What a refreshing book to read. Dr. Flip Flippen is a psychologist, and head of the Flippen Group, whose mission statement, "We grow people," says it all. They specialize in helping corporations and businesses cultivate a culture of self-respect and affirming teamwork, which really resonated with me because I found their philosophy was very similar to what we do on our AVP teams. Dr. Flippen coaches CEO's, tech moguls, and more importantly, individual families on how to bring out the best in their circle of friends and loved ones.
This book concentrated on what Dr. Flippen termed Overcoming Personal Constraints, or OPC. The OPC philosophy was based on his belief that real success demands more than talent and ability. He further defined real success as, "...being known to improve the lives of those you touch." And with that definition, Dr. Flippen began to put forward his theory on what a personal constraint was. He gave a great example of two clients of his in the inner city, who both had similar talents and abilities, who both faced the same challenges and struggles, yet, ten years later, one had completed law school, and the other was in prison for killing somebody — so what was the difference? Dr. Flippen felt it was the latter's personal constraint, a personality defect of sorts, which was not addressed or alleviated.
Personal constraints, according to Dr. Flippen, help to bridge the gap between Personality Theory and Strengths Theory, both of which I am quite familiar with. Personality Theory emphasizes that our personalities are static, and do not change over time. Strengths Theory is what The Gallup Organization's hiring process is based on, where they believe that a person's innate strengths are what a person should concentrate on developing, and not focus on personality weaknesses. OPC, on the other hand, encourages us to face those personality weaknesses so we can diminish them in ourselves, so that our inborn talents and abilities can then flourish.
Reading the book was quite affirming to me, because it helped to reinforce my own personal journey so far. Like Dr. Flippen, I believe each person has a tremendous ability to make positive (or negative) changes in their lives, and it all depends on the many choices they make each day. For myself, I believe I have only been able grow and become a much better human being because I started to address my own personal constraints, and look forward to polishing and refining my mind and soul even further.
Purchase The Book]]>This was Egyptian President Sadat's autobiography, written in 1978. In it, he detailed his thoughts, how he rose to power, and why he did the things he did. It was very interesting book, and I was constantly reminded of how there is always more than one side to any story. This book explained his perspective.
Mr. Sadat shared his frustrations with the alliance between Egypt and the Soviet Union, and how they seemed to dismiss the Egyptian people as a whole. He also wrote how he felt the Israelis were oppressing his country, and his respect for the United States. This was an autobiography though, so it was Mr. Sadat's perspective and political viewpoints.
One thing I really admired about what Mr. Sadat wrote was his constant struggle for peace - for his country and his people. He wrote throughout his book about his ideal of peace at all costs, and he gave great historic examples. It was easy for me to identify with his time in prison; it was during his tenure in what he calls Cell 54 that this man eventually found himself. He stated, "...knowledge and a man's spiritual life are intimately relaxed and influence one another - the more knowledge you acquire, the more mature your spiritual life and the higher the quality of your knowledge becomes. It is an incessant process… to transcend the confines of the self and release his feelings, thoughts and arises from the cell.” These words really resonate with me, and challenge me to continue to look for ways to refine my spirituality and knowledge, and to become a better human being. To me, this book was mainly about finding a true sense of self and how to follow your inner ideals, and not what the world is pressuring you to do.
Purchase The Book]]>The subtitle of this book touted it as A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life, and it was exactly just that. The authors are economics professors at Princeton and Yale, respectively, yet they wrote the book in a very simple, flowing format. They also made the book very interactive by including many problems to solve, which I found were very interesting to try and work out. The authors gave great examples on how to strategically make choices and decisions that I found I could apply to my own life.
There were many terms that I found quite fascinating in the book. I learned about concepts such as dominant strategy, strategic moves, backward reasoning, to name a few. The authors also spoke about what they call game trees, a simple yet very efficient way of making a decision by drawing out a small flow chart. I notice when a game tree is laid out, a decision is very easy to make without being indecisive. Another concept I enjoyed were the game tables. These were quite similar to the game trees, but they were drawn in a table format that would help me to see my choices with a perspective that takes my emotions and wishful thinking out of it. With these simple tables, I see I can make many decisions in my life moving forward that would benefit me.
