The Courage to Be Free: Discover Your Original Fearless Self

by Guy Finley

We were not born with the persistent negative, selfdoubting, selflimiting thoughts and feelings most of us carry around. Those limitations are not part of our "original equipment." In the words of bestselling author and beloved teacher Guy Finley, "When you realize no else on this earth can be like you... that no other soul may know the beauty, sorrow, light and darkness you alone are given to see, then you will no longer want to be like anyone else on this earth. You will, at last, be the fearless individual you heart of hearts has called you to be." There is a world of wisdom in this small gem of a book. Guy Finley is a master at opening our eyes, ears, and hearts to the plain and simple truths of this life. We are not our sense of inadequacy, our compulsions, our defeated thoughts and feelings. We can choose the fearless path because we were, in fact, born fearless.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology

128 pages, Hardcover

First published July 6, 2010

About the author

BEST-SELLING "LETTING GO" author Guy Finley's encouraging and accessible message is one of the true bright lights in our world today. His ideas go straight to the heart of our most important personal and social issues -- relationships, success, addiction, stress, peace, happiness, freedom -- and lead the way to a higher life.

Finley is the acclaimed author of The Secret of Letting Go, The Essential Laws of Fearless Living and 35 other major works that have sold over a million copies in 18 languages worldwide. In addition, he has presented over 4,000 unique self-realization seminars to thousands of grateful students throughout North America and Europe over the past 25 years and has been a guest on over 400 television and radio shows, including appearances on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, NPR and many others. He is a member of the faculty of the Omega Institute and a daily contributor to Beliefnet.

Finley is Director of Life of Learning Foundation, the non-profit self-realization school in Merlin, Oregon, and his popular Key Lesson e-mails are read each week by 200,000 subscribers in 142 countries. His work is widely endorsed by doctors, business professionals, celebrities, and religious leaders of all denominations.

Guy's career reached this point through a circuitous path. Born into a successful show business family, he is the son of Late-Night TV and radio pioneer Larry Finley. His childhood friends were the sons and daughters of the most famous celebrities in the world. As a young man Guy enjoyed success in a number of areas including composing award-winning music for many popular recording artists including Diana Ross, The Jackson 5, Billy Preston, The Four Seasons, as well as writing the scores for several motion pictures and TV shows. From 1970-1979 he wrote and recorded his own albums under the Motown and RCA recording labels.

Throughout his youth, Guy suspected there was more to life than the type of worldly success that led to the emptiness and frustration he saw among his own "successful" friends and colleagues. In 1979, after travels throughout North America, India and the Far East in search of truth and Higher Wisdom, Guy voluntarily retired from his flourishing music career in order to simplify his life and to concentrate on deeper self-studies.

In addition to his writing and appearance schedule, Guy presents four inner-life classes each week at Life of Learning Foundation in Merlin, Oregon. These classes are ongoing and open to the public. Click here for more details about Guy's ongoing talks.

“Guy Finley is... one of the leading experts at the forefront of human potential.”
- Nightingale Conant

“Guy Finley's books are essential guides for positive living and achieving your maximum potential!”
- Suzanne Somers

“There is something profoundly healing in the way Guy Finley talks to us, as if he understands what we have gone through and what we are now capable of.”
- Hugh Prather
Author of Notes to Myself

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day, the wise old owl Solomon saw a strange sight: five eagles wearing goggles and raincoats walking towards their fishing grounds. Whereas eagles are usually adept fliers and fierce hunters these poor birds fought each other over mere scraps. It was a dreadful sight. Somehow, someway, these majestic creatures had been tricked into believing that they weren’t enough.

Like these great birds, we have been tricked into believing that we are somehow lacking. We’ve forgotten that we don’t need anything external to make our lives better. We live in fear, afraid that the tiny scraps we have acquired might be taken from us.

The Courage to Be Free essentially tries to do for us what Solomon did for those five eagles. Solomon knows that those eagles only need take off those silly outfits, let go of their fear, and for one moment just imagine what they could accomplish if they just trusted that they were in fact eagles. That everything needed to fly and live happily was right there for the taking.

[Brayden Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to write reviews for self help if life advice books but ig essentially it comes down to what you get out of it and how applicable it is and if it actually WORKS. So does any of it work? Yes but application of letting go is harder than reading an entire book on it. But now with more tools for application....itll get easier and itll be better and itll get done.

