This book is a powerful parable of loss, love, and redemption. It is the triumphant tale of personal growth and change that will inspire anyone who has ever wished for a second chance. The introduction tells of a real-life car accident that Brendon had a decade ago that served as a wake-up call and precipitated this fictional message.
Brendon narrates a fantasy trip through a ghostly mountain amusement park that offers visitors a "golden ticket," or second chance at transforming their lives. The price of admission to the closed-down park, the narrator discovers, is to be open to possibility, face the truth and give up believing that change equals pain. He also must stick closely to his host, Henry, who serves as a wise counselor. During the narrator's trip, he samples various amusement park rides (all with allegorical meaning) and revisits his past. Each carnie he meets is a motivational guide with spiritual wisdom to impart. The themes are: risk change; forgiveness; take responsibility; be bold; contribute; look at the other person's point of view. And the final lesson and one Brendon advocates is: live fully, love openly and make a difference. Readers dissatisfied with their lives but not wild about nonfictional self-help books may find inspiration for change here. If you are interested in reading this inspiring story click on the book store page and find it under Inspirational on the drop down menu.
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As you know, I’m a great advocate of building up and bringing out the best in people. In Alan Loy McGinnis book, Bringing Out the Best in People, he does an excellent job promoting this concept and gives you 12 key principles on how to do it. McGinnis arrived at these principles by studying great leaders throughout history, the most effective organizations, and many prominent psychologists. Through his research he has discovered their motivational secrets. He shares fascinating case studies and anecdotes about Lee Lacocca, Sandra Day O'Connor, Helen Keller, Mother Teresa and many others, and shows how you can put his 12 key principles to work in your family or organization. Whether you are a parent, executive, teacher, or friend, you can gain the satisfaction that comes from bringing the best out in people.
Alan provides a list of guidelines for how to motivate people to be their best and then gives great examples from people's lives. He tells us from the beginning he's approaching his subject from a Christian perspective. He argues that people have the predisposition that they do not want to be lethargic and bored, they want to be challenged. He writes, "Deep in the breast of everyone there is a drive to achieve something, to be somebody." McGinnis makes an insightful observation on listening. He says if you listen to people long enough they will tell you what motivates them. He includes a lot about encouragement and creating the proper environment to bring out the best in people. That means leaving room for failure, because as risks are taken, sometimes failure will result. Failure is temporary. This book will help you gain a greater focus if you read it and follow what it suggests. Your communication skills with other people will be enhanced. Others will respect you more as you learn to relate to them more effectively. You'll need to read it a few times to grasp all the pearls of wisdom. However, the great thing is you can start applying what you learn immediately since he explains the basic principle first and backs it up with examples thereafter. I think this quote beautifully sums up the purpose of the book. In McGinnis’ words, “I discovered that virtually everyone is a motivator in one situation or another--when we're persuading a friend to lose weight, or giving a pep talk to our kids, or trying to help a hitter out of a slump, we're motivators. Either we are doing it poorly or we are doing it well. It is the purpose of this book to pass on to you principles which will enable you to do it well. If you will incorporate them into your everyday dealings with people, I am convinced that you will find yourself getting ahead at a surprising rate. What is more important, the people around you will be very grateful. For our chief want, as Emerson said, is for someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” I hope you will be interested in reading this book as it gives great tips on how to build others up. To purchase the book, click on the book store page and find the book on the drop down menu under Influence. The story in a nutshell is about how Mackenzie Allen Phillips deals with his anger against God, the guilt and sadness he experiences because of the abduction and death of his daughter. Mack’s youngest daughter, Missy, had been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in the midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there changes his life forever and most likely will change yours, as it did mine.