My favorite chapter was the one called Incentives. In it, the authors spoke about how to give incentives in a team setting that would not hurt the outcome of each respective team. In other words, how to create teams with incentives that would mutually complement each other. I found this very intriguing because I would like to bring out the best in my AVP teams when the tasks are assigned. So in reading this chapter, I have learned to look for ways to motivate each person on the team to do their best, but not at the expense of another team member. It is another dynamic that I intuitively felt was always there, but the authors have given me a very concrete and tangible model that will help me not only bring out the best in my teams, but also how I can best serve the team myself.
Purchase The Book]]>This was the autobiography of Fr. Merton, of why he left the world and became a Trappist monk. Fr. Merton was an extremely intelligent man and was on his way to become quite successful from a worldly perspective, yet he chose to leave it all behind and pursue God. He spoke on what true peace, joy, and contentment meant to him, and stated, “If happiness were merely a matter of natural gifts, I would never have entered a Trappist monastery when I came to the age of man."
This was not an easy book to read and digest, because there were so many spiritual nuggets of wisdom that were most likely beyond my level of understanding at the moment. However, there was still so much that I was able to take from this man, and I feel blessed for the opportunity to be able to be exposed to such a refined way of thought.
My favorite thought by Fr. Merton was when he stated, "...the saints, when they remember their sins, do not remember the sins but the mercy of God, and therefore even past evil is turned by them into a present cause of joy and serves to glorify God." This to me is a very profound thought, because for me it is very easy to wallow in self-pity and guilt, a form of false humility. At my last board hearing, Commissioner Montes even commented on me, "...not having an ounce of humility." I have come to understand that taking responsibility for my past sins, but not letting them go, is a form of self-pride, like I am somehow so undeserving that I have to still try and distinguish myself in some way. Ft. Merton described how his own flaws were only "disinfected" when he first entered the monastery, and I correlate that with my own struggle with pride and arrogance: my issues were only sanitized on a surface level and I have had to look for ways to get to root issues of my own personality failings. Fr. Merton’s own candid admissions have helped me to realize though that have to continue to look for ways to turn my past evil into something that can glorify God.
Purchase The Book]]>I really enjoyed this book. Mr. Hill wrote it in a very straightforward and flowing manner and it was easy reading. He touted the book as his compilation of moneymaking secrets, and included sixteen different chapters with titles like, The Power of Thought, Imagination: The Work of the Mind, and Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force. He detailed different ways in which a person could become rich, with each chapter building on the last one.
Although I originally believed that Mr. Hill wrote the book with an eye for material and financial riches, I approached the reading with an eye on how to gain spiritual prosperity. All the same principles would apply, and after finishing the book, I had to ask myself if Mr. Hill had written the book with that exact intent for the reader to discover.
There was so much wisdom to be gleaned from this book, and I have no doubt this is one of those books that I will be reading several times throughout my life. If I had to pick a favorite chapter, it would have to be the one entitled The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom. In it, Mr. Hill states, "Understanding of the sixth sense comes only by meditation through mind development from within.” He reiterates, "...the spiritual forces with which the sixth sense is so closely related only mature and become usable through years of mediation, self-examination, and self-thought.”
I know how my morning meditations give me a sense of serenity and clarity throughout the day. That is the only way I can describe it. It is a struggle some days when I wake up and feel like have a million things I have to do, so the last thing I would want is to slow down my mind and do some breathing and meditation. I realize though, especially after reading this book, that I have to make sure that daily meditation is an essential part of my lifestyle.
Purchase The Book]]>An absolutely beautiful book/long poem. The words Bhagavad Gita means "The Song of the Blessed One." It is debated when this work of art was written, somewhere between 500 B.C. and the First Century.
The Gita tells the story of a character name Arjuna, who is leading his clan into battle against the clan of his evil cousins. Time seems to freeze as one of his soldiers, Krishna, begins to speak to him before the battle. It turns out Krishna is God (referred to as the Blessed Lord), who gives Arjuna great words of wisdom.
My favorite chapter was the one on Divine Traits and Demonic Traits:
“The Blessed Lord said:
Fearlessness, purity of heart, generosity, self-control, nonviolence, gentleness, compassion for all beings, modesty, patience, a tranquil mind, dignity, kindness, courage, these are the qualities of men born with divine traits.
Hypocrisy, insolence, anger, cruelty, ignorance, conceit — these are the qualities of men with demonic traits. The divine traits lead to freedom, the demonic to suffering and bondage."
What I liked about the chapter was the simplicity in which the author stated the traits, it also correlates to how I see my own path to spirituality: to become divine or demonic, I just have to practice these qualities within myself. The demonic qualities, I am ashamed to admit, are very prevalent in my own soul. The challenge for me, I believe, is to continue to diminish them, and reinforce within my heart all the qualities of divinity. When I can exude only the divine traits, then my path to saintliness can begin.