[Drew Constance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at my local library after a quick flick through. At this moment in my life I am seeking to find myself on an endless life long journey and I am always interested in other people's perspectives on how to live a rich and free like while maintaining our authentic self. Guy presents a myriad of blunt suggestions, refreshing story telling and to the point key steps in which you can implement in your own life to activity be your powerful self.

Much with any book pertaining to spiritual enlightenment and self help I took what resonate with me and discarded the parts that say uncomfortable with me to reconsider and look at, at another time. I believe this is a book that you would need to read a few times to really ingrain his teachings into your mind in a manner that made them automatic. It takes practice and consistent learning to break through the resistance of freedom and I do think guy did a good job at giving those tools, however there were some parts that felt a little to forced for me and other parts where I felt that he was discarding natural human reaction.

Overall it is a book that I would probably buy if I could find it really cheap, but I wouldn't pay full price for it. However I would recommend it for a good read if you are interested in a different perspective of being and expressing your fearless self. It is a quick, thought challenging read.

[Joe Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guy Finley's writing style is rather lofty. He goes to great lengths to beautify the written word, but don't let that be a hindrance. Guy is committed to your self improvement.

The book is great. Especially the last few chapters. Anything that Guy writes needs to be read again and again to really soak it in. It is deep, profound and it will change your life.

Read this book if you want a new life. But be warned: the rewards are limitless, but there is work involved.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit in my mind. These books are really connecting with me these days. I appreciate the way they are teaching me.

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Heard a bit of the audio book and did not like it. It is too airy-fairy.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were definitely a few memorable takeaways from this for me:

(Referring to people who tend to anxiety - paraphrasing this):
If you are anxious to get to a place of peace, don’t you think you’d be there by now?

The ruts don’t create the cows, the cows create the ruts.

I found the reader’s voice so off putting at first, I almost thought it sounded like a joke (if you remember deep thoughts by jack handy from SNL c1990s, then you are picturing it correctly). After I got used to it, I kind of found it soothing and would forget to listen to the words.

Not anything too different than what I’ve read before in this vein. It’s a good, short book to remind me to be thinking along these lines, not equating myself with my emotions, not dwelling in the past, living in the present, etc. The fabled and short illustrations/stories were actually pretty helpful and a highlight.

[Rob Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-help indeed. Aphorisms aplenty that affirm one's desire to change. An extremely easy book to digest, the message is intended for those ready to choose to take the first step. Here are a few quotes.

Guy Finley wrote:

You have the right to walk through this life without any fear of what may await you ahead.

[T]he weeds of resentment and regret cannot grow in the light of any mind that knows what - and what not - to give its attention to.

Wisdom is the seed of freedom, but only in action do we see it flower.

The first step to breaking out of any rut in life, it is to no longer enable the parts of us that keep walking in them while wishing, they weren't so deep!

[Caliskann · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Yunuslar köpekbalıklarıyla yüzmez; çakallar tavşanları şirin evcil hayvanlar olarak görmez. Kuzular kuzularla birlikte yatar."

"İç dünyamız dış dünyamızı belirler."

"Neyin doğru olduğunu hatırlayın, ona göre hareket edin; böylece, herhangi bir insanın bilmek isteyebileceği en büyük ve en paha biçilemez armağanın, kutsal doğası korkusuzluğun kendisi olan en içteki An'da kalma ile bilinçli bir ilişkinin farkına varacaksınız."

"Sadece değişmek için yaratılmadınız, istediğiniz zaman bunu yapmakta özgürsünüz!"

[Candace · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s short and beautifully written, which is the only reason I actually listened to it. Ultimately it was two hours to tell me that the way to end fear is to just end my fear without anything of substance to back it up. The only resources given are folk tales and personal anecdotes. Of course the author’s training and experience is as a musician with world travels, so I don’t know why I expected more, but I was let down.

[Jenn Toews · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite boring. The content didn’t reflect the title of the book - it was more about living in the present and letting go of the past, nothing about becoming your fearless, authentic self. He rambled on about the topic the whole book and had no data or research to help back up any of the points.