I have never gone through what Mack went through. However, even though I can never know his grief and guilt there are still so many lessons in this book that helped and changed me for the better. Even if the basis of the story may not be appealing, the surrounding lessons will be well worth your time to read. This book is one of my favorites to read and I have read it over and over and each time I gain new insights. Each time I read it I cry, I laugh and I praise and come away feeling closer to God. It is not only the story of how Mackenzie Allen Phillips deals with his anger against God, the guilt and sadness of the abduction and death of his daughter, but it is a moving story of God’s love. It may just change your life on how you look at God, at Jesus and at the Holy Spirit. When I read it, I felt like I was fellowshipping with God. "The Shack" is a one of a kind invitation to a journey into the very heart of God. This is a short review, but there is nothing more that I can say except you need to read the book for yourself. I highly recommend this book. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, click go to the Book Store page and click on Inspirational on the dropdown menu . Reinventing Yourself: How To Become The Person You've Always Wanted To Be By Steve Chandler2/18/2014 Review by Dana Bosley
The great challenge in life is to believe that you can change. “There's not necessarily something wrong with you, but you do it for the sheer joy of it”, Chandler says. There are two kinds of people, victims and owners. Transforming oneself from the victim mindset to the owner mindset is the purpose of this book. Throughout the book, the "owner" and "victim" are compared. Victims think power is beyond their control. Their core belief is that life is unfair. Owners are happy, not easily discouraged. Victims allow things to happen to them; owners make things happen. Language is a powerful weapon: victims use "should" and "ought," owners use "can" and "will." The victim is "swamped" by all the things he/she has to do; the owner is "focused" on the tasks before him/her. Owners address problems rather than avoiding them. Practice is a powerful weapon against the mediocre life. Losing is not defeat. Happiness can be mastered. I very much liked this book and concur with what Mr. Chandler says about victims and owners. If you are familiar with my Motivational Minutes, you know that I have written on “victims” as well as positive thinking, yet I too continue to find the need to actively battle negative self chatter and promote positive thinking and taking action. I highly recommend this book. Reinventing Yourself is a great book to help you see if you have a victim or owner mentality. Chandler helps you convert what could have been into what will be. He is not strong on the how-tos or techniques for breaking down negative barriers and letting go of pessimistic thoughts that prevent you from fulfilling, or even allowing yourself to conceive of your goals and dreams, however, by the end of the book you will realize which person (the victim or owner) lives within you, and acknowledging that is half the battle. Although I have found other books like Ask and It is Given by Ester and Jerry Hicks to have more helpful techniques, Steve’s book has some unique ideas such as the chapter on the 'ladder of selves' which I found quite interesting and I put this to use with very good results. I've found it's helped me to have a more balanced perspective. So while reading, grab a pen and paper and jot down ideas which will change your life and help you literally reinvent yourself. Steve's method is to help us learn the words to say to ourselves. He believes victims are victims of their own defeated thinking. What they watch, read and listen to can make them happy or sad. You literally have to reprogram your mind. Once you have done this and come to see the human spirit as a fire that needs to be lit daily, you can finally learn how to invite happiness into your life on a daily basis, no matter what the circumstances. Overall, this book is really about taking the old you, or parts of the old you, that you don't like and changing into the new you that you want to become. Good questions to ask yourself are: Is my current behavior getting in the way of me enjoying certain aspects of my life? Am I dragging other people down with me, including my loved ones? If so, do I want to change, or keep living half of the life I could be living? The real question though is: Are you brave enough to admit there's something about you that you wish to change/reinvent? And if so, are you willing to take it further—to walk along the path to make that change in yourself? Chandler shows us where to start and where we want to go from here. His statement, “You are the problem”, is one of his most valuable teachings. Because I own the problem, I become the solution. This simple idea seems harmless, but it is the most efficient tool to transform yourself. And the best thing about Chandler's method is that you can start anywhere, any time in your life. I highly recommend this book. If you are interested in acquiring a copy for yourself, or for a loved one, it is posted in the book store under self-improvement. Review by Coach Dana
This book is a story about a healthy, together, on top of everything guy who loses his sight in a mountain climbing accident and his journey back to life. Together, is a beautifully written book that allows the reader to journey into emotions and places one does not normally dare to go. It takes a look into the heart of a man who has never had to totally trust others and reveals how he discovered that in trusting others he could totally trust himself. Although this book is a novel it shares many wonderful lessons and deep truths. I enjoyed this book on many levels. It’s a great read if you love animals. It has lessons on mountain climbing, on over coming, having a positive attitude, relationships and more. The story does an excellent service in giving those who have not had experience with disability or service animals exposure to the fantastic love, intelligence, and unlimited promise, of these "best friends". For those learning to adapt to a disability, it also offers not just sentimental "hope", but a very real introduction to how the world will change, NOT end, for those who must adapt. But more than an encouragement to anyone with a disability it shows those who have no disabilities how dysfunctional and disabled we are in living life to the full. The thing I like about this book the most is the lessons on relationships and how having freedom and independence are important, yet trust and inter-dependence