholeness. And the peace is achieved not by accident, but rather by artful intention. The author/pastor presents the intention through the ancient biblical practices, ultimately creating a story of a true warrior. What it means to be a warrior.
The true warrior is the one who knows how to create peace. And the peace starts with your inner peace. What are the greatest enemies of our peace? Worry and fear. We also struggle against external forces such as: envy, greed, feelings, identity, and loneliness. The strength of peace is rooted in the present time, not the past and not the future.
“You cannot control your circumstances, but you can control your character.”
Peace is about clarity what is important to you. With this clarity there is no need to control the world around you.
The warrior’s greatest weapon is wisdom. The key is to be open-minded, willing to change and grow. It’s about choices. “Decide what your life is about; decide what is worth living for, find your intention. (…) When you live your life with intention, you find your strength.”
The indicator, if you’re on the right path, is the passion and energy. It’s about the process and not just the outcome.
“The warrior must learn to walk with both humility and ambition.”
The warrior must know his mind. The way you set your mind, that’s the way you will reap the fruits. If you believe in hope, love, future, that’s what you will find.
The warrior owns his mistakes. The warrior takes responsibility for his life and his actions.
The warrior knows what feeds his soul and always keeps doing it.
The warrior has faith. You don’t run away from fear. You face it, and that’s when your faith will surface.
“Only faith, hope, and love can give us the peace we seek and create the peace the world so desperately needs.”
It is very clear that the author/pastor is not only a preacher of words, but also the one who has lived through those words. Therefore, making it a very profound read.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author/pastor. So I’m not familiar with the messages from his other books, but what strikes me here is his wisdom....more
This book contains four sections. Each section brings a different group of celestial helpers: angels, saints, ascended masters, and deities. The authoThis book contains four sections. Each section brings a different group of celestial helpers: angels, saints, ascended masters, and deities. The author gives a short explanation for each section. What those celestial helpers can do for you and how you can connect with them. For example, a meditation is a good start to connect with the angels. Saints performing miracles can assist you in achieving your miracles. Ascended masters assist people in letting go of their limiting beliefs and direct them to the easiest and most direct route where they want to go.
Each celestial helper is presented in a straight-forward manner: religious association, helping powers, invocation and short info about the celestial helper. Each one is presented with an illustration, which visually helps you remember them.
For example, Saint Germain can help you make freedom a reality in your life. “Freedom is a choice we make moment by moment by how we focus our attention, what we believe, and whether we choose love or fear as our motivation.”
The section about gods and goddesses gives also a glimpse into cultures. For example, “Itzamna is the founder of the Mayan culture (…). He brought his people maize and cocoa and showed them how to heal.”
It is a very enjoyable and practical read. I’ve read a few books about angels and this book definitely brings something new and unique. ...more
Carl Lentz is a lead pastor at Hillsong in NYC. He is not a typical Christian pastor. Tattooed. Dressed in a motorcycle jacket for his sermons. DrawinCarl Lentz is a lead pastor at Hillsong in NYC. He is not a typical Christian pastor. Tattooed. Dressed in a motorcycle jacket for his sermons. Drawing packed crowds to a venue normally used for rock concerts in NYC.
The flamboyantly outspoken pastor insists on you believing what you need to believe and him believing what he needs to believe. “And even if it’s different, I think you will find we agree on many important things.” (Which I agree with).
I have no doubt that he is a great pastor attracting crowds for his sermons. But to write a book, that’s a different story and taking an editor especially when it’s your first book might be a good idea. The pastor chose not to have an editor as he felt his messages wouldn’t be the same.
The messages are very general. They may work for some, but I didn’t gain any insight from this book. For example, he talks about fear. “The only way you get through any fear is to step up, even minimally. And if you survive, it means it wasn’t as bad as you thought. And slowly but surely fear loses its grip.”
Sometimes, after reading a chapter, I wondered what was the point of him telling this or that.
He criticizes some spiritual gurus for their inspirational talks as being pretty much meaningless or too general and that didn’t sit well with me, especially when his way of passing on messages is not that great.
He is passionate about basketball and he involves a lot of talk about NBA players, which is way too much.
