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Relax Into Wealth: How to Get More by Doing Less
In Relax into Wealth , master storyteller Alan Cohen demonstratesthe intrinsic link between passion, authenticity, andprosperity. He shows that nothing pays like . . . being yourself. This popular national speaker and bestselling writer delivershis prosperity principles in fifty-two true stories of successfulpeople he has encountered, including celebrities, Midas-touchentrepreneurs, shuttle-bus drivers, wide-eyed children, and evena stripper. Then, in his unique way, Cohen highlights the lessonwithin each parable and expands upon it, enabling readers toapply the principle to their own lives. Cohen uses the story , the most cogent teaching device inhistory, to give readers an entertaining and accessible model. Relax into Wealth makes use of personal (and sometimes quiteintimate) tales to capture the reader’s attention and impart thewisdom found in the experience. Each of its fifty-two anecdotesends with a personal affirmation to help readers remember thelesson and carry it into real life. Most popular books on success in business or personalfinance are formula-driven, focusing on techniques to makemore money, climb the corporate ladder, or outpower competition. Relax into Wealth is character-driven, shining the spotlighton the kind of heart, faith, and vision required to overcome fear,peer pressure, limiting beliefs, or a history of failure. The book is about real people—in whom readers canrecognize themselves—featuring moneymakers who have beentrue to their passion and successful in their chosen domain.Every reader will see his own financial hopes—and how toachieve them—in the lives of the various characters.
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
29 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Alan Cohen
190 books217 followersAlan Cohen is the author of several self help books.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 8, 2018
Don't judge me for the title. This is probably the book I most needed to read for my Book A Week Nonfiction Experiment. A good blend of practical and inspirational advice, and the most important things I got out of it have nothing to do with wealth.
My favourite chapter is "Can you not do it?" If there's an idea of something you've wanted to do for a long time that keeps nagging at you, ask yourself what would happen if you didn't do it. If you feel like you'd be missing out or have regrets, then go for it.
The first half of the book is more generally accessible, where the second half does begin to take on a more spiritual slant. I'm not sure how I feel about the second half yet but I know I'll at least be rereading the first 100 pages over and over for the next little while.
My favourite chapter is "Can you not do it?" If there's an idea of something you've wanted to do for a long time that keeps nagging at you, ask yourself what would happen if you didn't do it. If you feel like you'd be missing out or have regrets, then go for it.
The first half of the book is more generally accessible, where the second half does begin to take on a more spiritual slant. I'm not sure how I feel about the second half yet but I know I'll at least be rereading the first 100 pages over and over for the next little while.
May 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this book at first. I particularly liked the story of Louise Hay not being sure she could afford to invest $75 in an electric stapler to bind her earliest self-published books.
As the book went on, though, it started feeling really preachy and trite to me. I really didn’t enjoy the last 20% or so. I only finished because I was so close to the end. I’m surprised because I usually love this author.
Highlights:
Aqua highlight | Location: 378
When a web is begun, God gives the thread. —Inscribed on the ceiling of the Library of Congress
Yellow highlight | Location: 412
If you are trying to attract a job, living situation, or life partner, your thoughts and feelings must be a match to it. You must love it, know you deserve it, and hold a vision for healthy, joyful use of it. Then and only then will it come to you, and without struggle or strain. You don’t have to fight for it; you just have to be one with it.
Yellow highlight | Location: 452
When your sense of purpose is clear and strong, results show up quickly and easily. When you hold mixed intentions, doubts, fears, or resistance, the manifestation process becomes muddied and it takes longer to generate what you want.
Yellow highlight | Location: 467
When you really want it and believe you deserve it, it will come. In the process, every arrow you shoot serves as target practice.
Yellow highlight | Location: 636
Fear and faith cannot coexist in the same mind or place. The antidote to fear is not to push hard against it or buck your way through it. The answer is to tap into a deeper knowing than the level that fear is speaking from. That deep place always exists inside you; your role is to relax into it.
Note | Location: 800
What character traits do people criticize you for?
Sticking with things long after they’re over
Being selfish
Giving up too easily
Learned helplessness
Note | Location: 802
What traits do you criticize yourself for?
Being selfish
Being lazy/undisciplined
Being judgmental
Note | Location: 805
How might these traits be an asset or service to others?
Being selfish-they don’t have to take care of me, I take care of myself
Quitting too early-show others what not to waste time on
Quitting too late-give others the benefit of the doubt and time to do better
Being lazy-produce better creations with rest
Being judgmental-???
Note | Location: 808
Name someone who gets paid to do what you love to do. What do they know or live that you could learn from?
