The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life [Hardcover]

Marianne Williamson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2004

"The only way to gain power in a world that is moving too fast is to learn to slow down. And the only way to spread one's influence wide is to learn to go deep. The world we want for ourselves and our children will not emerge from electronic speed but rather from a spiritual stillness that takes root in our souls. Then, and only then, will we create a world that reflects the heart instead of shattering it." --from the Introduction

In this honest and uplifting book, bestselling author Marianne Williamson delves deeply into the powerful role of change in our lives today. Far from being something to fear and avoid, she says, every change -- even the most difficult and painful -- gives us an opportunity to receive the miraculous gift of personal transformation. The only real failure in life, she observes, is the failure to grow from what we go through. We will find real growth when we reorient ourselves using an eternal compass of spiritual principles, which alone can guide us on this path to wholeness.

By fixing our eyes on the things that don't change, Williamson leads us across ten key bridges of transformation:

From Forgetting Who We Are to Remembering Who We Are

From Negative Thinking to Positive Love

From Anxiety to Atonement

From Asking God to Change the World to Praying That He Change Us

From Living in the Past and Future to Living in the Present

From Focus on Guilt to Focus on Innocence

From Separation to Relationship

From Spiritual Death to Rebirth

From Your Plan to God's Plan

From Who We Were to Who We Are Becoming

These ten simple but profound changes empower us to see life's transitions as opportunities for growth and rebirth, providing not only keys for shaping our lives today, but also hope for transforming our world into a place of greater love and peace.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this relatable, down-to-earth book, Williamson explicates A Course in Miracles, which she describes as "a self-study program of spiritual psychotherapy." Both A Course in Miracles and Williamson's work borrow heavily from the Christian lexicon: she refers to God as "he" and speaks often of the Holy Spirit and Jesus. Her take-home message is that we must submit not to our egos, which tell us we are separate from God, but instead surrender to God, of whom we are all a part. While she does refer to all minds being joined and describes the world we know as a dream from which we must awaken, she differs from other New Thought and New Age thinkers by balancing an assumption that the negative things of this world (especially illness and adversity) are illusory with the fact that they feel real to us and that we must take practical steps to overcome them. She recommends embracing love and eschewing fear, arguing that we will encounter a loving world when we stop assuming it is hostile. She says that while we are not responsible for the bad things that happen to us, the universe is always primed to give us a new beginning, if only we can forgive, atone and trust that our loving attitudes and good works make a profound difference.
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Review

“Marianne Williamson challenges us to dive beneath the slick surface of our everyday life to encounter–and embrace–what frightens us most.” (Body & Soul )

“[Williamson’s] voice is strong medicine for our woundedness, warmth, insistence, good humor, and a little light to see by.” (Anne Lamott, author of Traveling Mercies )

“[From] one of our most profound teachers of transformational wisdom, this book is truly a gift to the world.” (Wayne W. Dyer, author of The Power of Intention )

“Williamson challenges us to live in the present moment … that it can be a portal to the miraculous.” (Spirituality and Health magazine )

“Williamson takes her readers seriously enough to ask serious attention of them and to offer them much in return.” (Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People )

“Never has a society needed this wisdom and guidance more than now.” (Caroline Myss, author of Sacred Contracts and Anatomy of the Spirit )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 257 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1ST edition (November 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006058534X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060585341
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

153 of 165 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Change Your Thoughts, Change Reality, December 12, 2004

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life (Hardcover)

"There's no point in trying to go to Outer Mongolia to escape your issues; they will find you there because they live inside your head." --Marianne Williamson in The Gift Of Change - Spiritual Guidance For A Radically New Life

For over a decade, Marianne Williamson has been teaching principles from A Course In Miracles (ACIM)--a channeled psycho-spiritual self-study work which shows individuals how to create miracles by surrendering to love. Some scoff at the notion that "love is the answer", but Williamson answers them by saying: "It's amazing how much ridicule the topic of love can attract when it does anything other than support the status quo." Make no mistake: Williamson does not advocate what I call "sloppy agape". Rather, she boldly challenges humanity to start getting with the Divine program and begin to change from the inside out.

In her new book The Gift Of Change - Spiritual Guidance For A Radically New Life , Williamson sounds a clarion call that now is the time to begin to look within for change. Attempting to change the external world, she asserts, is akin to trying to change a movie by altering the screen when dealing with the projector is what's needed. Saying "hidden beliefs are dangerous beliefs", the reader is challenged to examine personal beliefs and the attitudes they engender. Tracing defensiveness--a form of "passive violence"--to the root of war, Williamson demonstrates how our resistance to love and vulnerability keep us enslaved to the ego. She writes:

"Whenever our outer world remains stuck, it is incumbent upon us to look, not outward, but inward. It is a call to find the places in ourselves where we are holding on to old ways--places where we blame others rather than taking personal responsibility for our woes; where we judge others instead of blessing them; where we are hard rather than vulnerable and open and kind. These issues hold the hidden keys to unlocking our unsolved personal mysteries."

