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Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul's Potential (2008)

by Michael Bernard Beckwith(Favorite Author)

4.21 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1582701997 (ISBN13: 9781582701998)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Atria Books/Beyond Words

review 1: One jewel after another. Favorite parts:When facing challenges in your life, ask yourself "What gift within me is seeking to emerge?""Anything from my past of a moment ago that would hinder [me] ... has returned to the nothingness from which it came. I do not have to coerce enlightenment to occur, I have only to welcome it...""As discursive thoughts arise that are no aligned with my intention, I calmly discard them without judgment. They have no power over me."EVOLVED People:* give thanks for what most people ordinarily take for granted (such as breathing, digestion, and other workings of the body; such as the colors and light of nature or the room you are standing in...)* experience life as a celebration rather than a problem to be solved.* choose happiness over d... morerama.
review 2: I have to admit I became acquainted with Beckwith first as a motivational speaker while watching a program on PBS called "The Answer is You". His delivery was a bit like listening to your typical evangelical preacher, but with the twist that his topic was a little broader--I mean, in what evangelical church are you going to hear a sermon titled "the answer is you" rather than the "answer is (God/Jesus/Salvation/Redemption,etc.)"? I checked out this book as a way to gain a better sense of where Beckwith is coming from and what his message truly is. When reading it you may be reminded of other popular books (like "The Secret"—in which Beckwith is quoted) that deal with similar topics, such as creating your reality through positive thinking and focusing on the abundance in the world. But I feel like this book kind of picks up where others leave off. In here, Beckwith offers meditative guides, background into spiritual practices (from Christianity as well as other world religions), and encouragement that change is possible. Really his text is a rally for everyone to jump on the "love train" (seriously, and I'm pretty positive he wouldn't mind me saying so). He focuses quite a bit on discovering/embracing your natural "gifts", and (like Ruiz' "Four Agreements") on realizing that you have control over how you view your situation in life and how you act or react towards other people and circumstances--creating outcomes that will either uplift or undermine you and your aspirations. While some of the chapters get a little redundant and while I don't 100% agree with all of the theology presented, I really appreciate what Beckwith has brought to the table. He is encouraging people to embrace life as an adventure, to keep learning, and to be conscious of our thoughts and actions in order to "be the change you want to see". Who hasn't sat around wishing things were different? Well, the bottom line of the book is that YOU are capable of making the difference. That is empowering to remember. Although, I think the toughest lesson in this book for me is one I've encountered before: "happiness is a choice". When I start to really think about that and consider it in regards to my current state, it's always an eye opener. Beckwith's lessons may not always be new or philosophically heavy, but they are honest, thought-provoking, and invigorating (an odd word choice, I know, but I found myself taking a lot of notes while reading and trying to internalize many of the concepts).One final note, I am appreciative to Beckwith for some specific insights. In sections regarding connecting to your Authentic Self he discusses the Buddhist concept of discovering "your original face", which I thought was a really beautiful way of understanding “being” in an eternal sense. Also, I continue to reflect upon his notions of how to be a co-creator of your life and that there are infinite possibilities in every day.Considering my high regard for many of Beckwith's passages, the only reason I didn't give this book more stars is because he is a voice in a veritable chorus of 21st century motivational/self-help/spiritually conscious writers & speakers. But, I'm thankful for his insights and contribution to the genre. Anyone seeking and uplifting and thought-provoking read that will challenge you to be a better YOU, will not be disappointed. less

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