Darla, Erin Werley, and Gaby all accept themselves, follow their guidance, and trust that everything is going to be okay
Aqua highlight | Location: 838
ahead. If you are more afraid than excited, keep examining your decision until you unveil your deepest knowing about it. The closer you come to your authentic truth, the more empowered you will feel in one direction or another.
Yellow highlight | Location: 907
If something keeps showing up and you keep wanting to do it, give it your serious consideration. If you can’t not do it, you might as well surrender to love.
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,005
One evening as the two were sitting on Louise’s living room floor stapling pamphlets, her mom suggested, “Why don’t you get an electric stapler, dear?” “Oh, that would cost seventy-five dollars, Mom,” Louise answered. “I don’t know if I could afford it.”
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,163
the critical voice is not your own. Neither is the voice that pushes you to keep going and performing to a point that you reduce your life to a mere trickle.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,224
Me: Find someone who understands and appreciates you and your work and offer them a percentage of the income they help you generate.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,235
There are two types of people in the world: visionaries and executives. Visionaries have big ideas but don’t want to be bothered with the details of carrying them out. Executives just love to get things done.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,251
The most debilitating belief I encounter is that work requires suffering.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,252
remember the words of the Wright brothers, who described their process of inventing the airplane thus: “We couldn’t wait to get up in the morning.”
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,254
Keep it simple: do what you love and let others do the rest.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,286
There is no private good. What is truly right for you must ultimately serve others.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,341
as a performer, salesperson, manager, parent, teacher, counselor, healer, or professional of any kind, you must be self-igniting. You cannot afford to base your performance on the situation you step into.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,369
Instead of moving toward your goal, live from it, and you will achieve extraordinary results. There is a place in consciousness where your dream has already come true. Visit it frequently, and it will not be long before you live it in your daily life.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,427
You have the power to thrive under all conditions.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,486
“unless you are receiving negative feedback from twenty percent of your constituents, you probably aren’t doing anything worthwhile.”
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,694
If you participate in a business, relationship, or project, be sure that you are fully willing. If you are half present, you detract from your experience and make it harder for others. Either do it with a whole heart, or don’t do it.
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,859
When confronted with a decision, imagine for a moment that money is not a factor, and you will see more clearly what to do.
Note | Location: 1,875
Name three decisions you have been thinking about or wrestling with.
1. Buy cold email service?
2. Buy Erin Werley’s sales course?
3. Join Josh Gavin’s program?
Note | Location: 1,877
What would you do in each situation if money were not a factor?
1. Cold email - probably buy it
2. Erin Werley’s - definitely buy it
3. Josh’s - maybe join it
Note | Location: 1,932
Name three things you would do if you knew you could not fail.
1. Launch The Long Game and its reality show
2. Launch the dead leads program using cold email
3. Buy Erin Werley’s sales course
Note | Location: 1,934
Name three things you would like to buy but do not feel you can afford at the moment.
1. Cabin in Mentone
2. Summer in PA, including condo at Blue Knob, a/c for Miata, and plant-sitter
3. Flying lessons
4. Two more weeks in Fort Walton
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,018
Let the one in least fear lead.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,035
When I speak at certain personal growth institutions, one person is assigned to “hold the space” for the seminar. This person sits quietly off to one side of the meeting room and meditates or prays for the success of the program. While other people are laughing, weeping, joyful, or upset, this person has one job: to be at peace. This
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,038
There is one among you or within you who is not afraid. Let that fearless one guide, and you will remain safe and be successful.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,081
When you are not sure whether to purchase or act, wait until you are sure. If you see an item you may want to buy, but you have doubts, don’t purchase at that moment. Walk away and see if you keep thinking about it. If so, you have a good indication to go back and get it. If you forget about it, you have your answer. If it’s not a “hell, yes!” it’s a “hell, no!”
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,108
I choose from strength and clarity. There is a right timing for everything, and that which is mine shall know my face.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,335
Rejections, even multiple rejections, are not necessarily an indication of the lack of worth of your project. They may simply be indications of a mismatch of the applicant and rejecter. Or lack of good taste on the part of the person denying your request.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,553
really good lemonade!
As the book went on, though, it started feeling really preachy and trite to me. I really didn’t enjoy the last 20% or so. I only finished because I was so close to the end. I’m surprised because I usually love this author.
Highlights:
Aqua highlight | Location: 378
When a web is begun, God gives the thread. —Inscribed on the ceiling of the Library of Congress
Yellow highlight | Location: 412
If you are trying to attract a job, living situation, or life partner, your thoughts and feelings must be a match to it. You must love it, know you deserve it, and hold a vision for healthy, joyful use of it. Then and only then will it come to you, and without struggle or strain. You don’t have to fight for it; you just have to be one with it.
