13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
101 reasons to love this book!, April 17, 2008
This review is from: The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life (Hardcover)
Seldom have I been so excited about sharing a book with you. For so many reasons!
First, the subject matter totally enthralls me. I have been a Metaphysical `seeker' for 25 years now, & I still get so jazzed when I read material that hits the mark and nails the message. This one does that for me.
Secondly, the 101 chapters are concise little vignettes or tomes of wisdom, each less than 2 pages long. (Think James Patterson here). Which, to today's busy reader, means that you can grab a chapter at any convenient moment and meditate on that message throughout your day. That is exactly how I have enjoyed the book this week. Normally, I attempt to sit & complete a book for review in one fell swoop. However, reading Dr. Jones' book was like having dessert at all hours of the day. So of course I wanted to stretch out that experience.
After each chapter is a section called `Mindfulness Practice' which challenges you to put the lesson into everyday life practicum. And I found those gems to be the icing on the cake. Some were easier to do than others, but always they caused me to reflect and dig within just a little deeper.
Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones is the leader of a New Thought community called One Spirit, in Simi Valley, CA. He is a teacher, leader and facilitator of this growing community. More can be learned about him on his website [...]
You will be excited to know that soon `The Art of Being; More Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life' will be released.
I always share my favorite parts of a book with you, and more than a few of the 101 `ways' jumped out at me. I particularly was impressed with Chapter 20; `Just Give It All Up'. The idea that surrendering ourselves to the Higher Power, is literally `giving it UP'. Letting go and letting God. How often we think of surrender as a sign of weakness, when it is the gift of self to Self. Releasing & letting go... sweet surrender.
Chapter 40 is `The Power of Gratitude'. This impacted me anew after watching the movie, `The Secret' this month. ( I even started up a gratitude journal again).
Dr Jones expounds on the self-empowerment that gratitude brings about. I loved his quote, `In truth, there are actually two kinds of gratitude: the kind we feel for the good we receive and the more subtle kind we feel for the good we give.'
And as Melody Beattie said, `Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow'.
I know you'll want to read this one for yourself, and for sharing with others.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Soul inspiring and life affirming, April 17, 2008
This review is from: The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life (Hardcover)
I have been a fan of Dennis Merritt Jones for many years and I have found this book to be inspiring and offers people practical ways in which to redirect their thinking. As a universal community we can all use Mr. Jones teachings as a guide in which to look at things in a "different", more helpful light without feeling like the task is impossible. One is given the tools in which to open their minds and hearts with his mindfulness practices without feeling overwhelmed. Fantastic for people who are "searching" as well as others who have already "found".
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
life changing book, April 17, 2008
This review is from: The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life (Hardcover)
The Art of Being is a practical guide to meaningful spiritual practices that help us recognize the divinity that has always existed within each of our beings. Dr. Jones provides "Mindfulness" practices in the back of each chapter that help bring this recognition into our consciousness. My wife, daughter and I are now reading it together for the third time. Each time we read a chapter, we find something new and inspiring. I highly recommend it, it can be life transforming.
Stuart Azarchi
Hamilton, NJ
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