2 GOOD BOOKS: JUNE EDITION
June is coming to a close, and I want to share two good books that will completely shift the way you think. This month I’ve been following a theme of feeling stuck or being in the middle of a transition. So it is only fitting that my book selections are aligned with deepening your self-awareness in order to consciously design your life.
The first book is one that I first read over a decade ago, and frequently revisit to enhance my own clarity and purpose in life, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. The second book this month is one I only recently read, and found intriguing because of its practical way of explaining spirituality through the lens of neuroscience, The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain by Dr. Tara Swart. Both books delve into the topics of life purpose and manifestation, and include guidance on developing greater self-awareness and self-acceptance in service of uncovering your authentic self.
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
“The greatest miracle is the experiencing of your essential self as prior to any words, thoughts, mental labels, and images. For this to happen, you need to disentangle your sense of I, of Beingness, from all the things it has become mixed up with, that is to say, identified with. That disentanglement is what this book is about.”
I consider this book a must-read for anyone who seeks more joy, fulfillment and connection in their life. Tolle is a master at articulating complex concepts like the Ego, how it evolved, and how to recognize it. He posits that our egos are unawakened versions of us, and that the purpose of this book is to shift our consciousness so that we learn to recognize our egos. Ego is defined as, “identification with form, which primarily means thought forms,” and always has an agenda around having something or creating an inflated image of ourselves.
What I love about his book is that he walks us through how to tell the difference between our ego’s thoughts and our authentic aligned desires. “Unless you know the basic mechanics behind the workings of the ego, you won’t recognize it, and it will trick you into identifying with it again and again.” In my coaching work, I focus on learning to recognize Saboteurs, which are part of our ego, so they don’t end up dictating all of our decisions and beliefs.
Tolle’s main message is to encourage living in the present moment in order to experience joy. Becoming conscious of our unconscious ego state is the process of awakening, and that is achieved by practicing being present with whatever is happening in the moment. “When you make the present moment, instead of past and future, the focal point of your life, your ability to enjoy what you do – and with it the quality of your life – increases dramatically. Joy is the dynamic aspect of Being. When the creative power of the universe becomes conscious of itself, it manifests as joy.”
The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain by Dr. Tara Swart
In her book, Dr. Swart takes us on a journey of understanding our whole brain - aka: The Source - and how learning to integrate what we think with how we feel (including our emotions, our gut wisdom, and our bodily sensations) can unlock our ability to manifest the life we truly want.
I had been skeptical about the Law of Attraction and manifesting because it appeared to be magical thinking. However, I was intrigued by Dr. Swart’s clarification that it “relates to the action rather than to mere intention.” So, whether you believe in the Law of Attraction or not, Dr. Swart’s book shows us how, through neuroplasticity, our brains can be trained at any age to heal emotionally, forgive past hurts, and change habits, thought-patterns and behaviors. This awareness of ourselves and others is what allows us to focus on aligning our actions with our intentions, (ie: manifesting).
In Part 1, she sets the stage by explaining six principles that support the Law of Attraction and how they are based in science: Abundance, Manifestation, Magnetic Desire, Patience, Harmony and Universal Connection. Part 2 is about understanding how the brain works, and Part 3 explains how the different parts of our brain function and work together. In Part 4 she lays out a 4-step action plan to engage with The Source and start building a plan to rewire your brain.
What I love most about this book is that it completely shifted how I understood manifesting. I now see it as a practical means of training our brains how to look for opportunities in our day-to-day life that align with our deepest wishes, so that when they do arise we don’t accidentally miss them!
Eckhart Tolle and Dr. Tara Swart may take different approaches, but they both land on a truth that stands the test of time: the answer to suffering is to truly know one’s self. A process that takes time and concerted effort, but that is the only real way to live fully and on your own terms.