Book Review-The Dynamic Laws of Prayer

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Aug 012017
 

The Dynamic Laws of Prayer
by Catherine Ponder

“Pray and Grow Rich” was the first book by Catherine Ponder that I ever read. When I decided to review it, I thought that it was out of print when I couldn’t find it under that name. I was upset, because I knew how valuable the information was. But then I was relieved to find it under the title, “The Dynamic Laws of Prayer.” The second title more closely describes what the book is about.

Prayer helps bring us closer to the God within, contact Its power and releases that energy into our lives. Rev. Ponder dispels the notion that prayer is passive and pleading with a far off deity. In this book, she describes the many different ways we can pray and that prayer is individual. By tackling the difficult issues of what to do when prayer isn’t immediately answered, she assures us that it’s to help us grow into the result.

The information goes deeply into how to approach the power within you and express it, even if there are blocks in the way. This book addresses the use of affirmations, meditation in the silence, what to do to eliminate unwanted conditions, and much, much more. As with all of her books, it is filled with affirmations. If you want to change your life, this book will give you the tools to do so.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Positive Imaging: The Powerful Way to Change Your Life

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Jul 052017
 

Positive Imaging: The Powerful Way to Change Your Life
by Norman Vincent Peale

I’ve worked with visualization and imaging for over forty years, and in that time have read many books on the subject. This is one of the best books I’ve read that not only describes the process, but also explains how it can specifically help in various aspect of your life.

Dr. Peale doesn’t define imaging as a magical process that alone will make all your problems disappear, but as one that opens up the way for solutions and guidance. Once the goal has been set and visualized, then there must be “discipline, determination, patience, and persistence” for the idea to become reality. Using examples and success stories, Dr. Peale explains how imaging can improve self-esteem, finances, success, worry, relationships, health, faith and much more.

Known for his wisdom and ability, Dr. Peale helps people change their attitudes towards their everyday problems. This book shows how using the natural ability of imaging, your challenges can be conquered. The technique he describes is very simple, and is used by everyone each day. I recommend it highly for anyone wanting to learn more about the important tool of visualization.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-What You Think Of Me Is None Of My Business

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May 292017
 

What You Think of Me is None of My Business
by Terri Cole-Whittaker

This title would be a fantastic mantra for most of us. We spend too much time trying to please other people. In doing so, we twist ourselves out of shape, compromise our deepest beliefs, abandon and stifle our uniqueness.

This book is all about our relationship to ourselves and others and how to be true to our real selves. Ms. Cole-Whittaker systematically goes through the different areas that we restrict ourselves to gain approval, such as abundance, guilt, health, relationships, competition and dismantles our excuses for doing so.

In her chapter on “Everyone Can Win,” she addresses the dissatisfaction of employees, and gives guidance to them and their bosses about how to improve their fulfillment.

Each chapter ends with some self-awareness questions and strategies, and includes three affirmations to implement the changes. This book will change the way you think about every area of your life. And as we know, when you change the way you think, your life changes in response.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review – The Dream Encyclopedia

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Apr 182017
 

The Dream Encyclopedia
by James R. Lewis

I’m not one much for dream interpretation books. Dream symbols tend to be personal, but sometimes I encounter a very puzzling symbol. In this case, I use a guide like “The Dream Encyclopedia” to help give me a direction to explore the meaning for myself. This encyclopedia has an excellent section on dream symbol interpretation that’s been very helpful, but it’s only about one-third of the book. The rest of the material is about much, much more than that.

The bulk of the information covers everything related to dreaming in an A to Z format and goes into great depth. The entries explain who various people, religions, cultures and deities are in relationship to dreaming. It explores various approaches to dreaming, from the ancient past to the present, including sleep research. It would be hard to believe there’s anything even remotely related to dreaming that doesn’t have a mention in this book. Each entry also has a bibliography of the source of that information.

I was enthralled with this encyclopedia. If you’re interested in dreaming, more than just interpreting them, then you must have this book. It would also be a great gift for someone who is interested in this subject.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Stake Your Claim

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Feb 282017
 

Stake Your Claim: Exploring the Gold Mine Within
By Emmet Fox

This book was the first one by this author that I ever read. The practical, spiritual advice from it made him one of my favorite metaphysical authors. Dr. Fox was a well-known spiritual teacher and his insight is timeless.

The title of the book refers to staking your claim to the good that you want in your life. Short, to the point essays about peace, prosperity, empowerment and much more form the chapters of this book. Each essay addresses a different subject, and stands alone in its wisdom.

The counsel in this book will uplift your thoughts, help you gain a more positive, spiritual outlook on what ever difficulty you might be experiencing, and help you live a richer, fuller life. Because of the short essays, this is the perfect book to read in the morning to get the day started right, just before going to sleep, or at any other time when you only have a few minutes to spare.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-Recreating Your Self

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Jan 262017
 

Recreating Your Self: Building Self-Esteem Through Imaging and Self-Hypnosis
by Nancy J. Napier

Most of my clients struggle with self-esteem issues. They have feelings of shame, worthlessness, and due to old programming, don’t take the steps necessary to support their own health and well-being. This book is a great resource to anyone who has experienced these challenges.

