Soup For The Soul

The excerpts from #1 New York Times Best Seller "Chicken Soup For The Soul" written and compiled by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Not sure why it has to be Chicken soup for the soul, ignoring the so called vegetarians. I would prefer it as "Soup for the Soul" if it has to be named like that to include the so called "vegetarian souls". And in the first instance the title sounds catchy but doesn't actually makes any sense. Soul is beyond taste and soul is beyond hunger and nourishment or whatever it is. Soul exists even if humans don't exist. Soul has no impact on your deeds or actions. Soul is never good or bad. Soul is a Soul and no equivalent to it. The book is definitely very interesting. Enjoy the gist of it for my perspective.


We know everything we need to know to end the needless emotional suffering that many people currently experience. High self-esteem and personal effectiveness is available to anyone willing to take the time to pursue it.

LOVE

The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of LOVE. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire. ~ Tielbard de Chardin

Love: The One Creative Force

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. ~ Mother Teresa.

The simple truth every teacher or professor should teach or profess is Love.

All one remembers is LOVE

Tell the ones you love, 'I LOVE YOU!'

Heart Song: Ability to express Love is biggest strength.

Don't bug me! Hug me!!

A heart for a Hug!

Unconditional Love!

Simple way to make a difference in live of others is Give a Hug!!

We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.

Make every day a Hugs Day!

Hugging is healthy. It helps the body's immune system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug. Hugging is natural, low energy consumption, high energy yield and, of course fully returnable.

Hugging is practically perfect.

Who you are makes a difference

The most incredible thing is to give recognition.

Don't stop contributing because there are simply too many. Make a difference to each one individually one at a time.

It is more blessed to give...

Be Courageous

Tell the people who work for you, what good job they are doing

Influence Happy Attitude directly or indirectly

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ~ Martin Luther Kind. Jr.

A small act of kindness can save life!

Smile at each other - it doesn't matter who it is - and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other. ~ Mother Teresa.

Smile - the unaffected, unplanned, natural connection between people

Smile is a spark that jumps across the gap between two hearts, two human souls

Love is an example of the magic moment that two souls recognize each other

Underneath all the layers we construct to protect ourselves, our dignity, our titles, our degrees, our status and our need to be seen in certain ways - underneath all that , remains that authentic, essential self. I'm not afraid to call it the soul

Healing Power: Rub hands together vigorously, separate them by two inches and feel the healing energy. The pair them off with a partner to feel the healing energy emanating from one to another. Everyone has healing energy and healing potential.

Appreciate with gratitude, the seemingly simple day to day activities your family does for you unconditionally.

Don't lose sight of your dreams and ambitions

All of us are walking around with some kind of birthday card we would like to give - some personal expression of joy, creativity or aliveness that we are hiding under our shirt.

Carpe Diem! Seize the day!!

Win with the power of sincere intention to make life extraordinary.

Confront with an aspiration to fully express your heart and your resistance to face the insecurity of emotional nakedness.

I felt more satisfied and at peace with myself than I had in a long time....
I needed to learn to open my heart and give love without requiring anything return.

Fear is excitement without breath ~ Fritz Perls

Do it trembling if you must, but do it ~ Emmet Fox

The dynamics that are required to make any relationship work: Just keep putting your love out there.

Just keep putting your love out there. We believe that we are hurt when we don't receive love. But that is not what hurts us. Our pain comes when we do not give love. We are born to love. You might say that we are divinely created love machines. We function most powerfully when we are giving love. Truth is, our well being is dependent on our giving love.

Aikido is the art of reconciliation. Whoever has the mind to fight has broken his connection with the universe.

ELICIT WISDOM

Slow down and smell the roses.

This moment is all that you have to make a difference in life

The goals we set for ourselves can be attained through faith in ourselves and trust in others, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Trust your intuition and accept the guidance of others who may have greater insight

Live with awareness of life and compassion for others

Slow down and take the time to really see. Take a moment to see what is going on around you right now, right where you are. You may be missing something wonderful.

Interview with elderly and the terminally ill do not report that people have regret for the things they have done but rather people talk about the things they regret not having done.

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than i have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice creams and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
One after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day, I'd live in my moments. Just moments!! ~ Nadine Stair (Age:85)

The touch of the Master's Hand changes the worth of everything.


The Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Money and fame don't automatically make people happy. It has to come from within.

Alchemist Book Review

Here is a review of the book "the
alchemist" which I have written for a book review contest in Polaris.
And it is adjudged the best and I got the first prize. Thought I
should share the review with you guys.


Bard's B'day Book Review Contest Entry Form

Name of the Book : THE ALCHEMIST

Topic : Fiction, Inspirational & Transformational

Book’s Theme : A magical fable about following your dream


“ When a person really desires something all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream”. To find our "Personal Myth" and our mission on Earth is the way to find "God", meaning happiness, fulfillment, and the ultimate purpose of creation.

Dreams, symbols, signs and adventure follow the reader like the echoes of the ancient wise masters’ voices in “The Alchemist”, a masterpiece that combines an atmosphere of medieval mysticism with the song of the desert. With this symbolic art piece Coelho state that we should not avoid our destinies, and urges people to follow their dreams, because to find our "Personal Myth" and our mission on Earth is the way to find "God", meaning happiness, fulfillment, and the ultimate purpose of creation.