I know he attracts a lot of young crowd for his sermons and maybe this book speaks more to a younger crowd. But if you have read your share of books on spirituality, I’d reconsider. Highly recommend books by Erwin Raphael McManus: The Way of the Warrior and The Last Arrow. ...more
This is the day. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, it is today. This is about how important it is to live in the present time. Today is the day that matterThis is the day. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, it is today. This is about how important it is to live in the present time. Today is the day that matters, how you choose to spend it. Make it matter each day, one at a time and do it with passion. That’s what the book is about and Tim Tebow supports it with his life experiences.
Use each day to create memories. Don’t get stuck in the past, reminiscing about the past. It is up to you to create new memories. Take trips; spend time with those who matter in your life, make even more time for them.
“Some we just need a healthy reminder of what’s important – people.”
“Explore. Dream. Discover.”
It’s better to experience something in life, even if the outcome turns out not the way you wished for.
And always remember to follow your passion, what’s in your heart. The path of money, power, and fame may not be the right path as success is defined by majority.
“It’s important to be supported and to support others in the little things. Be present behind the scenes. Show up when the work is happening. Don’t just turn up for the party.”
“Don’t be afraid to take risk. Don’t let fear, criticism, or doubt cripple you from making a decision.”
Invest yourself in things that have value, be a problem solver, rather than just problem finder.
Don’t let life pass you by; make it matter with purpose and passion. Surround yourself with people who will motivate you rather than negate you.
Recognize your emotions, don’t let negative emotions from the past affect you to live at your highest level. The past doesn’t define you, but you can learn from it. You can discipline yourself and make changes in your life for better. You can thrive even in an uncomfortable environment. It’s all about willingness to learn how to do this.
“One of the greatest temptations is to worry instead of pray, trust God, and take action. Worry won’t change anything.” It is the trust and action that bring positive outcome.
Everything happens for a reason, trust God’s plan.
“Life is not about surviving. It’s about thriving.”
It’s not about brand, but it’s about your life. Make it meaningful.
“Never let success get to your head. Never let failure get into your heart.”
“What’s most important is living a life of purpose, meaning, and significance – something that’s possible even if you’re not thrilled with what happens between…”
I may not agree with each statement, for example playing with broken bones to show “determination to stick it out and fight” for the team. There are other ways to do it. But overall, it is a profound read. Tim is very honest in expressing his feelings and thoughts. If he has two choices and is not sure which one to pick, because he doesn’t hear God’s direction, he makes the decision based on what his heart tells him. And at the end, “Either God will grant them or He will change your desires.” So don’t worry about making the wrong decision. You will get on the right path eventually.
Tim’s statements are supported by his actions. And those actions speak much louder than words. This is why he is such a great role model with so many followers.
This is the first book I’ve read by Tim and I’ve never followed his career. I’m very impressed by this book, so I’m looking forward to reading his other books.
I’ve tried to keep this review as short as possible, but it only reflects how profound this read is....more
Per author, the way this book is constructed, you can pick a chapter, read it and meditate on words. I’ve read many books about esoteric teachings, buPer author, the way this book is constructed, you can pick a chapter, read it and meditate on words. I’ve read many books about esoteric teachings, but this is the first book I’ve read about Reiki. And I don’t agree with the author that you can just pick a chapter and meditate on the words. I had to grasp the whole concept in order to do what she claims. And even with that, for me, some chapters are too long to meditate on. The message should be concise and poignant.
Grasping the understanding of what Reiki is truly about, it took me a while. I was 1/4th through the book, when I got to the chapters about energy and mind, which for me should be at the very beginning of the book. So you can clearly understand the meaning of direct translation of Reiki – “spiritual energy.”
It is all about energy and focused mind. When your thoughts are scattered, then you are depleting your energy. Which actually needs to be stored inside your body instead of being thrown out through the window sort of speak.
The flow of energy and its source are very important. If energy is depleted, it leads to for example depression. If our mind is all over the place, because of worry or many distractions, it depletes the energy. “This in turn makes us feel less energetic, less joyful, less compassionate, and it creates a lack of clarity.”
Breathing is very important part of Reiki, it puts a mind in a state of concentration.