The author addresses the subjects of healing the inner child, reviewing past abuses in the light of our current understanding, connecting with our healed, future self and much more. Especially helpful to me was the chapter on the protective parts. These parts were created to help us in a time of stress. Based on the old information, they continue to  control us, and many times this actually hurts our desire to heal. However, we can update their protection and turn them into resources that support us in the present day.

Instructions, exercises and scripts for self-hypnosis accompany each of her chapters to do the inner work and heal. This book is a wonderful addition to anyone who has read John Bradshaw’s books on healing the inner child, or who has had a dysfunctional childhood and wishes to resolve the old wounds to become a happier person.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-The Power of Positive Thinking

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Dec 212016
 

The Power of Positive Thinking
by Norman Vincent Peale

This is one of the true classics in mind power literature. I resisted reading this book for many years, and when I finally did, was blown away by the wisdom in it. The author gives succinct, practical advice on how to deal with many of our daily problems, from self-worth to releasing worry.

Well versed in the concept of the subconscious mind, Dr. Peale explains how to use prayer, affirmations and visualization for best effect. Drawing on the Bible for much of his teaching, he uses Bible verses for affirmations and constructive thinking.

Although this book was written by a Christian minister, it is useful to all philosophies because its principles go beyond religious barriers. Filled with stories and examples, this book is enjoyable to read and will fill the reader with inspiration, confidence and faith.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-The Holographic Universe

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Nov 022016
 

The Holographic Universe: The Revolutionary Theory of Reality
by Michael Talbot

Like myself, many of you have seen the movie, “What The Bleep Do We Know?” If you found this movie to be as mind altering as I did, then you’ll find “The Holographic Universe” to be equally amazing.

This book goes into great detail to explain and show that we all create our own reality, and that we have the ability to create any reality that we want. Do you want to develop psychic abilities, improve your health or have more wealth? Then read this book.

Mr. Talbot tells how the universe is like a giant hologram, and that matter and consciousness work together to create and alter that hologram. He backs up his statements with fascinating information from various studies done by scientist from around the world.

When I started reading this book I couldn’t go through it fast enough. It answered questions about life and the universe that I’d had for years by combining what sounded like fanciful New Age ideas with hard scientific fact. Merging these seemingly opposite ideas created a unified explanation of existence that showed that the universe is indeed our playground.

So if you’re looking for an explanation of how the universe works, and where you fit into it, then read “The Holographic Universe.” Open yourself to its ideas and it will truly change your life for the better.

This review is by Jeff Colburn, a freelance photographer and writer, whose photographs and articles have been used by publications and businesses for over 35 years. Jeff specializes in Fine Art and stock photography of Arizona, and has his Fine Art photographs in the New State Motor Building Gallery in Jerome, Arizona. Visit Jeff’s fine art and stock photography site, www.JeffColburn.com, showing the beauty and wonder of Arizona.

Book Review – Forgiving the Unforgivable

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Oct 042016
 

Forgiving the Unforgivable: Overcoming the Bitter Legacy of Intimate Wounds by Beverly Flanigan, M.S.S.W.

If you’ve ever been hurt by someone close to you, past or present, and need some help in dealing with it and getting to forgiveness, this book is for you. Not only does the author walk you through the journey of recognizing and acknowledging the injury, assigning responsibility, and describing the steps a person goes through along the way, but she also includes many exercises and tools to handle all of these phases.

When we’re wounded by someone close to us in a way that betrays the foundation of the relationship, then we feel like our world has been turned upside down. It forces us to re-evaluate our beliefs, and who we are. Our sense of stability and safety has been violated. To be able to heal from this, we have to examine the injury and its consequences.

As spiritual people, many of us believe that we have to take responsibility for everything that happens to us. That’s true to a certain extent. But we can’t control another person’s feelings and actions. So we need to assign responsibility to who actually, consciously and with intent, harmed us. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pardoning the other person. It’s letting go of the anger, empowering ourselves to move on, and recognizing that the wound has changed who we are. We set them free and ourselves free.

Forgiveness is a process of healing, not an eraser of hurt. This comprehensive book explains how to move through that process successfully and grow from it.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Book Review-“Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life”

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Aug 252016
 

Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life
by Martin Seligman, Ph.D.

Wow! This is another book that I recommend to my clients, participants in my classes, and practically anyone who’s ever experienced depression, pessimism, or difficulty in achieving their dreams. Based on over twenty years worth of research, Dr. Seligman shows how optimism combats depression, improves health, enhances success, and much more. Not a rah-rah book for being positive, it covers the questions about his research and how he came to his conclusions.

There are exercises to test whether you’re optimistic or not, and how depressed you might be. A thought always precedes an emotion, and Dr. Seligman found that pervasive negative thoughts always preceded a person’s depression. He describes how some people “learn” to be helpless, and then don’t try, even when they are assured of success. If you’re a parent, teacher, or have a child in your life, the author explains how children become pessimistic and how it affects their lives. He even addresses the conditions when realistic thinking, not optimism, is best in the situation.

Best of all, this book gives instructions on how to change your thinking from pessimistic to optimistic. You simply have to learn how to change the way you explain the situations of your life to yourself. In other words, change your internal dialogue.

It’s an engrossing and entertaining read, considering that it covers much of his research. But it also gives case histories of people who have changed their lives. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

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