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December 2008 Newsletter Good BooksThank you Margaret G. and Nancy D. for mentioning the following two books. On my own I might not have picked up either of them, but now that I've read them I understand your enthusiastic endorsements. When Organizing Isn't Enough: Julie Morgenstern, author of the bestseller Organizing From The Inside Out, is back with a new book about getting unstuck in order to create the life you really want, even if you're not sure what that is. The transformational process she calls SHED consists of four steps: Separate the treasures, Heave the trash, Embrace your identity, and Drive yourself forward. SHEDing begins with thoughtfully naming a theme for the next chapter or phase of your life: vibrant health, close to nature, creative expression, boundless learning, offering expertise, circle of friends.... Along with motivating stories, Morgenstern offers readers effective tools to begin dealing with objects overflowing their spaces, commitments competing for their time, and habits working against them. Once the obsolete stuff is identified and let go, there is time and space to enjoy the treasures, move around, try new things, and reflect on the experience. SHEDing is a way to first discover and then create what you really want. What excites me the most about Morgenstern's latest work is the attention she gives to uncovering the positive motivators that sometimes lead to suffocation and paralysis by stuff. Something that appears and feels quite negative, can have truly positive roots. Not an advocate for shaming or ruthless de-cluttering, Morgenstern wants readers to understand the very real needs that drive a person to do what they do. Her goal is to help people understand and shift their behavior, using practical steps that lead to a new way of living. “You are standing at the doorway to possibility. You will experience a tremendous lightness of being—an energy you haven't felt for a long time—and the thrill of adventure all around you. Let yourself enjoy the release and the shifts in priorities. There is a sense of vitality, of owning your identity—and choosing your life. You will begin to come up with more ideas of what you want, because now you have space to think. And ideas will have time to develop, because you are no longer distracted with piles of “stuff” or bad habits that you are fighting on a daily basis.” -Julie Morgenstern
Harmonic Wealth: “Harmonic Wealth isn't just about material abundance.... It's about abundance in all areas of your life.” In his new book James Arthur Ray focuses on five key areas, which he refers to as the five pillars: financial, relational, mental, physical and spiritual. In the first chapter Ray includes a simple way to start noting the abundance in your life, using just a few questions for each of the five areas. How much do you want in your financial freedom account? Do you treat yourself the way you want other people to treat you? How many books do you choose to read per month, per year? Do you have all the toys you want? Have you discovered that one-on-one connection with your creative source? Many of the ideas and exercises included in Harmonic Wealth will sound familiar, especially if you've read other books on the topic of attracting and creating what you want. What distinguishes this book is the person of James Arthur Ray. Page by page, I developed a genuine liking for him and his unique style. He is a voracious learner, willing to grapple with ideas, someone who has traveled the world to educate himself. He loves life and wants to share what works for him. Throughout the book he includes portions of his own story, for instructional and entertainment purposes, giving readers permission to consider their own complicated histories and realize what still holds them back. I appreciate that Ray writes transparently about coming to his own understanding of true wealth. You might recognize James Arthur Ray as one of the featured experts in The Secret. If you liked his approach and ideas in the movie, I think you'll really enjoy the more in-depth presentation this book allows. “I struggle a bit with the label self-help, even if that's the section where you found this book, because I come from the premise that you're already perfect, magnificent, and divine. To my way of thinking, self-help says that you're broke and need to be fixed. I prefer personal transformation. Personal transformation says that no matter how fantastic things are for you, you can always grow, expand, and more fully express yourself. There's always room to receive more of the richness and wealth the universe has to offer. If you're currently struggling in any area, it doesn't mean you're not perfect. It just means you're ready for shift.” -James Arthur Ray
I'm mentioning three more books I'm excited to have stumbled upon. They might make a wonderful gift for someone on your holiday list, or for you. Notes From The Universe: New Perspectives from an Old Friend “What if the Universe were to send you frequent reminders of the absolute power you have over your life?” from the back cover of Notes From The Universe The trilogy, Notes From The Universe, originated as daily thoughts written by Dooley and sent from the Universe to a list of subscribers, now numbering over 250,001. Dooley intends to delight, encourage and inspire you to think and live large and true—right now—today. He wants you to remember: “Thoughts become things.” These “reminders of life's magic and our divinity” began as a labor of love. Even though Dooley has written thousands of them, you can still feel the love. If you are interested in signing up to receive the free Monday through Friday daily notes, visit Dooley's website below. Once you're there, I'd encourage you to take a few minutes to read more about Dooley. His path to his life's work is an interesting story. FYI: “tut” stands for “totally unique thoughts.”
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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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