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The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for Living Your Best Life
Bring positive change to your life with #1 New York Times bestselling author Marianne Williamson – preorder her latest, The Mystic Jesus, picking up where A Return to Love left off In this honest and uplifting book, bestselling author Marianne Williamson delves deeply into the powerful role of change in our lives today. Far from 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 into what we are capable of becoming. The only real failure in life, she observes, is the failure to grow from what we go through. We will find real growth, Williamson gently teaches us, when we reorient ourselves with an eternal compass of spiritual principles, which alone can guide us on this path to wholeness.
257 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
294 people are currently reading
3190 people want to read
About the author
Marianne Williamson
461 books2,332 followersMarianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed lecturer, activist, and author with six New York Times bestsellers. Her books include Tears to Triumph, A Return to Love, A Year of Miracles, The Law of Divine Compensation, The Gift of Change, The Age of Miracles, Everyday Grace, A Woman's Worth, Illuminata, and A Course in Weight Loss. She has been a popular guest on television programs such as Oprah and Good Morning America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
February 28, 2008
I love Marianne Williamson.
She has a way of writing that is very clear and gets right to the heart of things.
1. It is crucial to take the time everyday to go within and meditate and pray. If you don't take the time to do that, you have no right to complain.
2. If you do take the time to do that, you will become closer to God and your life will transform.
3. You can make the conscious decision to give your life over to God's will accepting the fact that his plan for you is the best one. You learn what God's will is for you in the quiet moments that you spend every day with him.
4. You learn how to forgive yourselves and others for things that have happened in the past and focus on the present.
5. Love is very powerful and can transform your life.
Looking above, this all sounds like platitudes. She is able to use words in a way that does not sound like platitudes.The words go right into your heart and soul so that you learn how to transform your life.
She has a way of writing that is very clear and gets right to the heart of things.
1. It is crucial to take the time everyday to go within and meditate and pray. If you don't take the time to do that, you have no right to complain.
2. If you do take the time to do that, you will become closer to God and your life will transform.
3. You can make the conscious decision to give your life over to God's will accepting the fact that his plan for you is the best one. You learn what God's will is for you in the quiet moments that you spend every day with him.
4. You learn how to forgive yourselves and others for things that have happened in the past and focus on the present.
5. Love is very powerful and can transform your life.
Looking above, this all sounds like platitudes. She is able to use words in a way that does not sound like platitudes.The words go right into your heart and soul so that you learn how to transform your life.
April 24, 2023
Every change is a challenge to become who we really are
Williamson brilliantly weaves a vast spiritual teaching on the "gifts" that changes bring to us and the spiritual meaning behind it all.
These teachings come in essay form and anecdotes from her own life. This is what Marianne does best: she teaches what she has learned in her own life concerning mainly A Course in Miracles, but she also draws on other sources such as Buddhism and her Jewish faith.
Williamson brilliantly weaves a vast spiritual teaching on the "gifts" that changes bring to us and the spiritual meaning behind it all.
These teachings come in essay form and anecdotes from her own life. This is what Marianne does best: she teaches what she has learned in her own life concerning mainly A Course in Miracles, but she also draws on other sources such as Buddhism and her Jewish faith.
March 6, 2008
This book covered a wide range of material and it wasn't until I finished it that I grasped just how vast that material was. It begins with a lot on spiritualization:
1. The Challenge to Grow (spirtually),
2. Negative Thinking ("You don't get karmic amnesy for, 'Oh, yeah, I thought that, but I didn't really mean it.'")
3. Metaphysical power of language (kids who say, I'm ugly or Nobody likes me, I hate math; adults, too).
4. Meditation: "Einstein said, 'We won't solve the problems of the world from the level of thinking we were at when we created them.'" Meditation changes the level of our thinking; therefore, it changes our lives.
5. Changing our inner selves/thoughts: "If we want to change, it does little good to simply move from town to town, job to job, or relationship to relationship. Wherevever we go,...we take ourselves with us."
