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by John Calabrese, Huntington, NY TAPPING THE SOURCE: Using
the Master Key System for
Abundance and Happiness
Based closely on the writings of, and especially the 1912 classic The Master Key System, of Charles Haanel (1866- 1949), Tapping the Source is perhaps the “crown jewel” in a wide and valuable crop of books about abundance and manifestation. The fascinating twist behind this work is the revelation that a previous book, The Secret, used essentially just one of Haanel’s principles, but that all twenty-four are necessary for the full experience of success on all levels. As such, Tapping the Source is not a treatise on spiritual materialism: it emphasizes that abundance is so much more than what we can merely touch: it’s also about how we can think and feel better each day of our lives, being more available to others - giving while also graciously accepting. There are no quick answers here. Learning to receive (and believing you deserve to) “is a pragmatic process that you nurture and master,” involving significant effort and practice. Focus phrases greatly assist readers with this process, helping to transform their speech and mindset as the platform to shift their reality. Buy this book, and it will become the foundation of any change you’ve been seeking.
BEHIND THE LAUGHTER,
HIDDEN TEARS What a life. Sal Richards’ 50-plus years in show business demonstrates what one person can do with one life. Musing in the epilogue, he describes the book as “…a conglomerate of how to keep your sanity in times of trouble and to remain a human being.” An autobiography by definition, Behind the Laughter, Hidden Tears is also a testament to human resiliency and potential–and the power of belief that cultivates and strengthens both. Born in Brooklyn, Richards went on to an expansive career as a comedian, actor, and entertainer, befriending some of the most wellknown names in those fields (priceless pictures showing him with dozens of celebrities are included). Most importantly, though, are the nuggets of insight shared with readers about how he overcame decades of major challenges in his personal and professional lives, starting at age four with a fall from a two-story window. Intimate and vulnerable, humble, funny and selfdeprecating, Behind the Laughter, Hidden Tears is a time capsule, a thoroughly engaging look into the inspiring life of a man who insisted on loving, laughing, and never quitting his dreams.
THE MYTH OF STRESS: Where
Stress Really Comes From
and How to Live a Happier
and Healthier Life Control over your thinking, instead of trying to control every aspect of your circumstances, is the central theme in The Myth of Stress. Andrew Bernstein, originator of the process ActivInsight, studied with The Work founder Byron Katie; in those years, he realized that different people need different approaches, and that there seemed to be a distinct shortage of transformational processes that were both effective and easy to understand. “Myths” are beliefs we talk ourselves into or out of, that wind up causing us stress and continued suffering. Insight, or awareness into the true underlying causes, is only part of the cure, as Bernstein explains: “Insight is the heart of transformation, and this process makes it an active experience… stress always indicates a lack of insight, and the seven steps of ActivInsight remedy this.” Presented essentially in workbook format, with plenty of useable illustrations and exercises (even if you skip them, there’s still plenty of great information to benefit from), Bernstein leaves nothing to the imagination, and compels readers to think and rethink conditioned - even cherished – beliefs that are ultimately the real cause of stress.
THE POWER OF
COMPASSION: Stories
that Open the Heart,
Heal the Soul, and
Change the World Any book about compassion is a sigh of relief, especially for those of us living in the busy and complex New York metro area, with all the, um… challenges, shall we say, to our daily peace of mind. Yet, every day, as the masters say, brings new opportunities to practice compassion – and although we know this is a good thing to have in our lives, do we really and truly understand all the reasons why? The Power of Compassion is a series of gentle reminders, from a fascinatingly diverse group of teachers and meditators, about why this “C” word needs to be part of our path in life. From rescuing ourselves from our own demons, to recognizing how much others struggle with the same issues so we can let go of our judgments and anger towards them; from recognizing how much our health, everyone’s health, and the very health of our planet depend on how much we can practice compassion – the immediate and long-term value of this collection becomes dumbfoundingly clear. The brief, heartfelt, and potentially “mind-altering” stories packed into this small book represent a vast storehouse of knowledge. It would be impossible, therefore, not to be spiritually and mentally enlarged by its wisdom.
John Calabrese is the Editor-at-Large at Creations Magazine and has a private counseling practice in Huntington, NY. |
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