Purchase The Book]]>In this book, Dr. Dyer shared his thoughts on how each and everyone of us can achieve anything that we truly put our minds to. He spoke of much of his own personal experience, and also gave commentary on the mindset of many spiritual and intellectual giants of history. They all seemed to share a common thread: accomplishing whatever it was they were aspiring to through sheer will and belief in themselves, no matter the odds.
Dr. Dyer also believed that each person can become God through the use of "I AM" statements, which felt a little odd and unnatural to me, so to speak.
What I liked though, was his suggestion for the mental exercise of feeling in the present moment. For example, if I wanted to become a successful writer, Dr. Dyer suggest that in my meditation and even idle moments, feel in my heart, mind and soul what it would feel like to already have that dream accomplished. Act as if that wish was already fulfilled, and my action of that day would follow suit.
This makes sense, if I really think about it. If I wanted to be a great guitar player for example, and truly felt it in my soul that I will be a great guitar player, I would eventually play the guitar more often, with the mindset that I will be great. The increased practice time and ability to persevere and believe in myself no matter the difficulty will contribute to me becoming a great guitar player. (Because I already believe it is going to happen in the end.)
What the guitar analogy also makes me realize, though, is that becoming a great guitar player will come with its own sacrifices. A good lesson for me learned from Dr. Dyer: I can accomplish what I want or pursue, but there will be an extreme amount of work I have to put in to get there.
Purchase The Book]]>This was the story of Malcolm Muggeridge, a reporter who was skeptical about the efficacy of Mother Theresa and her Missionaries of Charity work. In his process of interviewing her and experiencing the work they were doing in Calcutta, he converted to Christianity.
My favorite part in the book would have to be his personal interview with Mother Theresa. He asked the question that I have heard many people ask, and which has always seemed most logical to me. 'What good does it do to just bring in someone off the streets that is going to die anyway?" Because in reality, it would seem like a waste of money, time, and human resources that could be used to make a difference for someone that might actually live. Mother Theresa simply quoted scripture about heaven rejoicing more over one repentant sinner than ninety-nine righteous people. When I read her answer, it made all the sense in the world to me for why I find AVP and Victims' Awareness so fulfilling.
If in the process of going through one of these programs and the participant starts down the path of repentance and changes his ways, I now can also imagine heaven rejoicing on a spiritual level. On a tangible level, if this participant begins the process of positive change and does not create any more countless victims through just one violent crime, I can also view that I have been able to contribute in a small way to spreading peace and love in this world.
Purchase The Book]]>This book was an interesting read on how Bill Gates came to become one of the software technology leaders in America. The story detailed how Mr. Gates was already recognized as a genius when he was a child, and how he developed his love for math into writing software code. The story went into great depth of how intense Bill Gates was as a person, and how he drove his employees and Microsoft to the top of the tech industry by his own sheer will and business savvy.
Reading this book gave me a different perspective from how Bill Gates was portrayed in the media. Especially contrasted with how I always perceived Steve Jobs of Apple to be compared with Mr. Gates. The media seemed to constantly portray Bill Gates as a bloodthirsty businessman. I can now recognize that not only is Bill Gates a math genius, he is also a very skillful and accomplished entrepreneur.
My favorite part was one of the interviews with other tech leaders in the industry, and how they described Bill Gates and his approach to business. An anonymous person stated that Bill Gates, although blessed with tremendous intelligence, has the strength to be able to admit his mistakes, which is a very rare quality in the business world. Everything in the business world is about image and ego, yet because Bill Gates can quickly assess where he is wrong and change direction, he "...remains very agile in a business sense."
This is a lesson I would like to apply to my own life and how I approach things. To constantly evolve and change for the better, I believe I would have to continue to search facets of myself that still need refinement or correction, and shift things in the right direction. And just because I believe something to be right one day does not mean that I cannot admit that it was wrong tomorrow. Over and over I see examples of stagnation and rigid thought processes because of ego and image in my current environment, and so I am inspired look for ways to constantly reassess the way think. This book has been one in a line of many that I believe have helped me to do that.
Purchase The Book]]>What a fascinating book. Dr. Alexander described in this book his Near Death Experience (NDE) when he developed a rare form of meningitis of the brain. Dr. Alexander, a neurosurgeon, was a self described skeptic of previous patients that had claimed to see heaven and God. He believed that these claims were merely the brain's subconscious, in other words, figments of our imagination. But when he went into a coma, the experience that he had could only be described as a glimpse of the spiritual world.