6. Foregiveness (tough pill to swallow) the discussion on 9/11 attacks I had a hard time with.
7. Aging (past regrets, "...I'm not as frantic as I used to be though I can't tell yet if that's because I've evolved or just aged. On the other hand, I get tired more easily. I often can't remember things, and I'm exhausted from looking for my glasses." (Ain't that the truth!)
8. Rebirth
9. And more.
I enjoyed it; however, some things did not coincide with my beliefs (I'm not Jewish). I strive to be opened minded enough to enjoy another worldview and I did.
5 stars from This Reader.
1. The Challenge to Grow (spirtually),
2. Negative Thinking ("You don't get karmic amnesy for, 'Oh, yeah, I thought that, but I didn't really mean it.'")
3. Metaphysical power of language (kids who say, I'm ugly or Nobody likes me, I hate math; adults, too).
4. Meditation: "Einstein said, 'We won't solve the problems of the world from the level of thinking we were at when we created them.'" Meditation changes the level of our thinking; therefore, it changes our lives.
5. Changing our inner selves/thoughts: "If we want to change, it does little good to simply move from town to town, job to job, or relationship to relationship. Wherevever we go,...we take ourselves with us."
6. Foregiveness (tough pill to swallow) the discussion on 9/11 attacks I had a hard time with.
7. Aging (past regrets, "...I'm not as frantic as I used to be though I can't tell yet if that's because I've evolved or just aged. On the other hand, I get tired more easily. I often can't remember things, and I'm exhausted from looking for my glasses." (Ain't that the truth!)
8. Rebirth
9. And more.
I enjoyed it; however, some things did not coincide with my beliefs (I'm not Jewish). I strive to be opened minded enough to enjoy another worldview and I did.
5 stars from This Reader.
June 25, 2010
I left this book on the coffee table one day after reading a section. As my husband sat on the couch, he glanced at the cover, picked it up and asked me what the book was about. I opened my mouth to tell him, but ended up just staring at him blankly with nothing to say. The more I thought about it, the harder it was for me to articulate exactly what the book was about. I think my lack of response was due, in part, to my inability to initially grasp the concepts Williamson describes in her book. I needed time to digest. I needed to think about what she was saying. I needed to take a moment and reflect on how I would interpret her ideas in the context of my own life.
So I thought about it. And I'm still nowhere close to completely understanding what Williamson was writing about, though I can say I grasp the concepts a bit more after some reflection. The majority of the book is centered on ways to change your thinking and your lifestyle; this positive change will spread to others around you and hopefully spark a change in the overall conscious of the world, for Williamson believes the world to be in dire need of change.
The gist of what's in the book is sort of a combination between Zen and Christian thinking: the ideas that we're all connected and we need to give our lives to God to become an instrument for positive change in the world.
I really like Williamson's style of writing and her personal stories interspersed throughout her work; however, I had a hard time really immersing myself into this book. The ideas she presents are definitely thought-provoking, but I must admit a slight discomfort at some of her suggestions and assertions (though Williamson would probably say that's a good thing; discomfort leads to growth). I did enjoy the book, but I think I would have liked it more if I were in a different mindset when I read it. Williamson's points definitely made me think, though - always a sign of a good read for me.
So I thought about it. And I'm still nowhere close to completely understanding what Williamson was writing about, though I can say I grasp the concepts a bit more after some reflection. The majority of the book is centered on ways to change your thinking and your lifestyle; this positive change will spread to others around you and hopefully spark a change in the overall conscious of the world, for Williamson believes the world to be in dire need of change.
The gist of what's in the book is sort of a combination between Zen and Christian thinking: the ideas that we're all connected and we need to give our lives to God to become an instrument for positive change in the world.