are the real keys to deep and meaningful relationships. As Barnes, Brenden’s counselor said “I told you that there was independence, dependence, and interdependence, and that life would start to take shape when you understood that idea.” … "Interdependence carries with it the concept of sacrifice: One person giving to the other without reservation or hesitation and doing it out of love. People can seem to be in love, giving all the right impressions, but still be selfish. To love selflessly is a constant, quiet kind of thing. It's our greatest gift. In the end it's what brings us the most satisfaction in life.” Later in the book Brenden explains the oneness he feels with his ski instructor who later becomes his wife. And when climbing the mountain again with his best friend he says, "This whole thing is about interdependence, like Smitty always said. We need to be able to rely on each other. Actually, I think that's the way all of life's supposed to work." This book is a lovely gift of the sharing of souls. If you are interested in acquiring this book please go to the book store under Inspirational dropdown menu. P.S. I read another book by Tom Sullivan--You Are Special. Another excellent book, about self-worth. Sorry to say, it seems like it is out of print now. However, if you ever see it I also recommend it. Review by Dana Bosley
Personal Development Coach I’m a great fan of Julia Cameron and her writings. One of my favorite books that she wrote is called The Artist Way. A review on that book is coming soon. In The Prosperous Heart, Julia Cameron presents a 12-week program for using practical financial tools—in partnership with your creative heart and soul—to guide you to prosperity in all areas of your life. According to Cameron, true prosperity has very little to do with the amount of money we have in the bank. Rather, it is about possessing a generous heart and the ability that affords us to see clearly, and appreciate, the aspects of our lives that are truly valuable. With inspiring daily tools, exercises, and strategies, this book guides readers in developing a life that is full, satisfying, and secure—both fiscally and spiritually. The book is chock-full of other down-to-earth material such as myths about money, trusting that we live in a benevolent universe and that things will turn out okay, clearing clutter from our lives, finding community, and taking to heart the spiritual virtues and practices of forgiveness, kindness, generosity, and perseverance. However, most of all the book is about having a prosperous heart—having a meaningful life, having enough, being happy and content and rejoicing in your blessings. I very much enjoyed reading it as it goes right along with all the things I value. At times I even found myself thinking that I wish I had written the book as I have lived by faith for over 40 years and I have found the things she teaches to be true and trust worthy. Readers will find tools, such as Morning Pages (three hand-written stream-of-consciousness journal pages written first thing in the morning), and a 20-minute daily walk. New tools for financial recovery include Counting, keeping a small journal of every penny earned and spent over the course of the 12-week program, and Abstinence, a complete abstaining from any further incurrence of debt. I can assure you that if you follow her advice it will work. I found the quotes on the side bar to be wonderful, many of them I have used in my own writing. I did an exercise of my own and wrote down the things that a prosperous heart is which gave me a wonderful way to review the book. There are parts of the book you may or may not enjoy. She shares a lot of her personal life and day to day activities. I quite enjoyed it, but I can see how some may question, “What does this have to do with prosperity?” I think the point she is trying to make is that prosperity does not only consist of money, but much more. She is generously sharing her journey with you. If you are one of those who question in this way, don’t get bogged down by that distraction but try to discover the principles she is trying to illustrate and put them into practice in your own life. If you need help with your financial as well as your spiritual life, this book is for you. You can obtain the book by going to the book store under the drop down menu click self-improvement. Review by Dana Bosley
I found this book very helpful, relatable and healing. As you know if you have read my writings, I’m big on combating negative self-chatter and building up self-worth. Our so called “inadequacies” and the shame, guilt and fear that come along with it can be debilitating. Instead of living our lives in a meaningful, joyous and helpful way those obstacles can stunt our growth. I was pleased to find that Brown’s research as a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging, confirms and validates my own research and my own theory of the seven principles of meaningful living. You can find that article that I base my life coaching practice and writings of the Motivational Minutes on, in the archives of my blog under meaningful living in the category list. Brown has made a career out of studying difficult emotions such as fear and shame. She is a brave woman to address these uncomfortable feelings that many people care not to address. She courageously tackles the dark emotions that get in our way of leading a fuller life. I highly recommend this book as I found in reading it that some of that courage rubbed off on me. In this book she shares ten guideposts on the power of what she calls “wholehearted living”. Each guidepost is the focus of a chapter that contains illustrative stories, primarily from her own life; definitions, including the difference between shame and guilt; great quotes; and brief suggestions of activities or exercises to help you take action on her commentary. She emphasizes that above all other ingredients of living an emotionally healthy life is the importance of loving ourselves. I find this is really true but is often hard to grasp especially for those who have sacrificial and giving natures. However, I have found that you cannot give out of an empty vessel and it makes helping and loving others more effective if you love and respect yourself. The thing I like about this book is how she explains shame and fear and explains ways of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness. She intersperses her own personal journey with research and clinical observations of others of the work of living a “wholehearted” life, or “engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness.” The point is to embrace life and oneself with all the imperfections, releasing the stress of overdoing and overworking. I found the exercises for readers useful to continue my own development of growth and to be able to stand up to unrealistic expectations of others and myself as well as overcoming shame and inadequacies. Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while wanting in our deepest hearts to be accepted for what we are and to stop having to prove ourselves. In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, "No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough," and to go to bed at night thinking, "Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging." If you are interested in acquiring this book you can find it in the book store section of this site under the drop down menu self-improvement. Review by Coach Dana Bosley
