This book was lent to me by a good friend. I have never really read anything like it but what I love about this book is it really makes me think about bigger things.
Originally this book was going to be called Taking your life from ambition to meaning but the author, Wayne Dyer, ended up changing the title to The Shift. The four chapters within the book then became From Ambition To Meaning.
The first chapter “From” Talks about where we come from which is nothing and oneness.
The second chapter “Ambition” explains the false self (ego) we develop and is concerned with 6 incorrect beliefs
- Who I am is what I have
- Who I am is what I do
- Who I am is what others think of me
- I am separate from everyone else
- I am separate from what’s missing in my life
- I am separate from God
The third chapter “To” is all about how we let go of the false self, ego, make a U turn and shift to our authentic self with a greater spiritual meaning.
This shift in awareness about life moves men from their top 5 values in the early stages of their life which were: wealth, adventure, achievement, pleasure and being respected. To the values which matter the most in the latter stages after the shift occurs which are: spirituality, personal peace, family, God’s will, and honesty. For women they go from family, independence, career, fitting in, and attractiveness to personal growth, self esteem, spirituality, happiness, and generosity.
The fourth chapter “meaning” explains the 4 virtues you need to practice in order to achieve a life of meaning while in bodily form. They are:
- Reverence for all life. Reach unconditional love and respect for ourselves and other beings. The desire to interfere, dominate and control anyone is nonexistent.
- Natural sincerity. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, people living their passion in a way that makes other people’s lives better.
- Gentleness. Kindness and consideration of others not exerting power over others.
- Supportiveness. We are eternally supported in the process of living authentically. Get into the habit of replacing our attention on ourselves with attention towards others. Practice some radical humility, seek out others to serve, keep ego at bay.. and do it without expectation of any reward. Love has no meaning if I let it remain alone and focus on me.
Well worth a read for anyone looking for self improvement and answers to the meaning of their life.
Favorite quotes from the book:
“The only pure truth is love.” – Page 16
“There will be an answer if you just let it be.” – Page 27
“Get quiet, let go of conflict, become peaceful, and remember the eternal greatness that resides within you.” – Page 29
“If we are what we have, then what we don’t have, we aren’t!” – Page 37
“What we gain causes more trouble than what we lose, and that by being content, we’ll never be disappointed.” – Page 37
“The truth is that we don’t have to do a thing in order to validate ourselves as worthy and valuable.” – Page 41
“If we are what we do, then when we don’t or can’t, we aren’t.” – Page 42
“Self esteem stems from internally held positive beliefs about ourselves, not from the approval of others.” – Page 45
“Who you are has absolutely nothing to do with any thoughts or opinions that exist in anyone else in this world.” – Page 46
“When approval-seeking is the guiding principle of life, it’s virtually impossible to achieve a loving relationship with another human being.” – Page 47
“When you judge other people, you do not define them; rather, you define yourself as someone who needs to judge.” – Page 50
“As the native Americans love to say, “No tree has branches so foolish to fight among themselves.” – Page 50
“For what was great in the morning (of life) will be little evening, and what in the morning was true will at evening have become a lie” Carl Jung. – Page 59
“Heading toward something more purposeful and meaningful is even more significant.” – Page 61
“Meaning and purpose have replaced any need for ambition and control.” – Page 65
“A fall of some kind precedes a major shift, low points actually provide the energy needed to make a shift in direction away from an ego-driven life to one full of purpose.” – Page 68
“Every fall has within it the potential to move us to a higher place, Hidden in all misfortune is good fortune.” – Page 69
“Should you shield the canyons from the windstorm, you would never see the beauty of their carvings.” – Page 69
“When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.” – Page 72
“In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”” – Page 96
“Mother Teresa, “Love must be put into action, and that action is service.”” – Page 99
“Why is the sea king of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them.” – Page 103
Overall: 84%