I really like Williamson's style of writing and her personal stories interspersed throughout her work; however, I had a hard time really immersing myself into this book. The ideas she presents are definitely thought-provoking, but I must admit a slight discomfort at some of her suggestions and assertions (though Williamson would probably say that's a good thing; discomfort leads to growth). I did enjoy the book, but I think I would have liked it more if I were in a different mindset when I read it. Williamson's points definitely made me think, though - always a sign of a good read for me.
September 6, 2014
"Here is what Caroline Myss, author of Sacred Contracts, wrote about this book: The Gift of Change needs to be read by every person who can feel the speed of change rapidly increasing in her/her personal world. In this essential book, Williamson examines change as a spiritual necessity and offers the reader insights into the meaning of embracing the next step on one's life. Never has a society needed this wisdom and guidance more than now."
This book was published in 2004, much in reflection of what occurred after the events of 9/11/2001.
I started reading the book just after the November elections, and felt the immediate applicability of this book now as well.
While this is considered a spiritual-type book, I found myself reflecting often about how what I was reading applied to the work environment as well. This was especially true in the first few chapters where she talks about what we celebrate in other's lives, we draw into own own.
One of my favorite paragraphs is "Practice kindness, and you start to become kind. Practice discipline, and you start to become disciplined. Practice forgiveness, and you start to become forgiving. Practice gentleness, and you start to become gentle." Surely this applies to both my professional and personal life.
With what has happened in the US over the last several months, The Gift of Change is an incredibly relevant, powerful book. Highly recommended.
"
This book was published in 2004, much in reflection of what occurred after the events of 9/11/2001.
I started reading the book just after the November elections, and felt the immediate applicability of this book now as well.
While this is considered a spiritual-type book, I found myself reflecting often about how what I was reading applied to the work environment as well. This was especially true in the first few chapters where she talks about what we celebrate in other's lives, we draw into own own.
One of my favorite paragraphs is "Practice kindness, and you start to become kind. Practice discipline, and you start to become disciplined. Practice forgiveness, and you start to become forgiving. Practice gentleness, and you start to become gentle." Surely this applies to both my professional and personal life.
With what has happened in the US over the last several months, The Gift of Change is an incredibly relevant, powerful book. Highly recommended.
"
April 13, 2016
A truly wonderful book about healing the soul and moving forward to embrace the possibility of greatness and happiness in our lives.
“Every morning as we wake up, we can bless the world. We can pray to be servants today to something holy and true. We can take a deep breath and surrender ourselves to God’s plan for our lives. And when we do, we will experience miracles” (23).
“As the mind is permeated by the realization of the awesome power that lies within us, and as we allow ourselves to embrace the principles of higher awareness, the ego in time takes a back-seat to higher truth. It cannot stand before a mind that has begun to awaken to its true reality. Eventually, accumulated spiritual knowledge pays off, and a larger life begins to emerge” (30).
“We are taught that grades, credentials, past influences, mistakes, marriages, divorces, degrees, resumes, money, parents, children, or houses – whatever label or identity someone wants to stick onto us – are our essence. As a consequence, we forget who we really are” (31).
“In fact, training our minds is as important as training our bodies and is just as important to our health” (35).
“What was found – after twenty-five million dollars of research – was that the single largest determinant in making children learn is the presence of at least one adult – and this does not have to be a biological relative – who cares whether they do” (58).
“Every morning as we wake up, we can bless the world. We can pray to be servants today to something holy and true. We can take a deep breath and surrender ourselves to God’s plan for our lives. And when we do, we will experience miracles” (23).
“As the mind is permeated by the realization of the awesome power that lies within us, and as we allow ourselves to embrace the principles of higher awareness, the ego in time takes a back-seat to higher truth. It cannot stand before a mind that has begun to awaken to its true reality. Eventually, accumulated spiritual knowledge pays off, and a larger life begins to emerge” (30).
“We are taught that grades, credentials, past influences, mistakes, marriages, divorces, degrees, resumes, money, parents, children, or houses – whatever label or identity someone wants to stick onto us – are our essence. As a consequence, we forget who we really are” (31).
“In fact, training our minds is as important as training our bodies and is just as important to our health” (35).
“What was found – after twenty-five million dollars of research – was that the single largest determinant in making children learn is the presence of at least one adult – and this does not have to be a biological relative – who cares whether they do” (58).
February 20, 2013
I wanted so much to like it. Marianne Williamson's quote "It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us" was an epiphany when I first heard it, and the insight continues to guide me. But the "he, he, he" in this book, unthinkingly used to refer to God, grated on me. When, an hour into the audiobook, she also referred to the Holy Spirit as "he", I yelled out loud. HE?!
I found the perky self-help tone of the audiobook narration to be jarring. A self-help approach to surrendering to the mystery inside of us... I guess it could work, but this book didn't pull it off. I was also turned off by how little reflection was given to assumptions pulled from "A Course in Miracles" -- assumptions such as, the mind is primary and the world is secondary. Kindof dualistic, which I don't agree with.
Marianne Williamson has some very beautiful thoughts, but they aren't original, and I'd rather read them in a different context. I got a full sixth of the way through and am abandoning ship.
I found the perky self-help tone of the audiobook narration to be jarring. A self-help approach to surrendering to the mystery inside of us... I guess it could work, but this book didn't pull it off. I was also turned off by how little reflection was given to assumptions pulled from "A Course in Miracles" -- assumptions such as, the mind is primary and the world is secondary. Kindof dualistic, which I don't agree with.
Marianne Williamson has some very beautiful thoughts, but they aren't original, and I'd rather read them in a different context. I got a full sixth of the way through and am abandoning ship.
June 26, 2020
I enjoyed this book. There were specific areas in the book that really resonated with me. I felt like she was talking directly to me. I wouldn’t mind revisiting this book later to see what areas stick out to me the second go around.
April 1, 2019
This is a book about surrender and love. I first read it during the last few months of my husband's life, in 2005, while he was dying from cancer. Marianne Williamson has scattered prayers throughout the book that are helpful during a transition, a time of change, when all you can do is surrender to the power of love. Re-reading her book again has helped me to reconnect with prayer every day, no matter the circumstances in life.
June 20, 2008
M. Williamson has a unique ability to bridge the spiritual and practical, the inspirational and personal. Skip this book if you're looking for quick tips, tools and techniques for, as the title says, 'living your best life'. This is all about cultivating our inner life ... about paying greater attention to who we are and our relationship to God.
Currently reading
April 4, 2009While I was a bit hesitant to read Marianne Williamson (I thought her too 'commercial') I find now that she does present, for me, some new insights on our relationship with God. Many references to 'A Course in Miracles', which I have not yet read.
June 10, 2009
reading a bit at a time. Great for meditations/ This was a great book for me. I was able to get so much joy and comfort from its spiritual
perspective. I just gave it to a friend and I sincerely hope she enjoys it as much as I did!
perspective. I just gave it to a friend and I sincerely hope she enjoys it as much as I did!
January 18, 2008
One of my favorite books. I love her writing!
January 3, 2009
Marianne Williamson writing and words resonate with me so.
May 30, 2009
Another book of Marianne's that I reference all the time. I love her words and how she writes. I recommend anything this women writes!
Read
September 24, 2009If you are not ready to change then don't read it!
April 9, 2019
I read some reviews of this book and quickly decided it was not for me. And the fact the author is running for president did not influence me.
September 21, 2017
Incredibly relevant, insightful, enlightening... Heart, soul, spirit, mind opening, healing for self, others and world.
A must read if one hopes to reach our highest point in ourselves, others, world
I loved loved loved it a few years back but this time the message reached greatest heights in my core being, the Christ spirit in me...
Some notes for me... important truths to share... please don't look at the sentence structures... just Marianne's message of love
The Gift of Change embodies God is here and all is well. Holy Spirit is love. Ego is fear. God is. Love is. Now= sacred. Oneness. Miracle is a shift from fear to love. What we need love will provide and make right what seemed unrightable.
My holiness stands forever perfect and untouched and in it all things healed for they remained as God created them. Eternal holiness abides in each of us.
Love erases pattern of fear ... we remember who we are = love.
We are surrounded by miracles unnoticed and unpraised. God's infinite power of love that abides in us.
Power of thoughts/words. Subconscious hears everything. Word can heal and reprogram our minds . Heaven is awareness of oneness. hell is the separation from oneness. Smallest of forgiveness leads to peace. What we proclaim we believe. Train our minds like we train our bodies. Loving choices for ourselves and others. Our instinct is to choose love/heart.
My thought about me affect you and your thoughts about you affect me. We are one. One can not achieve one's highest potential when one does not recognize that potential in another.... Blessing and loving all lifts all out of fear and into love, bring darkness to light (not bring light to darkness).. God's light and love, within us, extends to all; we become more humble, contrite... fire purifies us and return us to our truest self, that was created out of pure love.
Chapt 4
Fear causes our hearts to contract. When our hearts are contracted, everything is contracted relax and let go of stress, fear, our need to do ... just be.. trust in God Love Universe's power of love and its perfect existence. tress comes because we accept the illusion as reality. Peace comes when we put everything in God's hands and trust in the universe perfect way in handling all.
We are here to extend love, help each other see our best light in one another... Our true nature is love, innocence... We are all God's children. Choose to remember love and let everything go. A forgiving mind is close to our natural state of love and peace. Holy Spirit in us is the voice of love and innocence; our task is to be still and hear that voice in us and help others to hear theirs. We can choose to see spiritual perfection in people and nurture our desires to heal.
Holy Spirit can undo our past mistakes by bringing God's forgiveness and restores us fully. Holy Spirit restores, renews us and we are reborn. Have the audacity to believe that we are born to greater life, joy, and not just new life. We can carry our new life/spirit into new world/journey.
Have faith that all are innocent, people's actions are based on love, acknowledge oneness, do unto others only loving acts, don't blame, humanity is not perfect, just love
What one experiences all experiences.
A must read if one hopes to reach our highest point in ourselves, others, world
I loved loved loved it a few years back but this time the message reached greatest heights in my core being, the Christ spirit in me...
Some notes for me... important truths to share... please don't look at the sentence structures... just Marianne's message of love
The Gift of Change embodies God is here and all is well. Holy Spirit is love. Ego is fear. God is. Love is. Now= sacred. Oneness. Miracle is a shift from fear to love. What we need love will provide and make right what seemed unrightable.
My holiness stands forever perfect and untouched and in it all things healed for they remained as God created them. Eternal holiness abides in each of us.
Love erases pattern of fear ... we remember who we are = love.
We are surrounded by miracles unnoticed and unpraised. God's infinite power of love that abides in us.
Power of thoughts/words. Subconscious hears everything. Word can heal and reprogram our minds . Heaven is awareness of oneness. hell is the separation from oneness. Smallest of forgiveness leads to peace. What we proclaim we believe. Train our minds like we train our bodies. Loving choices for ourselves and others. Our instinct is to choose love/heart.
My thought about me affect you and your thoughts about you affect me. We are one. One can not achieve one's highest potential when one does not recognize that potential in another.... Blessing and loving all lifts all out of fear and into love, bring darkness to light (not bring light to darkness).. God's light and love, within us, extends to all; we become more humble, contrite... fire purifies us and return us to our truest self, that was created out of pure love.
Chapt 4
Fear causes our hearts to contract. When our hearts are contracted, everything is contracted relax and let go of stress, fear, our need to do ... just be.. trust in God Love Universe's power of love and its perfect existence. tress comes because we accept the illusion as reality. Peace comes when we put everything in God's hands and trust in the universe perfect way in handling all.
We are here to extend love, help each other see our best light in one another... Our true nature is love, innocence... We are all God's children. Choose to remember love and let everything go. A forgiving mind is close to our natural state of love and peace. Holy Spirit in us is the voice of love and innocence; our task is to be still and hear that voice in us and help others to hear theirs. We can choose to see spiritual perfection in people and nurture our desires to heal.
Holy Spirit can undo our past mistakes by bringing God's forgiveness and restores us fully. Holy Spirit restores, renews us and we are reborn. Have the audacity to believe that we are born to greater life, joy, and not just new life. We can carry our new life/spirit into new world/journey.
Have faith that all are innocent, people's actions are based on love, acknowledge oneness, do unto others only loving acts, don't blame, humanity is not perfect, just love
What one experiences all experiences.
April 26, 2018
What could I possibly say about this "gift" from Marianne?
In a post November 2016 (US National Election) world, there seems to be lots of evil and negativity at play. My spirit has been down and I have been doing my best to seek out spiritual leaders and other positive forces for good.
The ultimate message of the book is about love. I realize the connotation that one can derive from hearing that but it's not just some hippy nonsense philosophy. Marianne reminds that we are all connected and the way to combat the negative forces is with love, not with more hate.
Ideas that resonated with me include:
• When people say "I'm only one person, I can't make a difference". Think of individuals like Ghandi, MLK, and Rosa Parks - all of them were just "one person." And they were human. They had fears, they had bad days, they were just like us. The world does not have time for each of us to wait until we become enlightened. We must act now.
• Marianne shares that her daughter wondered why she was so invested in the plight of others (think refugees, humanitarian crisis, etc.) and she explains that in addition to being moved to act (donate money, volunteer) just acknowledging others pain and empathizing with them can have healing effects.
• The universe (or God as she refers - I'm not sure I'm a believer of a man in the sky, so calling it the universe is fine with me) works miracles for us but cannot work miracles without us. We have to be open to it. Plenty of people say they want to change but they don't want to be inconvenienced by real change.
• Our thoughts - everything we say whether internal or out loud - are a form of prayer and the universe is always listening. Ask for guidance and to be a used as a source for good.
I'm sure there are many more but I think that's enough for now.
If you are at all feeling down about the state of the world... humanity... I suggest picking up this or any of Marianne's work. Remind yourself of how amazing each one of us is and the power we have within to love one another and affect change through that love.
She also has free lectures that she does once a week (2x a month in NYC, 1 in LA) and they are streamed on her website each Tuesday. I tuned in for the first time this week and felt wholly inspired & rejuvenated. Let's change the world.
In a post November 2016 (US National Election) world, there seems to be lots of evil and negativity at play. My spirit has been down and I have been doing my best to seek out spiritual leaders and other positive forces for good.
The ultimate message of the book is about love. I realize the connotation that one can derive from hearing that but it's not just some hippy nonsense philosophy. Marianne reminds that we are all connected and the way to combat the negative forces is with love, not with more hate.
Ideas that resonated with me include:
• When people say "I'm only one person, I can't make a difference". Think of individuals like Ghandi, MLK, and Rosa Parks - all of them were just "one person." And they were human. They had fears, they had bad days, they were just like us. The world does not have time for each of us to wait until we become enlightened. We must act now.
• Marianne shares that her daughter wondered why she was so invested in the plight of others (think refugees, humanitarian crisis, etc.) and she explains that in addition to being moved to act (donate money, volunteer) just acknowledging others pain and empathizing with them can have healing effects.
• The universe (or God as she refers - I'm not sure I'm a believer of a man in the sky, so calling it the universe is fine with me) works miracles for us but cannot work miracles without us. We have to be open to it. Plenty of people say they want to change but they don't want to be inconvenienced by real change.
• Our thoughts - everything we say whether internal or out loud - are a form of prayer and the universe is always listening. Ask for guidance and to be a used as a source for good.
I'm sure there are many more but I think that's enough for now.
If you are at all feeling down about the state of the world... humanity... I suggest picking up this or any of Marianne's work. Remind yourself of how amazing each one of us is and the power we have within to love one another and affect change through that love.
She also has free lectures that she does once a week (2x a month in NYC, 1 in LA) and they are streamed on her website each Tuesday. I tuned in for the first time this week and felt wholly inspired & rejuvenated. Let's change the world.
August 2, 2019
Sometimes books just come along at the right time in your life and this is one of them. So many quotable items from the book that I will refrain. Her thoughts on changing the world are very interesting as she runs for the Democratic nomination. While she probably will not win, perhaps by trying she will create some positive change.
February 1, 2019
I began reading The Gift of Change before Marianne Williamson announced that she was running for President. I was intrigued by the title and looking for some guidance. And guidance was provided--although not always in ways I could relate to or accept. I'm not a follower of Williamson's theology, and take issue with many of the premises of A Course in Miracles that are the foundation of her religious ideas. I don't believe we're responsible for everything that happens to us, and I'm not particularly comfortable with the unrelentingly masculine image of God that Williamson's language conjures. Nonbelievers can still glean some useful guidance from this book if (like me) they substitute Higher Self for Holy Spirit. Williamson's belief that we can change the world simply by changing our minds is radically optimistic (written in 2004, it is many miles off predicting our world situation today) but her belief that inner change is more important than outer change and that we can be forces for good no matter what our circumstances is comforting. A chapter is devoted to each of her ten calls for change, providing a clear and easy to follow structure. Williamson use examples from her own life (including negative examples) to illustrate her points, and asterisks mark the many places where the book refers to ideas in A Course in Miracles. You may not feel any more capable of producing miracles at the end of the book, but you may find yourself reevaluating your life in more generous, compassionate, and thoughtful ways.
May 15, 2016
I love Marianne Williamson, particularly because of the way that she writes. Its hard for me, growing up in the life I have, around the people that I have, to believe there are people this good in life, who really want to love always. But I like the aspect of it. It's something I aspire to do, something I aspire to become, in my own life. Become a more spiritual person, become loving in all that I do. But I know that it will be a challenge. It's hard to change, but its definitely possible. I like reading about her personal experiences and challenges in becoming the person she is learning to become each and every day. She is humble enough to explain how she felt in certain situations which ended up helping her to grow, despite being difficult to do. She explains the mistakes she made in attempting to be the person she desired to be, and what she did in order to live that way. I think its a great book about being a person who is loving in all his/her actions they take. It's a difficult path, but a well earned one.
June 27, 2013
This is one of the first eBooks I ever bought for my Kindle. I loved the sample so much that I immediately went to Amazon and bought the entire book.
What I love about Williamson is her gentle, sincere spirituality. I feel like we share the same religious views, which are free from Dogma but are about expressing love to others. That's one of the things that I love about reading spiritual authors who might not share my same religious background. I feel like I learn so much more from these writers than the ones that clearly identify themselves as "Christian."
I was lucky enough to find a hardback version of this at my local Goodwill store, and I snatched it up to donate it to my church's library. It's one that I would quickly recommend to anyone who wants to be "spiritual but not religious." At the same time, it's one that represents what I feel is an authentic expression of what "Christianity" should and can be.
What I love about Williamson is her gentle, sincere spirituality. I feel like we share the same religious views, which are free from Dogma but are about expressing love to others. That's one of the things that I love about reading spiritual authors who might not share my same religious background. I feel like I learn so much more from these writers than the ones that clearly identify themselves as "Christian."
I was lucky enough to find a hardback version of this at my local Goodwill store, and I snatched it up to donate it to my church's library. It's one that I would quickly recommend to anyone who wants to be "spiritual but not religious." At the same time, it's one that represents what I feel is an authentic expression of what "Christianity" should and can be.
May 20, 2013
This women is the most amazing writer. Every sentence is epic. I just read and shake my head, she is so profound. How can every sentence be epic, I ask myself? I love her books. I have many. This one, in particular, is such a work of art and so perception changing. You can just feel hardness and sharp edges resting and falling off of you. It uses the topic of change as the platform to get you in a place of being able to think deeply. And in that process, you can actually feel yourself loosening the grip on the need to control, which is the fear response you didn't even realize was present. She expresses so precisely the effects of control and fear, and what life could look like without it. It's a teaching on setting your mind free. The ability to let go, brings the substance of change. What a blessing this book is. You won't be disappointed.
November 12, 2013
Este, al igual que los otros libros que he leído de Marianne Williamson, me pareció una maravilla. ¡Me encanto! A través de conceptos espirituales basados en Un Curso de Milagros ella nos va mostrando los pasos a seguir para lograr un verdadero cambio en nosotros mismos, el cual evidentemente se reflejará en el mundo.
Quizá realizar este cambio en el mundo ha sido necesario siempre, pero creo en lo personal que ahora es imperativo hacerlo. La única manera de mantener alejada la oscuridad que nos merienda día a día es realizar un verdadero trabajo espiritual en lo individual. Esto permitirá traer más luz a la colectividad y ayudará a reparar nuestros maltrechos mundo y humanidad. Se necesita disciplina, convicción y disposición para lograr este cambio. Pero basta sólo con pedirlo y Dios nos guiará para lograrlo.
Quizá realizar este cambio en el mundo ha sido necesario siempre, pero creo en lo personal que ahora es imperativo hacerlo. La única manera de mantener alejada la oscuridad que nos merienda día a día es realizar un verdadero trabajo espiritual en lo individual. Esto permitirá traer más luz a la colectividad y ayudará a reparar nuestros maltrechos mundo y humanidad. Se necesita disciplina, convicción y disposición para lograr este cambio. Pero basta sólo con pedirlo y Dios nos guiará para lograrlo.
May 24, 2009
What I'm learning with this book is that change is inevitable but does not have to be hard and should not be! We change every day, each one of us goes thru events that shape our hearts and minds. Whether we accept or fight is usually motivated by our past, but the good news is we can over come anything in our past regardless what it was. We need to remember who our "source" is. Is our source our biological parents or is our source GOD? We have to decide whose the source of our being, spiritual being is. Yes our parents are our biological makers but our essense, spirit, heart and soul came from our Creator and we need to remember we were His first. Very moving book so far!
December 10, 2014
Great perspective. Although published 5 years ago, everything Marianne talks about in this book is still very relevant today in regard to our spiritual selves and the state of the world. I gave it 4 -4.5 stars. I felt that there could of been a specific example of how she uses prayer/reflection/meditation on a daily basis, or how one might do so for themselves when they have a busy schedule, versus speaking of it in a general sense. Otherwise, it covers spiritual growth from many angles and adults of all ages wanting to better navigate change with a focus on God will find this book insightful and helpful.
October 25, 2019
There are many words that describe this book. One of them is mindblowing. Another is liberating. Marianne explains that the small-minded ego has each of us in its grip, confining our concerns to narrow attachments that we fear losing or not ever having (and that we mistakenly believe constitute our identity). Her words open up for the readers an intuitive knowing of who they truly are: boundless, inseparably one with all, eternal, and complete. Try this book, and get a glimpse of the peace and power within.
January 7, 2014
In this book on managing changes in your lives, Williamson covers topics such as recognizing our ego-based sub-selves and how to stop projecting from there, learning to focus on positives, moving away from anxiety and being guilt-focused, and living in the present. However, unfortunately i just couldn't quite get into the book. Maybe because after awhile Williamson seem to get repeatative or because there wasn't really anything new in the contents of the topics that i couldn't have gotten from other similar books.
May 5, 2008
Williams is one of my favorite writers. She has a deeper wisdom that just clicks with me. This book took me a while to get through and wasn't my favorite of hers, but parts of it have great nuggets that it is well worht the read.
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