I found myself extremely interested in what Dr. Alexander experienced and felt when he was in heaven. The sights, sounds, emotions, and warmth he described was truly mesmerizing for me to read. Dr. Alexander came back with the message that what God wants from each and every one of us is true and pure love of one another.
And I realize I am given that opportunity every day. Which ties into Mother Theresa's thoughts: small things done with great love. Not great big accomplishments. So much more important is how I can either diminish or enhance other people's lives by the way I speak, listen, or even acknowledge them. If I boil it all down and distill it, from my faith, belief, and understanding, every single person on this earth is on a spiritual journey. So the challenge for myself is to recognize every person as such when I encounter them. How wonderful it would be to see everyone in that light.
Purchase The Book]]>This was the first-hand account of Ms. Conroy’s experience with Mother Theresa over the summer of 1986. In it, she shared the lifelong lessons she learned from serving the poor and the homeless in Calcutta, India. Ms. Conroy stated that the Missionaries of Charity believed each of these sick, broken, and dying human beings were the distressing disguises of our Lord, Jesus Christ in his suffering.
My favorite lesson was when Mother Theresa told Ms. Conroy, "Doing great works without love is nothing, while doing small things of everyday life with great love is what life is all about." That thought is a constant reminder to myself to slow down and enjoy the moment with whomever I come across. For years of my life, it was about accomplishment, reputation, and recognition. There was no substance to my character or love in my heart. Today, I relish the brief moments that I can totally view the human being in my path with love, patience, and understanding. For me, it is a much more soft and beautiful way to trek through this world.
Purchase The Book]]>This was the personal story of conservationist Lawrence Anthony and his experience with an elephant herd that he brought to his reserve in Zululand. The elephants were considered very hostile toward humans, and the book captured how very patient Mr. Anthony was in trying to communicate with them.
Reading the book gave me a new appreciation for these noble creatures. It also opened my eyes to how selfish we as humans are when it comes to sharing this world with other creatures. The greatest lesson I learned though, was how Mr. Anthony continued to try and communicate to the elephants, even though it seemed they did not understand. Most important of all was his belief that no matter how difficult it was, he was still able to communicate through his tone, intent of his heart, and what he viewed communication truly was.
His gentle persistence gave me inspiration for how to apply communication with just the humans I interact with, even if it seems like they do not understand me. I would like to challenge myself to view the difficulty in communication not as the other person's inability to understand, but more so my own failure to make myself clear with my tone of voice, and the intentions of my own heart.
Purchase The Book]]>This was the personal story of an upper class Tibetan who at the age of seven was sent to a famous monastery. Mr. Rampa then went on to become a Tibetan Lama, and according to him, was the reincarnation of a previous Lama who had lived decades before. He shared a fascinating tale of clairvoyance, astral traveling, and many other mystical and supernatural experiences that I found difficult to believe, if the accounts were all true. In a sense though, it reminded me of the many tales of paranormal encounters in my own culture.
What I found I could relate to was his chapter on meditation and how to clear our minds, Trappa. Mr. Rampa shared a personal exercise he did during his meditation times that I felt could enhance my own periods when I pray in the morning. He spoke on imagining a dark, black square that all my thoughts would disintegrate in, and whenever I would meditate I should gently push my thoughts into that darkness. It is a great exercise for me, especially early in the morning where my mind is already running at 1,000 miles an hour. So lately, when I find my thoughts start to spin on what I have to accomplish or do that day, and my mind naturally wants to start organizing it all, instead I gently push those thoughts onto that black square and let them melt away. It helps to just slow everything do for me, and I find I have a greater sense of clarity and mindfulness to start out the day. It helps me in my thoughts, my interactions with others, and just how I view the world.
Purchase The Book]]>This book was about the inevitable crises of identity that adults have to face as we journey through the passages of life. Ms. Sheehy did a great job of detailing certain difficulties we would face throughout our twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, etc. She also stressed on how important and fulfilling it was to face these challenges to our hopes, dreams, and overall sense of identity.
My favorite chapter was the one on Men's Life Patterns. Ms. Sheehy touched on several personality patterns within this chapter, and I felt I was most like what she labeled a wunderkind: `They create risks and play to win, often believing that once they reach the top their personal insecurities will vanish." For the majority of my adult life, I believed that once I became successful, I would finally feel loved, accepted, admired, respected, and all those other wonderful notions that I deemed would make me happy. It is not until these last few years, further reinforced by Ms. Sheehy's book, that I see my own personal insecurities would only start to vanish if I addressed them.