The foundation of the system of Reiki are the precepts: 1. Do not be angry 2. Do not worry (being in present time is very important) 3. Be grateful (being grateful means for all the experiences good or bad) 4. Practice diligently (be true to your way and your true self) 5. Be compassionate to yourself and others
“By meditating on the precepts we start to gain a direct insight into why we get angry, why we get worried, why we do not feel grateful (…) Thus we can see that meditating on the precepts is a method of healing ourselves.” And you meditate by “contemplating what they mean and what their inner secret is.”
The second part of the book is geared more toward practitioners as it talks for example about hospital setting and how to facilitate a 10-20 minute visit instead of 1-2 hours normally. It talks in details about symbols/mantras, hands-on healing, distance-healing, and rediscovering our original nature.
It is a very insightful insight into Reiki, very exhaustive source of information. ...more
Deepak Chopra is an endocrinologist, who respectfully questions western medicine, how disconnected it is: mind from body. At the same time, he reachesDeepak Chopra is an endocrinologist, who respectfully questions western medicine, how disconnected it is: mind from body. At the same time, he reaches back to his Indian roots, bringing traditional Hindu system of medicine called Ayurveda, which balances mind and body. He presents his cases in detail, showing how damaging it can be when doctors lack compassion towards their patients. How patients’ mind can be affected and causing further damage to the body. It is a very small percentage of people, who are strong enough to ignore the insensitivity of doctors and who can tap into their deepest core of the mind-body system to heal themselves.
“Quantum healing moves away from external, high technology methods toward the deepest core of the mind-body system. This core is where healing begins.”
In the mind-body system it translates to awareness. “Consciousness is a force that most of us undervalue.”
It is the consciousness that affects the body. “The choices you make today are the key to your wellbeing for life. Every cell in your body is eavesdropping on your thoughts.”
A man was diagnosed with an aot-cell carcinoma – an extremely deadly, very fast-growing malignancy. He refused any treatment. Eight years later, the same man was diagnosed with the same cancer in his neck. When asked what he had done for the earlier cancer. He responded: “he hadn’t done anything – he had just decided he was not going to let himself die of cancer.”
“How advanced the cancer is seems not to matter, either. Both tiny tumors and extremely large masses of malignancy can disappear, virtually overnight.”
“Without anticipating cancer or any other disorder, your chief aim every day should be to maximize positive input and minimize negative input.”
The author presents an excellent 10 key model to self-care:
1. Making happiness a high priority. 2. Making sure your life has purpose and meaning. 3. Living according to a higher version. 4. Expending your awareness in every decade of life. 5. Devoting time and attention to personal growth. 6. Following a sensible regimen of good diet and physical activity. 7. Allowing your brain to reset by introducing downtime several times a day. 8. Getting to know your inner world through meditation, contemplation, and self-reflection. 9. Practicing gratitude and appreciation. 10. Learning how to love and be loved.
As mentioned at the beginning, it is a very small percentage of people that is capable of dipping deep into the core of the mind-body system. It takes time to train your brain to drop old habits and gain new ones. Therefore, Deepak Chopra encourages a fusion of conventional and traditional medicines.
“Everyone’s body knows how to heal a cut, yet apparently only a few people have bodies that know how to cure cancer.”
The first part of the book is to the point. The second part is more technical, philosophical, with some repetition; at least the point of examples is the same as in the first part. The updated version with extended information is unnecessary....more
Depending on your believes, it might be a fable read for one person or it might be an interesting read for another.
It is a fascinating read how the mDepending on your believes, it might be a fable read for one person or it might be an interesting read for another.
It is a fascinating read how the molecules of water are affected by our thoughts, words and feelings. Positive words create beautiful crystals. Negative words show distorted images.
Dr. Emoto conducts many different experiments, while taking thousands of pictures. Among them how for example heavy metal music creates distorted crystals and calm or classical music creates beautiful crystals.
“To understand water is to understand the cosmos, the marvels of nature, and life itself.”
The words of love and gratitude form the most beautiful crystals. It was also noticed that the gratitude is more powerful than love. Conclusion – give twice the amount of gratitude as love. That’s the balance you should strive for.
Through his research we can conclude how important positivity is....more
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