Yellow highlight | Location: 452
When your sense of purpose is clear and strong, results show up quickly and easily. When you hold mixed intentions, doubts, fears, or resistance, the manifestation process becomes muddied and it takes longer to generate what you want.
Yellow highlight | Location: 467
When you really want it and believe you deserve it, it will come. In the process, every arrow you shoot serves as target practice.
Yellow highlight | Location: 636
Fear and faith cannot coexist in the same mind or place. The antidote to fear is not to push hard against it or buck your way through it. The answer is to tap into a deeper knowing than the level that fear is speaking from. That deep place always exists inside you; your role is to relax into it.
Note | Location: 800
What character traits do people criticize you for?
Sticking with things long after they’re over
Being selfish
Giving up too easily
Learned helplessness
Note | Location: 802
What traits do you criticize yourself for?
Being selfish
Being lazy/undisciplined
Being judgmental
Note | Location: 805
How might these traits be an asset or service to others?
Being selfish-they don’t have to take care of me, I take care of myself
Quitting too early-show others what not to waste time on
Quitting too late-give others the benefit of the doubt and time to do better
Being lazy-produce better creations with rest
Being judgmental-???
Note | Location: 808
Name someone who gets paid to do what you love to do. What do they know or live that you could learn from?
Darla, Erin Werley, and Gaby all accept themselves, follow their guidance, and trust that everything is going to be okay
Aqua highlight | Location: 838
ahead. If you are more afraid than excited, keep examining your decision until you unveil your deepest knowing about it. The closer you come to your authentic truth, the more empowered you will feel in one direction or another.
Yellow highlight | Location: 907
If something keeps showing up and you keep wanting to do it, give it your serious consideration. If you can’t not do it, you might as well surrender to love.
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,005
One evening as the two were sitting on Louise’s living room floor stapling pamphlets, her mom suggested, “Why don’t you get an electric stapler, dear?” “Oh, that would cost seventy-five dollars, Mom,” Louise answered. “I don’t know if I could afford it.”
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,163
the critical voice is not your own. Neither is the voice that pushes you to keep going and performing to a point that you reduce your life to a mere trickle.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,224
Me: Find someone who understands and appreciates you and your work and offer them a percentage of the income they help you generate.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,235
There are two types of people in the world: visionaries and executives. Visionaries have big ideas but don’t want to be bothered with the details of carrying them out. Executives just love to get things done.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,251
The most debilitating belief I encounter is that work requires suffering.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,252
remember the words of the Wright brothers, who described their process of inventing the airplane thus: “We couldn’t wait to get up in the morning.”
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,254
Keep it simple: do what you love and let others do the rest.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,286
There is no private good. What is truly right for you must ultimately serve others.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,341
as a performer, salesperson, manager, parent, teacher, counselor, healer, or professional of any kind, you must be self-igniting. You cannot afford to base your performance on the situation you step into.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,369
Instead of moving toward your goal, live from it, and you will achieve extraordinary results. There is a place in consciousness where your dream has already come true. Visit it frequently, and it will not be long before you live it in your daily life.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,427
You have the power to thrive under all conditions.
Aqua highlight | Location: 1,486
“unless you are receiving negative feedback from twenty percent of your constituents, you probably aren’t doing anything worthwhile.”
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,694
If you participate in a business, relationship, or project, be sure that you are fully willing. If you are half present, you detract from your experience and make it harder for others. Either do it with a whole heart, or don’t do it.
Yellow highlight | Location: 1,859
When confronted with a decision, imagine for a moment that money is not a factor, and you will see more clearly what to do.
Note | Location: 1,875
Name three decisions you have been thinking about or wrestling with.
1. Buy cold email service?
2. Buy Erin Werley’s sales course?
3. Join Josh Gavin’s program?
Note | Location: 1,877
What would you do in each situation if money were not a factor?
1. Cold email - probably buy it
2. Erin Werley’s - definitely buy it
3. Josh’s - maybe join it
Note | Location: 1,932
Name three things you would do if you knew you could not fail.
1. Launch The Long Game and its reality show
2. Launch the dead leads program using cold email
3. Buy Erin Werley’s sales course
Note | Location: 1,934
Name three things you would like to buy but do not feel you can afford at the moment.
1. Cabin in Mentone
2. Summer in PA, including condo at Blue Knob, a/c for Miata, and plant-sitter
3. Flying lessons
4. Two more weeks in Fort Walton
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,018
Let the one in least fear lead.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,035
When I speak at certain personal growth institutions, one person is assigned to “hold the space” for the seminar. This person sits quietly off to one side of the meeting room and meditates or prays for the success of the program. While other people are laughing, weeping, joyful, or upset, this person has one job: to be at peace. This
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,038
There is one among you or within you who is not afraid. Let that fearless one guide, and you will remain safe and be successful.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,081
When you are not sure whether to purchase or act, wait until you are sure. If you see an item you may want to buy, but you have doubts, don’t purchase at that moment. Walk away and see if you keep thinking about it. If so, you have a good indication to go back and get it. If you forget about it, you have your answer. If it’s not a “hell, yes!” it’s a “hell, no!”