Williamson outlines ten bridges of transformation that can be crossed when we fix our eyes and hearts on that which is unchanging--an eternal compass of spiritual principles which can guide us on the personal and global path to wholeness:

*From Forgetting Who We Are to Remembering Who We Are
*From Negative Thinking to Positive Love
*From Anxiety to Atonement
*From Asking God to Change the World to Praying That He Changes Us
*From Living in the Past and Future to Living in the Present
*From Focus on Guilt to Focus on Innocence
*From Separation to Relationship
*From Spiritual Death to Rebirth
*From Your Plan to God's Plan
*From Who We Were to Who We Are Becoming

Using personal anecdotes, Williamson delves into various life transitions such as menopause, adolescence, and parenting--and how seasons of change are amazing opportunities for not only growth and change, but also global transformation. Saying that "our greatest contribution to the world at this time is not just what we do but who we are becoming", she shows the reader that no matter where we find ourselves, we can be a conduit for miracles. In fact, she says that sometimes "being about our Father's business" is as much what we're not doing, than what we are. That is, chasing a future dream of spiritual ambition, we ignore life in the Present--which is the only place that "I Am", and miracles, dwell:

"If I had simply allowed myself to enjoy my life more, I would have ended up better off later on. And when I allow myself to simply enjoy my life right now, I'm giving myself the biggest boost for the future. Every point in life's journey is inherently preparing us for our future in ways the rational mind cannot possibly comprehend."

As an example, Williamson poignantly explains that she resisted some aspects of motherhood when her daughter was a baby--often distracting herself from the overwhelming insistent, needy demands of her daughter. Williamson recalls: "I see now that the fact it was happening meant it was exactly what I was supposed to be doing, and I wasn't losing out on anything by giving most of my attention to her." As one who has had a similar experience with motherhood versus aspirations for a "real life" (i.e., a spiritually fulfilling vocation), I resonated with the truth that wherever we find ourselves, that is exactly where we need to be. Our limitless and brightness can shine no matter where we are at; in fact, when we shine, we can literally change the world--for all minds are joined in the Mind of Christ.

The Gift Of Change provides us with a powerful blueprint on transforming our lives--and the world--through transforming our thoughts. Through the spiritual compass of the ten principles, we can at last find our way to inner peace and miracles--which results in a world that is healed and whole.

If you're disheartened at the state of global affairs--including war--this book can show you how to replace thoughtforms of fear with those of love. If you're desperately searching for your soulmate or the perfect job, The Gift of Change lights the path to the miraculous Now. If you're experiencing existential angst--free-floating anxiety that doesn't seem to have a cause-- Williamson says you are not alone...but there is a way through it by choosing love over fear and trusting the Holy Spirit for a miracle.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Potent Insight, January 5, 2005

By 

Richard Thomas (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life (Hardcover)

The world is as it is be because of the belief systems "hosted". Marianne maps out a new approach to formulating a new system of belief and by that I mean a change in the choice of perception, interpretation, understanding and response to our worldly experience.

The book contains great insight and is comprehensive and potent in a real world sort of way. It is not a "feel good" book which results in positive feelings evaporating when faced with real world experience. The "feel good" comes after the fact if you actually apply the principles in the real world. The book will transform you as you read it, there is no turning back once exposed and it will flip the light switch on in any mind that consumes it.

No doubt that the few that benefit from the current "system of things" based on fear and ignorance will be faced with major issues as the contents of this book reaches critical mass.

It is becoming more apparent Marianne is one of the world's great spiritual leaders not afraid to confront politics and infuse them with spirit and wisdom, and that is what this world needs spiritual leaders given a voice to rise above the ego chatter and as she mentions in the book the "audacity" to do so.

I had read about a 100 pages before I went into a business meeting where egos were just waiting to escalate into conflict, I had resolved myself to remaining quiet and peaceful and seeing all as being right from their point of view and as my self. Try as they might they could not create a conflict with me in the room, for from some where the right words came dissolving the ego's fabrications and reframing perceptions.

Oh and if you want to see a miracle in your neighborhood or at work buy copies for everyone on your street and leave them at their door steps. Leave a copy on all your coworkers desks and let the source remain a secret. Remember to give yourself a copy and act surprised. The results will be exponential.

Love & Blessings To All

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Phenomenal Book!, November 12, 2004

By 

Tom (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life (Hardcover)

This book is a miracle in and of itself. It really shifted my mind and, as other's here have said, returned my thinking back to Love. As I read this book, I realized how hungry I was for Marianne's special brand of wisom and inspiration in my life. I found myself immersing myself in it, the way I did with A Return to Love. and Illuminata.
The one star review here, made my heart sink. Casting guilt is not exactly what A Course in Miracles had in mind. There is the letter of the law. And the Spirit of the Law. A Gift of Change stands on its own merits. Marianne is a magnificent teacher of that material. And this book is a culmination of her many years of experience and genius. Like fine wine she just gets better and better with age. I really urge you to read this book. In this day and age, with all that's going on, we could all use a very healthy dose of The Gift of Change. For me, personally, reading it reallly uplifted me and gave me hope again.