What I have found most rewarding in facing my own insecurities is a deeper sense of satisfaction and acceptance of myself. I no longer have to put up a façade for myself with no true substance in character. To do that I have had to do as Ms. Sheehy suggested: face our failures and learn to embrace our own humanity.
Purchase The Book]]>A little over six months ago, I began learning how to play the guitar. This book clarified to me concepts about music theory, notes, chords, strumming patterns, etc.
But why write a book report about guitar and music theory? It was because of the chapter, Talent Versus Practice, that was in the book. Mr. Andreas felt that the word talent is used as an excuse for those that do not want to put in the tedious amount of practice time to become a good guitar player. He stated continued daily practice and perseverance is much more important, and suddenly after enough dedicated practice, you develop what people would call talent.
I would like to apply that same principle to my lifelong journey of spirituality and self-understanding. It is the small, everyday things I practice that will hone and polish my talent. For example, if I lie every day, I would eventually become a very talented liar. If I practiced kindness and acceptance of others in my daily walk, I believe it is possible to one day develop and exude compassion without even trying.
Just like the guitar though, there will be times I become frustrated and impatient because I do not see any progress from my practice time. That is where my perseverance and discipline would have to keep me going, and eventually it all becomes just a part of my lifestyle.
Purchase The Book]]>This book was a small collection of writings from the Zen Master Takuan Soho, the Buddhist that counseled and mentored the most famous ronin swordsman of his time, Miyamoto Musashi.
Master Soho spoke about having what he termed right-mindedness. It sounded contradictory, but right-mindedness meant having no thoughts at all. Master Soho felt that thoughts intrude on the unfettered mind, and the attainment of true wisdom and enlightenment came from the ability to just act without thinking.
For me personally, I believe Master Soho is speaking about the development of our intuition and soul. I notice that in my own life's experiences, when my mind is cluttered and jumbled with many thoughts, my decision making process is erratic and rushed. But when I have found that inner sanctum of peace and contentment, and there are no thoughts intruding or racing through my head, I feel that all my actions just flow. There seems to be what I can only describe as a gentle glow of clarity to the world and everyone I come across in those moments.
Although quite rare, I notice I am blessed with these brief moments of respite after I meditate and pray the rosary, pour out all my thoughts and feelings into a particularly deep journal entry, or am absolutely engrossed in playing my guitar. I hope to discover more ways in which I can continue to develop that inner part of my mind and soul that can see the goodness of every human being I come across.
Purchase The Book]]>This book delved into the lifestyle of the millionaires in America, and how they were able to become so affluent. Dr. Stanley's research challenged me to reexamine what I believed true wealth was all about, and gives me greater perspective on how to live my own life.
According to Dr. Stanley, the majority of millionaires are financially independent not because of high salaries, advanced degrees, inheritances, or luck — but more so because of disciplined budgeting and savings habits. In a nutshell, millionaires are quite frugal, and very selective in what they spend their money on, preferring instead to invest in their future goal of financial independence.
The mindset of the millionaire is vastly different form the majority of society, including my own. Before reading this book, I believed the affluent had status symbols of wealth by their salaries, the jewelry they wore, the houses they lived in, the cars they drove, etc. I now see it is all a facade if there is no true wealth behind it all. Chasing materialism can easily become a prison of its own, because now I am chained to support the image that I have erected. And if that happened, I would have to work even longer hours each day, with no time to do the small yet much more meaningful things of life that I have learned to appreciate and treasure in here.
I have decided to begin budgeting and disciplining my own consumption habits in here. That way I will get in the habit of being very selective in how I tether myself to debt upon parole. True wealth for me would have to be fulfillment of the heart and soul, which can only be achieved through spending time and connecting with loved ones and neighbors, not chasing status symbols of success and achievement. I most likely will never be a millionaire, but after reading this book, I have vowed to never portray and imprison myself as one either.
Purchase The Book]]>This book was written as the memoirs of Dr. Herriot in his experiences as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales of England. He told the story in such a gentle way, detailing his encounters with his animal patients, and their owners.
My favorite part was just the way he depicted some of the difficult owners. Dr. Herriot did a beautiful job capturing some of their personality traits at their worst, yet in his humorous interaction and responses, I still felt the love and compassion this man had for everyone.
I found myself stopping mid-page many times and wishing I could view every person I encounter with the same unconditional acceptance. Dr. Herriot had such love for both animals and humans alike, and I am inspired to emulate his example with my present community in here.
Purchase The Book]]>This was the true story of journalist Mark Salzman's journey into the Los Angeles County juvenile Hall system; and how he joined and sponsored a creative writing program for the juvenile offenders there. In Mr. Salzman's book, he provided selected writings from the students in his class.
Reading the book brought me back to my own time at juvenile hall. I remember how scared, lonely, lost, and unsure of my own sense of self I was. Instead of finding a true sense of identity, I adapted and conformed to the distorted ideals of my peers at that time. I never once looked back until almost twenty years later to see the wreckage I had left in my wake: the life of a human being wiped off the face of this earth and numerous others shattered by pain and irrevocable loss.
Mr. Salzman did a great job capturing the hearts and minds of these young teenagers by having them express themselves through writing. I have found my own sense of solace through my journals and can easily relate to how therapeutic writing can be. One of my many regrets is not exploring my own issues earlier in my life.
Purchase The Book]]>This book answered many questions about Buddhism and what it meant to Mr. Dhammikka. He included many often asked questions, and addressed them in a very simplified way.
Surprisingly, reading this book actually complemented my Catholic faith. A lot of the precepts are very similar to the path of Christianity. In trying to further develop and refine my spirituality, I found a lot of the book could be applied for my own benefit.
For example, a Buddhist believes in their First Noble Truth that all life is suffering. I believe as a Catholic Christian that it is in the embracement of suffering that my life can find meaning, purpose, and even fulfillment. View my setbacks and difficulties as opportunities for growth.
My favorite chapter was the one on Meditation. In it, Mr. Dhammika stressed the importance of daily meditation. He spoke on what Buddhists call Mindfulness of Breathing. In a nutshell, Mindfulness of Breathing is gently pushing all thoughts away and just concentrating on the breath going in and. out of my nose. It helps me to realize that I am alive and living in this moment. I have incorporated this little practice to help center myself before I pray my rosary daily, and I found that it helped tremendously. I gain that sense of "stillness" much quicker, and my mind does not feel as jumbled with intruding thoughts throughout the day.
The book has inspired me to continue searching for wisdom in different spiritual walks, and in the process, solidify my own.
Purchase The Book]]>This book was very interesting reading. Mr. Fromm presented his take on the capacity of humans to do tremendous good, and their propensity to do horrendous evil. Although the book was first published fifty years ago, his arguments for Nature versus Nurture were still very compelling for me to this day.
My favorite chapter was, Freedom, Determinism, Alternativism. In it, Mr. Fromm spoke on the psychological aspect of our choices, and how we can lose our freedom of choice to do good the more we compromise ourselves. He states, eThe longer we continue to make the wrong decisions, the more out heart hardens; the more often we make the right decision, the more our heart softens." Very similar to what I believe today contributes to transformation or mutation of my soul. He further states, “…the decisive factor in choosing the better rather than the worse lies in awareness.
Awareness for me is mindfulness of my thoughts and feelings, and continued reflection and meditation time to slow everything down. I know of the countless wrong decisions that hardened my heart and the evil that resulted; I even know of the distortion in my thinking that came from taking the selfish and cowardly way innumerable times during my prison term. The deeper I crawled in, the harder it was to climb out. But I would like to say I have finally started to wake from my long, dark slumber into the light of self-awareness, and hope to one day make it extremely difficult for me to even consider choosing anything that might diminish my soul.
]]>This was a book with 31 meditations that I have been reading daily. Even after going through it for the second time, I still find myself feeling that there's still a lot more for me to glean from further reflection.
At this point in my life, my favorite meditation was the one called, Profit and Loss. In it, Mr. De Mello reiterated Saint Mathew's words,“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” Mr. De Mello gave some great examples, such as discerning the qualitative difference in feeling when I see a sunrise contrasted with the feeling when I am recognized or applauded. He felt the former feeling was true self-fulfillment, whereas the latter had to do with self-glorification. He went on to explain that the majority of us chase that feeling of self-glorification and self-promotion, which only leads to emptiness, and the loss of our souls, which I can definitely see in my own life.
The challenge for me is to recognize that I can find my fulfillment on a daily basis, even if I am still in prison. It can be found in appreciating the beauty of the sunset over the nearby hills, sharing a laugh or some tears in an AVP workshop, emotionally connecting with someone in a conversation, or thoroughly enjoying the 15-minute phone call I have with my mother by just listening, and letting her do all the talking. And it makes me realize, this is how I am to live in the moment, every day of my life, and find my true sense of contentment, satisfaction, and happiness.