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,108
I choose from strength and clarity. There is a right timing for everything, and that which is mine shall know my face.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,335
Rejections, even multiple rejections, are not necessarily an indication of the lack of worth of your project. They may simply be indications of a mismatch of the applicant and rejecter. Or lack of good taste on the part of the person denying your request.
Aqua highlight | Location: 2,553
really good lemonade!
March 4, 2010
Fantastic read. As a self-proclaimed Professional "Chiller" authoring my own Manifesto, I highly recommend "Relax Into Wealth" to anyone who dreams of achieving a happy life...without killing yourself to get there. There IS an easier path...a path of least resistance.
August 7, 2013
I get the idea, however this could have been two lines rather than a whole book. I cannot believe that he makes a living from this, he essentially says the same thing in each 2.5 page chapter.
July 21, 2025
If you’re looking for a single book to dive into from the manifestation, positivity, and ACIM-inspired self-help genre, 'Relax into Wealth' by Alan Cohen is an excellent choice. Cohen strikes a perfect balance, delivering practical, grounded advice without falling into overly simplistic or clichéd optimism. His engaging and accessible writing style makes this book a joy to read, while its insights resonate deeply, affirming my own perspectives and experiences. My favorite quote in this book is: “The universe is a big ‘Yes!’ machine. All of life is an affirmation of what can be.” This concise yet profound book is a great read for anyone seeking inspiration and practical wisdom for personal growth.
August 28, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! Thank you Alan Cohen for such an amazingly concise but filled with well constructed lessons that were very user friendly and thought provoking. I will probably be referring back to this book often. I AM very grateful to have discovered your work!
November 22, 2021
Spiritual, entertaining, infectious
Thoroughly enjoyable! Great uplifting insights, filled with personal stories relating to the main themes. The author is so relatable you'll wish you could hang out with him for an evening.
Thoroughly enjoyable! Great uplifting insights, filled with personal stories relating to the main themes. The author is so relatable you'll wish you could hang out with him for an evening.
December 1, 2019
Stories teach and Alan Cohen is among the best story tellers. Enjoy this new way of thinking about wealth and abundance.
March 24, 2020
Nice book, good questions to answer for yourself and it is a beautiful addition to all "law of attraction" books!
February 25, 2017
LOVED this book! Super short and relatable stories with actions YOU can take. I loved the journaling questions along with the affirmations. Five Stars!!!
March 20, 2013
Loved this book. Very positive! Great things to ponder and to hold in my mind as positive ways to move forward with my life. I loved the author's writing style -- stories that reflected the point he makes, yet not too long that the details take away from the impact of the lesson to be learned (or just to be remembered). Gave me lots to think about and that's what I love in a book. This is a keeper for me. As soon as I finished it, I started reading in AGAIN. There is no higher compliment from me. Would DEFINITELY recommend.
August 2, 2013
Despite the rather 'quick-fix' connoting title, this book actually has some pretty good nuggets. The core concept is contained in the Introduction itself, as an italicised sentence -
"Relax, trust, and choose ease over struggle, and things will work out better than if you try to manipulate anxiously."
I liked the anecdotes in each chapter better than the concepts and explanation that nuanced the core idea. And I'm really not the kind of reader who would work on the exercise questions and affirmations at the end of each chapter.
"Relax, trust, and choose ease over struggle, and things will work out better than if you try to manipulate anxiously."
I liked the anecdotes in each chapter better than the concepts and explanation that nuanced the core idea. And I'm really not the kind of reader who would work on the exercise questions and affirmations at the end of each chapter.
October 23, 2013
Outstanding self-improvement book. Distills many of the lessons I've read in scores of other self-improvement books and presents them in 2-3 pages with an apropos quote and a short anecdotal story. There are 47 chapters, and I may make a habit of reading one every morning. It'll only take 3-5 minutes, but the effect these little essays have is thought-provoking and paradigm-shifting.
December 21, 2008
An easy read about the law of manifestation with excellent affirmations at the end of each chapter.
August 9, 2010
Very inspiring.
September 13, 2016
Inspiring! Good examples and full of spiritual meaning.
April 15, 2012
Platitudes. The usual feel-good crap. Which isn't bad in and of itself. Just gets old.
February 13, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
September 1, 2014
Love it. It's about shifting the paradigms.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews