The Art of Living Tools

The Essential Enneagram, David Daniels MD and Virginia Price, PhD, 2009

This is a compact, handy book for those newly introduced to the Enneagram. It shows at a glance easy to understand descriptions on each type including the basic proposition, principle characteristics, the stress, anger and defense mechanisms and suggestions for personal growth and development.

The Art of Living, Vipassana Meditation: Being in Touch with Your Inner Leader, William Hart, 1987

How many of you desire effective skills to manage the constant uncertainty and change in the challenging market environment? The technique enables one to be more effective; manage stress, increase employee engagement and productivity, face the pressures of competition, and make decisions from a base of personal wisdom and authenticity.

The technique trains one to master one’s own mind through self-observation of the deep interconnection between mind and body. It is universal, non-sectarian and practiced worldwide by people of all walks of life.

Kabbalah Revealed, Rav Michael Laitman PhD, 2006

Kabbalah found me. It is a philosophy of life, a practical guide and source to help us to live peacefully and thrive in today’s uncertain world. It is a full-fledged, complex and absorbing system that can deal intelligently with all the problems we face, and suggest daily practices that can be applied by all in everyday life.

On Love and Relationships

I Need Your Love, Is That True? Byron Katie, 2005

When I was ready to entertain an intimate relationship again, I sought out Byron Katie, an icon in relationships and cutting edge thinking and practices on how to experience authentic love with another person. This work includes the process she created called “The Work”. The process challenges beliefs around seeking love, approval and appreciation in a relationship and “turning them around” to uncover the emotional root of want. The book includes guidance and exercises to walk you through the process.

Calling in “The One”: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life, by Katherine Woodward Thomas, 2004

In order to find the relationship that will last a lifetime, you have to be truly open and ready to create a loving, committed, romantic union. Based on the Law of Attraction, which is the concept that we can only attract what we’re ready to receive, the provocative yet simple seven-week program of meditation, visualization, and journaling exercises will gently lead you to recognize the obstacles on your path to love and provide ways to steer around them. An inspirational approach that offers a radical new philosophy on relationships.

Opening to Love 365 Days a Year, Judith Sherven, PhD and James Sniechowski, PhD, 2000

I love this book. Each day is on a topic of love in a relationship, with another person or yourself. It includes a powerful, short statement that can be used as an intention or declaration for that day. A witty, provocative quote concludes the message. One of my favorites is, “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.” Anita Koddik.

The Hard Questions, Susan Piver, 2000

This tiny book asks the big questions on home, money, work, sex, family, health & food, children, community & friends, and spiritual life. It’s the face-to-face, conversational version of a dating site. You and your partner get to explore what really matters and your beliefs. I suggest making it like a game, “truth or dare”, “spin the bottle” or drawing the high card.

Reviews Coming Soon…
What You Feel, You Can Heal, John Gray PhD
Undefended Love, Psaris & Lyons

On Business

The Soul of Money, Lynne Twist, 2003

While on my journey to re-examine my personal beliefs and relationship with money, this body of work on prosperity consciousness presented itself. Twist invited me to “bring my soul to money, and money to my soul”. Her presentation on scarcity and sufficiency changed how I see money, earn it and spend it. I was able to replace many of my limiting attitudes towards money to more healthy beliefs.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth, Harv Eker, 2005

Harv Eker is a gifted author of belief change systems around money and our personal relationship with it. He terms the conditioned beliefs one has adopted as a personal money blueprint and how it determines ones financial lives. This book and many of his live training events help people to reset the money blueprint for increased prosperity and success.

The Four Hour Work Week, Timothy Ferriss, 2007

This book does not get stellar reviews with comments that it is more fluff than substance.  What I like about the book is it expands the mind on the options for creating income other than the traditional 9-5 J.O.B.   It has tips on how to get started on the ideas, if they are a good fit for you.  There are tools on time management and how to manage the enemies: procrastination and resistance. If you become irritated with a purchase not meeting expectations, check it out from a library.  That way whatever you glean from it will be of value.

Spiritual Economics; The Principles and Process of True Prosperity, Eric Butterworth, 2001

As part of my training as a spiritual coach and understanding that all aspects of my life are governed by laws of a spiritual nature, while not as familiar as the law of gravity, are very real.  I realized I needed to examine my beliefs on prosperity, wealth and affluence and uncover where I was buying into what I saw as lack and limitation.  Money governs every aspect of what we do, or don’t do.  Cultivating a consciousness that the only limitation is in the mind and can be changed to a “wealthful” mindset, is true freedom.

Appreciative Inquiry; Change at the Speed of Imagination, Jane Magruder Watkins and Bernard Mohr, 2001

What does a company focus on when something is not working?  The conventional approach is to focus on what is not working, and think about how you can fix them.  Another approach is to shift to a positive perspective, look at the things that are working, and build on them.  AI deliberately seeks to work from accounts of this “positive change core”—and it assumes that every living system has many untapped, rich and inspiring accounts of the positive. Link the energy of this core directly to any change agenda and changes never thought possible are suddenly and democratically mobilized.  A resource “how to” for any size business or organization.

On Spirituality

A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle, 2005

This is where it all started for me. Tolle explains in detail how the dysfunctional ego operates in our lives and how to put in the practice of living in the present moment to lessen its power and influence. The practice becomes recognizing and distinguishing when the ego is in play, detaching from it and operating from the divine, authentic self instead. Tolle offers practical tools on awakening to a new state of consciousness for a better way of life, and for a better world.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra, 1994

This is a must read for anyone on the path of conscious, aware living. Human beings are still operating from fear of the unknown with control, of any kind, being the action. If one can successfully apply just one or two of the universal principles laid out in this book, there will be a lighter, peaceful and successful life.

