JOURNEY THROUGH BOOKS
Journey Through Books is a collection of books that have made a mark on my heart and mind. Our lives are forever growing and changing. More knowledge gives us the opportunity to be more aware and open to living a fuller, richer life. My hope is for you to add these gems to your “to-read” list and see how they may expand your mind to thinking and living differently. I will add new reviews frequently as books are necessary journeys I take on the daily. Click the banner “Journey Through Books” to follow what I’m reading on Goodreads.
The Great Work Of Your Life: A Guide For The Journey To Your True Calling - Stephen Cope
The Great Work Of Your Life was gifted to me from a coworker. She gave me the book because she knew I was seeking a new way of living.
The Great Work Of Your Life weaves profiles of well-known people throughout history and some of the author’s acquaintances with the story, Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita is an ancient text on dharma: life purpose.
The Great Work Of Your Life is a gripping read that keeps you wanting more. I loved reading the life paths of these historical people in detail that I’ve never found in a history book. They all accomplished their true purpose by surrendering and accepting fate. The book shares lives well lived to serve. None of the stories are about people living in wealth and relaxation. They’re about hard working people that grew their souls to allow for meaningful moments of change. The stories show how individuals served in the grandest way imaginable. At the time, in their lives they probably couldn’t even comprehend the importance of what they were doing. They were changing history. They surrendered their souls from attachments, expectations and judgements to build their own path forward.
Once Beethoven completely surrendered to his situation in life - his deafness and mental state, he said his music seemed to write itself. Harriet Tubman believed and trusted she was guided by God every step of her journey to set others free. Dame Jane Goodall’s passion pushed her to make her own rules as a scientist and listened to the “still small voice” that guided her.
I encourage all of you who love reading about change agents and miracle workers to pick up this exceptional book. The Great Work Of Your Life will empower YOU to work miracles and start changing history.
The Tao of Pooh - Benjamin Hoff
Originally, I learned about this book from Meghan Markle’s now deleted website, The Tig. Meghan recommended it among five books everyone should read in their lifetime. Markle wrote, "Aspects of Taoism told through the characters of 'Winnie the Pooh' – I mean, does it get better?”
I read the Tao Te Ching’s 81 verses earlier this year so The Tao of Pooh was a fun refresher on how to live. Live through the flow and you will always get to where you are meant to be. My favorite part of The Tao of Pooh is the explanation of using Wu Wei (our inner nature): “you go by circumstances and listen to your own intuition. This isn’t the best time to do this. I’d better go that way.When you do that sort of thing, people may say you have a Sixth Sense or something. All it really is, though, is being Sensitive to Circumstances. That’s just natural. It’s only strange when you don’t listen.” This book makes sense on an elementary level - it’s only strange if you don’t believe it.
The week I read The Tao of Pooh, I saw that the movie Christopher Robin was released. The movie was just as thought-provoking about life as this book. How wonderful it is when life magically flowing from one lesson to the next.
“I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I’ve been.” - Winnie-the-Pooh
You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life - Jen Sincero
In Feb. 2017, when I started reading You Are A Badass, I don’t believe I was ready for all it had to offer me because I kept putting it down and ultimately didn’t finish it until the end of May. At the time, I just finished my yoga teacher training so I had already begun shedding a lot of qualities I didn’t like about myself, but for individuals that have never self-reflected, she writes about how to start that process. Jen Sincero really pumps you up to be the person you want to become. You don’t become a GRAND soul by self-loathing in negative thoughts. Jen empowers you to rise up and to believe in your potential as a human being. She encourages you to truly BELIEVE you deserve to be living your dream life. She gives you permission to start working on who you want to BE so ALL your dreams can come true. Well done Jen, for all the people you are changing!
Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation - Bob Roth
I am a deeply curious truth seeker. I have an undeniable urge to know why people implement new methods of living and being in their lives and how it helps them. I like to research these methods to see if they can be beneficial in my divine life. Transcendental meditation has proven so, and has become a staple in my meditation practice. Once I learned my personal Bija mantra, I was well on my way to stillness through meditation. I have practiced many styles of meditation before I committed to transcendental meditation, which helped me to be disciplined enough to sit in meditation for the 20 minutes twice a day (a recommendation while practicing TM®.)
Bob Roth has taught transcendental meditation since the 1970s. He trained under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the twentieth century’s foremost scientist of consciousness and meditation. Bob Roth’s clients have been Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, and Gisele Bundchen to name a few.
In Strength in Stillness, Bob explains the benefits of transcendental meditation, and how it is different from other meditations. Bob is clear on how TM® has helped people around the world. He explains how his foundation is teaching this meditation in schools around the United States to help children with anxiety in their lives, and to individuals with PTSD. Throughout the book there are short passages written by his clients explaining their experience with transcendental meditation: how they connected with Bob, why they needed TM®, and how it changed their lives. Bob includes the research studies he is now currently conducting using transcendental meditation since meditation itself has not been clinically studied for its long term benefits.
If you are interested in meditation or wanting to start at the very most basic level, transcendental meditation is definitely for you. Transcendental meditation teachers make the practice extremely easy. Your mind will be in a state of clarity, your soul will thank you, and the guilt of time will completely disappear.
The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali - Patanjali & Chip Hartranft
In Yoga Teacher Training, all students read some version of the Yoga Sutra, which is a book of guidelines to enlightenment written before all the others just as imperfect since recalled by man.
Enlightenment is a final spiritual state where everything is understood and there is no more suffering or desire.
I always get excited reading these types of ancient texts as if they are going to tell me a secret about the world. The true golden nugget that will save me and make everything ok. There is a lot of dense depth to this book. I can share with you - if you never read it, but I sure hope you do! - that you can reach present awareness by just quietly observing. Observing without judgement, baggage or an agenda. You can reach present awareness while in the flow of yoga movements or simply sitting - watching nothing, doing nothing, being nothing, attached to nothing. The feeling and truth of oneness will welcome you whole and encompass you fully. Know this awareness is where blessings abound through a wonderful bodily and mindful sensation once felt and witnessed.