[Burcu ALTIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Gerçek olan hiçbir şey kaybedilmez.Tıpkı fidenin gelişip açabilmesi için tohumun ona yol vermesi gerektiği gibi,tüm olasılıklara rağmen bazı şeyleri bırakmayı öğrenmeliyiz ki orada yetişmesi gereken şey büyüsün.”
#Özgürleşebilmek defalarca okunabilir #GuyFinley

[Kübra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yazarın düşüncelerini aktarmak için kullandığı kelimeler ve kurduğu cümlelerden mi yoksa çeviriden mi kaynaklandığını bilmediğim bir sebepten bazı cümleleri anlamak için birden fazla kez okumak zorunda kaldım. Yine de verdiği mesaj güzel, okunabilir bir kitap.

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 stars plus 2 stars automatically for Sean Runnette

as narrator. I can't stop imagining that it's Talbot doing the talking.

[Lu · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not a fan of this book at all. I would not recommend you read it.

If you like aesthetic realism you might like it.

[Yvensong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may be a good read for someone new to this outlook.

[Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to read and reread many times. To give thought to what is being said.

Loved it.

[Umit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Faydasız

[Ashley Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the advice here.
Thank you, Guy 👍🏾👍🏾😄

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened, not closely. Nothing really gained. Might be my headspace.

[Thomas Holbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Spiritual writings. In reading a wide range of this genre, I have noticed a unity of opinion regarding Ultimate Awareness. The greatest variance of how to achieve that goal is in the myth and tradition taken by those who seek it. I was unfamiliar with Mr. Finley on his writings until this book. It was part of a year-end clearance with one of my dealers and was a bargain even without a coupon! Having read this hard-bound pamphlet, I found him to be clear, well integrated as to his Spiritual World-View (he appears to be more Buddhist, but would probably ascribe himself as being of no “system of belief”) but offering nothing new to the literature of Spirituality nor any insights which would deepen that field. That, however, does not mean this book is without merit.
This work is an excellent reminder of how powerful the individual can be in changing her/his particular world. Far too frequently, individuals wait on circumstance, permission, affirmation or some other external influence to “guide” her/his life. The reality, as Mr. Finley repeatedly asserts, is that all are empowered to live life “successfully” without having to be told by another human being how to do so. There are mentors, guides, fellow travelers who may assist in helping others recall this power (Mr. Finley would be one such person) but the choice (power) remains within us. The excuses of: fear of failure, disappointing others, avoidance of pain, seeking only pleasure, refusing to accept what is, etc., only empower the false idea that one is “lacking” what it takes to be free.
As one who seeks to follow the teachings of Christ, I understand Mr. Finley’s words as supporting Jesus’ words, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows)” (Jn. 10:10, Amp). Christ’s life was, in part, a statement that God loves and accepts us as and where we are. We can choose to walk in that truth and live with abundance (of Spirit) or we can choose to believe that we must change something about us before we can be acceptable. When one elects to act upon that acceptance, then another of Christ’s statements becomes clearer, “. . . the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you].” (Lk 17:21b, Amp).

[Caerol · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a quick browse in my favorite shelf in the library, I picked up this book as I remembered it is recommended by other bloggers. I borrowed it and took it with me on my vacation just like "The Quiet" and read it in the airport, up in the cloud, and under the lamp light.

I'm glad I did. Now I have I always remind myself the story of the wise owl. It is easier to remember the lesson when it is told through a story with animals as the character. It is the same reason that grown-ups can still recall "The Three Little Pigs" and the likes of it.

But this book gives more than lessons. Guy Finley shows how we can regain our inherent ability to show courage without absence of fear.

Another lesson learned: I need a copy of the book.

[Ilana Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book landed on my lap at the exact time I needed it ! The universe has provided me with insight and tools to deal with life and its myriad of situations . It was a gentle reminder that I am already the person I want to be ! And I AM the solution !!

[Jerri Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the use of metaphors and stories to make the principles easy to process. Some of the teachings go contrary to conventional thought.

[Lianda Ludwig · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit simplistic for my taste.

[Jewell Moore]

Audio...listening now

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not finish... But what I did read, I thought was very helpful.

[Chelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of good ideas and things to think about. Very much enjoyed it, but would like to read through it again and dive deeper into what he has to say.

[Annie Kostyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely little book about becoming you true self with tips and anecdotes from those respected in the field.

[Tiffany Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a quick, easy, beautiful read.