This Thing Called You, Ernest Holmes, 1948

Every single page is filled with insight, wisdom, and profound Truth. The Truth within you, for there is only one truth and that is defined by you and what that means in your life. What Holmes speaks about is the feeling, remembrance, that points us in the direction of our Higher Self, Truth.

You can engage in reading this work by changing all the pronouns in this book to the first person. So instead of reading it as “You” or “You are”, I now read it as “I”/”Me” “I am”/”I will”. It provides a powerful deeper perspective on how to apply this stuff to everyday living and even though this stuff is incredibly powerful, nothing is going to happen if it is not applied personally.

The War of Art, Steven Pressfield, 2002

A powerful book that exposes how resistance cleverly keeps one from accomplishing pretty much anything we start to make an improvement or change in our lives. Pressfield writes on where resistance is waiting to attack and suppress creativity, dedicating a few paragraphs or one to two page single pages describing how it shows up in our lives. Resistance is an insidious energy that can be mastered, and that is the good news.

The Essential RUMI, Translations by Coleman Barks, 2004

As I was gaining a new understanding of what LOVE was and how to express it from my heart space and rather than my head space, the writings of Rumi touched my soul to the depths as no other. In beautiful poetic prose, Rumi writes of the relationship with the Divine within. “Why should I seek? I am the same as he. His essence speaks through me. I have been looking for myself!”

The Untethered Soul; The Journey Beyond Self, Michael A. Singer, 2007

I feel this is the second most definitive work on self awareness to Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth.  Where Tolle describes the role of the ego and how it is a destructive energy force in many people’s lives, Singer provides detailed examples everyone can relate to and begin to apply to one’s life.  How one can move beyond pain and fear and live fully with an open heart.

Outwitting the Devil; The Secret to Freedom and Success, Napoleon Hill, 2011

The manuscript was locked away since 1938 for fear of the response it would invoke as Hill challenges conventional beliefs of the church, education, politics and society. Written as an interview between Hill and the Devil, Hill crafts a confession from the Devil on its existence and how control is gained over the minds of people.  A brilliant revealing study on the effect of fear and the working principles of the human mind.

Reviews Coming Soon…
Daring Greatly, Renee Brown
The Universe is Calling, Eric Butterworth
This Thing Called You, Ernest Holmes
The Foundation of Mysticism, Joel Goldsmith
Entering the Castle, Caroline Myss
Spiritual Liberation, Michael Beckwith
The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks
Every Word Has Power, Yvonne Oswald

On Moving Past Stuff

Radical Forgiveness, Colin Tipping, 2009

You only have to read the first chapter “Jill’s Story” to get the concept Tipping powerfully presents; that everyone who comes into our lives is for us to learn how to Love. Tipping explores the possibility that there is a divine purpose behind everything that happens. This book came to me while in a new relationship that was to state mildly, a 100% amplification of reasons I removed myself from a painful marriage. It was there to forgive and heal. His theory presents how to transform difficult emotions like anger, fear and resentment into love, gratitude and peace.

The Key, Joe Vitale, 2008

This is a comprehensive work that summarizes in an easy to read format the Universal Laws, how they operate and how to work with them. I picked up this book because it has powerful exercises on how to release old beliefs, pain, anger and hurt. The reason I use this work with myself and clients as it offers variety of processes to do work on specific areas of blockage. In addition to beautiful exercises for gratitude, forgiveness and self-love.

There is Nothing Wrong with You, Cheri Huber, 1993

Huber’s style is “keep it simple”. The pages are hand written with simple pictures to illustrate her teaching, we were taught there is something wrong with you. She proceeds to cut through the untruth. The illusion that our egoic thoughts are the reality cannot stand in her light. I believe that the process of self actualization and living in present moment awareness as joy and peace that passes all understanding is the process of first loving self. When we love ourselves unconditionally, that is when we can love others in the same manner, and that will create the world that thrives for everyone.

The Power of Decision, Raymond Charles Barker, 1968

One among the New Thought Movement during the turn of the century in East coast America. This book came to me during the time multiple major life events were occurring. I was in the place where I was aware of my old thought patterns, yet not quite fully confident in my inner guidance to make right decisions. This book provided specific steps to have confidence in the decisions I was making every day.

Embracing Uncertainty: Breakthrough Methods for Achieving Peace of Mind When Facing the Unknown, Susan Jeffers, 2004

I had many questions about the big world issues and how to reconcile them within my new communication awareness framework and how to live fully and authentically. Embracing Uncertainty is a powerful and healing book designed to offer a safety net in a world of never-ending change. It may be one of the most comforting and life-affirming books you will ever read. Her book is filled with tools you can put to use now to deal with all the uncertainty in your life with a sense of peace and possibility.

Reviews Coming Soon…
Why is This Happening to Me Again?, Michael Ryce
Feeling the Fear and Doing it Anyhow
Grieving Mindfully, Kumar
Being with Dying, Joan Halifax

Conscious Parenting

The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children, Dr. Shefali Tsabary, 2010

Finding solutions that work with the ever changing landscape of the world requires new thinking. We cannot continue to attempt to fix the major broken systems with the same thinking. To do this, we must develop our inner guidance to be present and make better choices for a world that works for everyone, rather than from a wounded ego state. Parenting provides a sacred responsibility to transcend our own dysfunctional behavior and more towards a mutual parent-with-child relationship. Dr. Tsabary speaks on how this can be achieved, to raise children in developing their inherent talents and gifts from a state of wholeness, transcending the legacy of dysfunction.

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