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December 2006 Newsletter Good BooksPerfectly Yourself We expect self-help books to focus on the changes we want or need to make in our lives. That's why this title, Perfectly Yourself, appealed to me. It's almost a radical thought to think of already being perfectly yourself, whatever that might mean. Well, it turns out that Kelly is focusing on becoming a "best" or "better-version-of-yourself." This is still self-improvement, but with gentleness. It's about staying true to self-not attempting to become someone else who you will never be, at least not happily. Kelly's selection of nine lessons reads like a touchstone, inviting us to remember: What does really matter in this life? The lessons won't be unfamiliar to most readers, but many of us want to hear them again: celebrate your progress, just do the next right thing, put character first, find what you love and do it, live what you believe, be disciplined, simplify, focus on what you are here to give, and patiently seek the good in everyone and everything. Kelly offers insights, stories and approaches to "imperfectly" living these lessons, with examples coming from his work with others and his own life. Each of the nine chapters ends with an excellent summary of the lesson, followed by very empowering steps for applying it. This makes it easy to review a chapter and refresh its lesson during a brief morning or evening meditation. I wish the book's editor had noticed and encouraged Kelly to remove several statements about women, parenting and children that felt inappropriate. Other than that, I recommend the book. "Let this idea guide you. Whatever is stopping you from becoming the-best-version-of-yourself, cast it from your life ... and whatever is helping you to become the-best-version-of-yourself, embrace it with all your heart, mind, body, and soul. If you are to be happy, it will be as yourself-not as what someone else wants you to be or expects you to be or wishes you were but as your own wonderful self." -Matthew Kelly
You Can Have What You Want The back cover of Neill's book reads, "Would you like to discover an easy, fun way to live the life of your dreams? This book can change your life for the better just by reading it..." Thousands of mediocre books sell when they promise readers quick and easy transformation. Neill's book could have been one of those, but it's not; it's different. Neill is as an international success coach, master trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, writes a syndicated coaching column and magazine column, and hosts You Can Have What You Want on Hay House Radio. Neill's book is a handbook filled with exactly what readers need: short snappy sections and proven strategies. Part I, "Creating a life that makes you go "WOW," focuses on knowing, trusting, inspiring and loving yourself; it also introduces the idea of effortless success. Part II guides readers through "nine key life obstacles that people use to stop themselves from having what they really want in life": information, skill, belief, well-being, other people, motivation, time, money, and fear. Neill suggests reading and working with these nine chapters in any order that seems relevant and trying some of the experiments. He makes the point that you don't need to do everything in order to succeed. One unique feature, "From theory to practice," appears in boxes throughout the book. This is an opportunity for you to test whether the information being presented actually works for you. "If a wonderful life is the sum total of a whole lot of wonderful days, what can we do to ensure we have as many wonderful days as possible?" [Look for Neill's top ten tips in the epilogue.] -Michael Neill
Louise Hay
Power Thought Cards Cheryl Richardson
Sonia Choquette
Denise Linn Soul Coaching Oracle Cards Shakti Gawain
Eckhart Tolle
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phone: 651-644-7766 • mail@LaurieMattila.com • www.LaurieMattila.com Bless the time spent here… seeking listening dreaming.
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