The Soup of Possibilities Bookshelf!
This is a great collection of books that fit the high-vibration, abundance mindset, inspirational theme of Soup of Possibilities. Many of them have been recommended by friends and associates. Coming soon: search by category. Or just browse through the list – you’re sure to find your best next read! You can also use the below search tool.
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This book is on Paul’s reading list.
From Amazons description:
When Robert Merrick’s life is saved at the expense of the life of an eccentric but adored surgeon, the carefree playboy is forced to reevaluate his own path. Merrick embarks on a course of anonymous philanthropy, inspired by reading the doctor’s private papers. An engaging and dramatic story of personal redemption and private sacrifice, this spiritual tale has served as an inspiration for both the stage and screen.
This book was recommended to me by a psychologist in the late 80’s, and was very helpful.
This is a book I consider to be “required reading” in the classroom of life.
The title comes from a poem by Robert Frost – see later in the post.
Also see “The Road Less Traveled And Beyond.”
Frankly, it’s been so long since I read it that I don’t remember much of the details. Here are some of the notes I wrote in my copy:
Four Tools of Discipline
- Dedication to the truth (out of denial)
- Accepting Responsibility for whole of life, for my anxiety, depression, what is happening in my life. I may be responsible to someone else, but not for someone, with the exception of a small child I may be caring for.
- Delaying gratification. Pain is a professor, you must be willing to learn from your pain.
- Balancing – Wisdom – Be straight with others. Tell them when they need to be told. If it hurts them instead of helping, don’t tell them.
Underlined:
- All self-discipline might be defined as teaching ourselves to do the unnatural
- I define love thus: the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.
- Love is an act of will – namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.
- If an act is not one of work or courage, it is not an act of love. There are no exceptions.
And many other underlinings.
Get this book. Study it. But beware, it may lead you down the road less traveled, the one of profound spiritual growth similar to what I’ve been on.
The Road Less Traveled
— Robert Frost
I’m providing links to the newer version “The E Myth Revisited.” I’m not sure if it’s this one or the original “The E Myth” that I read, although the cover for the newer book seems more familiar.
This is a great book, required reading for entrepreneurs.
Besides talking about the difference between working on a business rather than working in a business, he covers a lot of good ground about what it means to really WOW your clients/customers. Wowing your customers builds your brand, builds a steady reliable business, and creates the best advertising of all: word of mouth.
Amazon Links:
Maxwell Maltz MD was a plastic surgeon who learned that the big effect of the cosmetic surgery was the self-image of his patients. This book describes what he learned about self-image and our ability to decide and define what our self-image is. He describes the technique of practicing running the “movie” in your mind of how you want things to be – which enable you to actually create that in your life.
This book is on Paul’s reading list. It was recommended by Bonnie Mackin of Allen and Mackin Agency, Goosehead Insurance:
From Amazons description:
What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson’s answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.
Humorous, surprising and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.
I was so moved by “The Road Less Travelled” that when this book came out I had to read it.
This book contains, among other things, Dr. Peck’s model of spiritual growth which I reference in my book Rules Of The Spirit. That one thing makes this book a worthy read.
The model is Dr. Peck’s condensed version of theologian James Fowler’s “Stages of Faith” – a 7-stage model, and rather a difficult read; it’ll make your head hurt.
Since I reference Dr. Peck’s model frequently, the question often comes up – is one stage better than another. I liken the question to asking whether it’s better to be a 10 year old, or a 15 year old, or an adult. Is one better than the other? I would say no, they are just natural stages of growth. It is good to move along the growth curve, and I wouldn’t really want to go back, but it doesn’t seem appropriate to say that one is better than the other. Interestingly, “adult” applies, at least legally, to anyone 18 years of age or older, but I bet you’d agree that there is a vast difference between an 18-year-old and a 60-year-old. The mental, emotional, and spiritual growth doesn’t necessarily stop at 18.
The real benefit of the model is that with an understanding of the model, and being able to identify where another person fits into the model, it becomes possible to modify my own behavior to fit the other person. Since a Stage 2 Institutional finds peace in their “black and whiteness” it doesn’t help for me to speak in terms of technicolor – it just pushes them into fear, and the fear shuts down communication. One thing Ann and I have found is that people are where they need to be, spiritually. It doesn’t help to try to get someone to understand concepts they’re not ready for – when they’re ready they’ll seek it out. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. The inverse is true: when the teacher is ready, the student will appear.