Creating True Prosperity (Gawain, Shakti) [Paperback]

Shakti Gawain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2000 | Series: Gawain, Shakti

Personal-growth pioneer Shakti Gawain presents her definition of prosperity: not bankrolls and material possessions, but rather a fulfilled heart and soul. Interviewing people about their views of prosperity, she has found that most, regardless of their wealth, feel a serious lacking in their overall sense of well-being. Using a fresh approach, she challenges the Western tendency to equate money with happiness, encouraging readers to examine their longings honestly, follow them to their roots, and separate them from false desires or addictions. Writing with authority and warmth, Gawain shows readers how to create true prosperity in satisfying relationships and the kind of happiness not dependent on possessions or circumstances.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

Best-known for her classic, Creative Visualization, Gawain offers here a larger outlook on prosperity, one beyond the normal limits of money. She first examines three perspectives on prosperity: materialistic philosophy, New Age thought, and a transcendent spiritual viewpoint. On the level of the individual, true prosperity means balance, personal satisfaction and fulfilling relationships. Integral to this experience of prosperity is the balancing of polarities: active and receptive, giving and receiving, doing and being. The author, a casual yet careful reader, delivers her material with gentleness, humor and com-passion. The technical quality of the recording is excellent. Creating True Prosperity is certain to be popular among Gawain fans and among listeners interested in a more metaphysical perspective on money. C.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: New World Library, Nataraj; Later Printing edition (November 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577311701
• ISBN-13: 978-1577311706
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #596,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Creating True Prosperity February 9, 2003

By Cassandra Barnes

Format:Paperback

Shakti Gawain is well-known as an expert in personal growth and consciousness. She's written numerous book and leads workshops internationally. Her latest book, Creating True Prosperity, teaches that the way to happiness is not necessarily the accumulation of wealth.

Gawain defines prosperity as "the experience of having plenty of what we truly need and want in life, material and otherwise." She adds that "the key point to understand is that prosperity is an internal experience, not an external state, and it is an experience that is not tied to money." This is one reason why many people find themselves unhappy, despite the fact that they have more than enough money to cover their needs.

This does not mean that money is unimportant, and a certain amount of it is obviously needed to meet basic survival needs. The difficulty for many people comes from how they think about money. Gawain says that "essentially, money is a symbol for energy." We use our energy in a certain way--work--and receive money in exchange. We can then exchange our money for something created by someone else's energy. This defines money as a flow of energy and "our financial affairs tend to reflect how our life energy is moving."

Prosperity eludes many of us for a variety of reasons. Gawain provides some exercises for understanding personal patterns and overcoming habits and thought processes that keep individuals from achieving their prosperity goals. From this, she gets into a discussion of polarities and how most of us feel that we must always choose between opposites, with neither choice providing happiness. She details six steps that help individuals to balance their own inner polarities.

Gawain then answers common questions that readers might have, such as where to begin when needs seem overwhelming and how to overcome a "not enough" mentality. She finishes with a chapter of "stories of prosperity," filled with examples of how everyday people have created prosperous lives.

Creating True Prosperity is for every person wanting guidance in identifying "where they need more balance in their lives, freeing them to pursue fulfilling relationships and personal satisfaction."

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Ho-Hum, More of the Same December 30, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Audio Cassette

The "CREATING TRUE PROSPERITY" audio cassette by Shakti Gawain excerpts the essential ideas presented in her prosperity workshop and her book of the same title. The key word here is "true." On Side One, Gawain discusses what true prosperity is. Is prosperity having plenty of money? If so, then how much is plenty? For most of us, it is a case of not experiencing prosperity no matter how much money we have. Why? Generally, the more money we have, the more responsibility we acquire in the process. Also, our expenses usually increase proportionately as our income increases. Actually, Gawain points out, true prosperity has little to do with money. Prosperity is having plenty of what we truly need and want in life. Therefore, her first recommendation is to discover just exactly what it is that we need and want. With that done, the next thing that we require according to Gawain is the ability to bring these things into our lives. Her final recommendation is to enjoy and appreciate what we already have.

Gawain's key point seems to be that prosperity is related to but not caused by money, which is only the means not the end. So then, just what is the relationship between money and prosperity? Gawain suggests, there are three approaches to this relationship. The material approach is a purely external one while the spiritual approach is an internal one. The third approach, which Gawain calls the "New Age" approach, is based on consciousness. We manifest externally what we feel and think internally. While Gawain considers this last approach more realistic than the material or the spiritual, she feels that all three are too simplistic and limiting and offers a fourth approach This one draws on the other three but goes beyond them. It focuses on money as a mirror of prosperity. One could label this the "energy" approach, in which money, like health, career or relationships, represents an aspect of one's life that mirrors how well one's energy is circulating in that particular area. For example, if you are having chronic financial difficulties, you may want to examine your feelings toward power or unworthiness. Gawain then shares a seven-step process to enhance our prosperity: gratitutde, awareness, healing, following your truth, creating a vision, setting goals and sharing our gifts

On Side Two, Gawain presents two meditations. The first one is a meditation on gratitude whereby we come to realize and express our appreciation for what we already have. The second one is a meditation on discovering what it is that we need and want in our lives. For anyone familiar with Gawain's other audio cassettes or books, these two meditations are standard fare. If you have not been exposed to any of Gawain's material before, you may find them interesting.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Illusion of Prosperity January 30, 2000

By Truth is Out There

Format:Hardcover

Sometimes getting ahead in life is a little bit more than just how much money you can make. Creating True Prosperity is a careful blend of being balanced in one's life and truly experiencing happiness. In this book a philosophy is revealed that helps you gauge and understand why you may not be truly happy even if you currently are earning a decent income. Shakti strikes out and rattles a persons fundamental values and shows us how society has created its own self delusional citizens. She has a very pleasant way of writing that is easy to follow and extremely logical. This is simply another must read for anyone concerned with their personal improvement and betterment of their soul.