Purchase The Book]]>This book was written to give recognition and appreciation to the introverts in our society, and Mrs. Cain gave great perspective on the strengths of these people who are usually characterized as shy, aloof, stuck in their heads, etc. Having a lot of introverted qualities myself, I found the book a fascinating read.
My favorite chapter was called, When Collaboration Kills Creativity. It spoke about how introverts are the most creative when they are by themselves. Mrs. Cain also gave insight into typical thoughts of introverts when they are in groups. I found so much information to apply for myself when I am working within a group. I notice that I do tend to get impatient and frustrated when discussing something in a group setting, because my mind is feeling that if they simply assign the project to just one person, it could easily be accomplished. Instead, some of my more extroverted team members seem to talk incessantly about nothing, and it feels to me they just want to hear the sound of their own voices.
Quiet helped me to realize that understanding my own strengths, and learning how to collaborate them with the personalities of the extroverts is always the best way to approach group projects. And in the process, I can still volunteer for individual projects that I believe can further enhance the team and bring out my best qualities. I look forward to practicing these new thoughts in my next AVP workshop and Peer Health meetings.
Purchase The Book]]>This book detailed how the present-day Society of Jesus, created by St. Ignatius of Loyola, has fallen very far from being the crown jewel of religious orders in the Catholic Church. Mr. Malachi gave some great perspective on the Society's history, what it's original purpose was, and how he feels it has been corrupted.
My favorite part were the chapters detailing the Society's beginnings. These brilliant men were awesome. Their motto: "For the Greater Glory of God" says it all. They prided themselves on being "...always the first to obey," so they took it to another level to make sure to be at the top of their fields of study or occupations.
A concept of the Jesuits that I would like to incorporate within myself is the "Contemplative in Action." This concept has to do with the Jesuits' belief that it is okay to be on a spiritual path and meditate every day, and if that is all one wanted to do, he could join one of the other religious orders.
To be a Jesuit, one has to put their faith into action. It makes me realize it is great to be on the beginning of my spiritual path, but what am I doing to share my light with others on a daily basis? What can I do, for the next five years here in prison, for the greater glory of God? The answer: A lot. So instead, I should look for opportunities to put God's words into action, every single day, for both myself and for others.
Purchase The Book]]>This story was the personal testament of Mr. Currie, and how he reconciled himself back to the Catholic Church. He was horn into a family of fundamentalist Protestants, and the book was written as an explanation of sorts to family and friends of why he would even consider becoming a Roman Catholic.
I really enjoyed this book. Not only did Mr. Currie write it in gentle tone, I never once felt that he was saying that Roman Catholicism was right and Protestantism was wrong. Mr. Currie simply laid out his thoughts, and showed how both faiths had so much in common. The differences to me seemed more to do with interpretation, context, and tradition. In fact, after reading the book, I felt so much more convinced in my spiritual path, and at the same time so much more accepting of others' beliefs.
The book has also inspired me to search and discover the history of Christianity. Understanding my faith will continue to hopefully transform me into a more spiritual person.
Purchase The Book]]>This was a very inspiring biography for me. Mr. Isaacson wrote the book quite candidly from numerous interviews he did with people that knew and or working with Steve Jobs. Mr. Isaacson painted a picture of a man who had some serious issues with control and perfection in both his personal and professional life. But from the context of the legacy this brilliant business executive has left behind, I stand utterly in awe of him.
My favorite quality in Steve Jobs was his intensity, even in the face of failure. He had some devastating failures early on in his career, from being ousted at Apple the first time around, to his NEXT computer venture. Just reading about his failures made me cringe; and it made me think about how I had never been resilient when it came back to my own setbacks. Instead, Mr. Jobs used those failures to build upon, and he went on not only to become a technology icon, but he helped to create some products that have transformed both the technology industry and the fabric of our lives, such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, iTunes, Pixar Animations and apple itself.
It really drives home to me the belief that in facing my failures, setbacks and difficulties, I can find refinement, purpose, and guidance for everyday living. I simply have to embrace it.
Purchase The Book]]>What a great book! Mr. Fulghum shared a collection of his thoughts on little events throughout his life and why he believed that most of the lessons we learned in kindergarten could be applied to everything we face as adults. It was very simple and distilled writing, and was pleasure to read.