(Personal Development Coach) Over the years I have read this book more than 10 times and each time I learn something new. I always find something helpful and useful. It was especially helpful when I was in customer service and had to answer complaint mail, but the wisdom in these pages has also proven valuable in every other job I’ve held and in my relations with others in general. What it boils down to is when I put into practice the principles found in this book life goes easier, and when I don’t it doesn’t. As Carnegie explains, the majority of our success in life depends on our ability to communicate and manage personal relationships effectively whether at home or at work. This book will help you discover and develop the people skills you need to live well and prosper. It is one of the best known motivational books in history and has helped countless people to succeed in both their personal lives and business. It appeals equally to business audiences, self-help audiences, and general readers alike, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. We all can use help in our relationships and this book teaches us how. He addresses the fine art of getting along with people. The core principles of this book, originally written as a practical, working handbook on human relations are proven effective. He explains the fundamentals of handling people with a positive approach, how to make people like you, and how to be the kind of leader who inspires quality work, increased productivity and high morale. He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. One of the core ideas in this book is that it is possible to change other people's behavior by changing one's reaction to them. Carnegie says you help people cooperate by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, help people see your way of thinking, and influence people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks which makes it very relatable, interesting and easy to see just how to put the principle he is discussing into practice. I highly recommend this book. It has helped me immeasurably and continues to do so on each new reading of it. I can’t think of anyone it wouldn’t do the same for, everyone should read it. It is a great guide to being a better person while at the same time it is easy to read and follow Dale’s practical guidance. If you are interested in acquiring this book you can find it in the the book store under communication.
It may seem a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to get your Christmas gift and card shopping out of the way now so that you can sit back and enjoy the magic of Christmas without having to get caught up in last minute planning and shopping? I think it would, so I decided to highlight this week the book called “The Wonder of Christmas” one of the books from the Special Days Gift Book Series to give you enough time to order in time for Christmas.
This is a magical book—a collection of Christmas quotes, anecdotes and meditations sure to awaken the spirit of Christmas in you. It would make a nice gift for just about anyone. I also found a great Christmas card idea from Aurora products that I'd like to share with you and that I have included in the book store under the drop down menu Gift Books at the bottom of the site page. Each of the unique cards features a CD of Christmas carols combining traditional and original music—to make wonderful Christmas card/gifts! It is a brilliant, extraordinary and special way to wish your contacts, clients, employees, friends and/or family a Merry Christmas. If you are not interested in Christmas cards, but like the idea of a “CD card” Aurora also offers other greeting cards on a variety of topics such as baby showers, encouragement, romance, children’s birthday, general greetings and more. Each card is beautifully illustrated, and includes a CD of delightful music on the topic of the card. In addition to English, the gift books and the CD cards are available in various languages and they have international shipping. Click either of the above pictures for more information on these fantastic cards and “The Wonder of Christmas”, and while you're at it, check out the book store for a great selection of good reads that will make wonderful Christmas presents as well. Review by Coach Dana Bosley (Personal Development Coach)
This book is not your average self-help book. Larry's no-nonsense, humorous style, has earned him the titles "Pit-bull of Personal Development" and "World's Only Irritational Speaker." One of the fundamental principles of change is that you have to take action to achieve change. You have to accept responsibility for your life. Larry motivates you to take action on his simple formula: Your life is your own fault, if you shut up, stop whining, and take action, your life will get better. His "get off your butt and go to work" approach to self-improvement, includes tangible advice and has worked for millions, including myself. He offers some great affirmations, some of the best I have ever used, and the brash approach really helped me learn the keys to turning my life, money and business around by following Larry’s advice: Stop making excuses, stop blaming others and take responsibility for your life and see results. This book is not a warm and fuzzy book. If you are hoping to change your life without action, then this book isn’t for you. However, if you’re ready to stop your whining, get to work, and take action to really change your life, than Larry is effective with his brutal, honest straight talk and tough-love approach. Larry wants to see you succeed and is not afraid to rub some reality in your face to help you do it. I highly recommend this book. If you would like to buy this book you can click here. |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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