My favorite chapter was the one entitled, "The Great Heathen." In it, Mr. Fulghum described how his parents did not see eye-to-eye on religion and there was a lot of bitterness between them when it came to that topic. His mother was a born-again Baptist who could not tolerate his father's constant comments about how Jesus was a Jew, and that Jesus was not married because God only wanted to crucify him once. I found myself appalled at Mr. Fulghum's father's jokes, until the author then went on to later explain that his father would volunteer every year for the Salvation Army. Fulghum's father explained to him, "It doesn't matter what you. say you believe — it only matters what you do."
How very true. "Actions speak louder than words." "Faith without works is dead." These sayings are about the same themes, and Mr. Fulghum's father had the right idea, in my opinion. What good is it for me to profess my love and compassion for my community and not do anything? This particular chapter had me further challenge myself in what else I could do while in here, instead of just talking about it. And I hope that in the process, I will be able to carry this same habit and perspective in looking at the world to my community on the streets when I am accepted back into society.
Purchase The Book]]>This was some very condensed reading. St. John of the Cross was a Carmelite monk in the 1500's who wrote a poem called The Stainzas of the Soul. This book was the actual poem broken down into 8 sections. The Saint then went on to expound on what each of those stanzas meant to him personally, and why he said those words in his poem.
My favorite stanza was the first one:
On a dark night, kindled in love with yearnings— oh happy chance! —
I went forth without being observed, ng house being now at rest.
St. John of the Cross went on to explain that the Dark Night is the period of what he termed the purgation of our souls to become more spiritual. This resonated me because I distinctly remember my darkest moment, and how I feel that God used it as a time to begin to purge my soul of my own impurities. Very- similar to the first step of A.A., admitting that I have a problem. Kindled in love, happy chance speaks to me about how blessed I feel for the way I now see the world. Going forth without being observed reminds me of corning to the realization that, ultimately, each of us have to make this journey on our own. Although. there are people to help guide and support us along the way, each of us is solely responsible for our own individual choices along the way. My house being now at rest speaks to the sense of peace in my life since I have started my quest for redemption.
It is so very interesting to see the intimate thoughts of some very intelligent and spiritual people who have made the journey hundreds of years before me and the struggles they had to endure. Through this realization, I have found renewed inspiration for my own long path ahead.
Purchase The Book]]>From what I gather, Lilias Trotter was an artist that was inspired by Christianity. She believed the path of Christian spirituality can be likened to that of flowers. So throughout the book, Ms. Trotter included renditions of her paintings of several different flowers, and parables on how each of us could find inspiration in God by the blooming and death of these flowers.
My favorite painting and parable she had was that of the dandelion. Ms. Trotter described the path of Christian spirituality as a path of dying to your old self, and letting God work his beauty in each of us. In the case of the dandelion, it was in dying and each of its petals blown in the wind that it would have life again the following spring. Ms. Trotter stated beautifully:
Measure thy life by loss and not by gain, Not by the wine drunk, but by the wine poured forth,
For love's strength standeth in love's sacrifice, And he who suffers most has most to give."
Those words give me great motivation and encouragement to continue my studies as a Servite and where I can find meaning and purpose in my life today. I believe it can be found in giving and sharing of myself, not only through AVP, but also in my Grief and Loss Group, and, eventually, in a parish prayer group in my community beyond these walls.
Purchase The Book]]>In this book, Mr. Ruiz shared some' of his Toltec wisdom by providing what he called the Four Agreements we could make with ourselves.These Agreements are as follows:
Be Impeccable With Your Word.
Don't Take Anything Personally.
Don't Make Assumptions.
Always Do Your Best.
Mr. Ruiz believed these Four Agreements would give us a great sense of personal freedom, and went on to detail what each Agreement meant to him, and how they could be incorporated into our lives.
I could not help but to think of my own admonishments that I had authored from “Your Inner Jewel," and found the book very interesting reading. I also could not keep myself from imagining how I would expound on each of the facets of my own "Inner Jewel."
My favorite Agreement was, "Always Do Your Best." This would be comparable to two of from "Your Inner Jewel," Strive For Excellence In All That You Pursue, and Remember That Perfection is Not Possible. I truly understand today that trying my best at whatever I want to do, yet not putting myself down because it is not perfect is very important for my own sense of self-competence. Mr. Ruiz's book has reminded me that I am not on this path alone; I just have to continue searching thoughts of those that have travelled a similar path through the books they have written.
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