The novel tells the tale of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who has a dream and the courage to follow it. After listening to "the signs" the boy ventures in his personal journey of exploration and self-discovery, symbolically searching for a hidden treasure located near the pyramids in Egypt. In his journey, Santiago sees the greatness of the world, and meets all kinds of exciting people like kings, a merchant, the camel driver who were "teachers without realizing it" and alchemists. Through the journey, he discovers that "treasure lies where your heart belongs", and that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries he made, and the wisdom he acquired.

It tells you that everything is possible as long as you really want it to happen. That may sound like an oversimplified version of new-age philosophy and mysticism, but as Coelho states "simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them". It suggests that those who do not have the courage to follow their " Personal Myth" are doomed to a life of emptiness, misery, and un-fulfillment. Fear of failure seems to be the greatest obstacle to happiness. This is where Coelho really captures the drama of man, who sacrifices fulfillment to conformity, who knows he can achieve greatness but denies to do so, and ends up living a life of void. It is interesting to see that Coelho presents the person who denies to follow his dream as the person who denies to see God, and that "every happy person carries God within him". However, only few people choose to follow the road that has been made for them, and find God while searching for their destiny, and their mission on earth. What is certain is that the symbolism of the text is a parallel to the symbolism and the symbolic language of alchemism, and similarly the symbolism of dreams is presented as " God's language". It is also symbolic that Santiago finds his soul mate, and the secrets of wisdom in the wilderness of the desert. In the desert, Santiago meets his "twin-soul" and discovers that love is the core of existence and creation. As Coelho explains, when we love, we always try to improve ourselves, and that's when everything is possible". The novel skillfully combines words of wisdom, philosophy, and simplicity of meaning and language, which makes it particularly readable and accounts for relating to one's own self.


“The Alchemist", is an exciting novel that bursts with optimism. The Alchemist is interesting, memorable, entertaining, instructive, inspirational and majorly transformational.


It is interesting because it tells people what they want to hear, or rather it tells them that what they wish for but never thought possible could even be probable.


It is memorable as we can reflect, connect and discover ourselves while reading the book. It can be applied to our own lives.


It is entertaining as it takes you through a journey in the desert. It touches the heart of those earnestly seeking its own destiny on the journey of life.

It is instructive and inspirational because it teaches you the wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens, signs and symbols along life’s path while following your dreams. It gives the wisdom that “when something evolves, everything around that thing evolves as well”. The subject of love inspires a beautiful lyricism in Coelho's writing: "I love you because the whole universe conspired for me to come close to you."

It is most of all transformational because “it is about penetrating to the Soul of the World, and discovering the treasure that has been reserved for you.”


After reading The Alchemist, no person will be the same once they understand God's language. In the book Coelho says that Alchemist makes Alchemist. It helps you realize your mentors, "the Kings", who appear in one form or another, in the form of a solutions or a good idea. Everyone who understands this book will definitely pass the legacy and it continues. It is endless. The book continues to transform lives. It makes those who exist to live. Live your dreams.


Like Santiago, we are all in search of treasure, to find the meaning and purpose of our lives. We constantly make our lives better. The Alchemist makes you understand that there is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve! “The fear of failure.“ It says, “ When a person really desires something all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream”. This book reveals the distance between you and yourself. To find the treasure that lies within you, obstacles and problems are those clues that helps you to discover and realize your destiny. So let’s begin the journey.



Alchemist resolves the conflict between love and ambition strikingly. It say’s “When we love, we always strive to become better persons”. “True love never stops you from realizing your life’s goal”. This tale is inspiring, creative and captivating. It gives you a deep insight into the universal soul / force that provides you help to realize your dream when you ask for it earnestly and work for it passionately. It states that there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth.” We only limit ourselves. Only we place limitations on us. Dare to explore your life’s mission, to run after your dreams. For, today’s dreams are tomorrow’s realities. Paul Coelho’s writing is easy and simple yet posses the power to inspire and change your life forever reminding us “Don’t forget to follow your destiny through to its conclusion”. It is an ordinary fable revealing extra ordinary truths. If life is like a journey then the book “The Alchemist” is a real signpost to reach your destiny. After all, “To realize one’s destiny is a person’s real obligation”. The book is like an elixir and helps in reading signs and teaches the language that doesn’t depend on words. “If I can learn to understand this language without words, I can learn to understand the world”. The language of God. “To understand this one needs to find a man who understands this language. An Alchemist”. A Mentor who helps to understand that “intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where the histories of all people are connected, and we are able to know everything, because it’s all written there. I can now read the signs and learnt God's language. In the process “We make a lot of detours, but we’re always heading for the same destination.” Experience the magic of The Alchemist that helps you find a mentor and transforms the student into a seeker, a manager into a leader and a pessimist into an optimist. To some of the questions like “Why do they make things so complicated?” It provides answers “so that those who have the responsibility for understanding can understand. It’s only those who are persistent, and willing to study things deeply, who achieve the Master Work.” The Alchemist taught “the most important part of the language that all the world spoke – the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met”. A smile, “and that was certainly an omen – the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life”. It propels one to test the limits that one sets for oneself. “The world is only the visible aspect of God. And that what alchemy does is to bring spiritual perfection into contact with the material plane.” “Your eyes show the strength of your soul.” Dare! For the universe is there to conspire with you to realize your destiny. “The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it.” It reminds “no project is complete until its objective has been achieved.” The Alchemist is magical and it puts a lasting smile on the face by the end of it. “Life attracts life, life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny.” The book has life in it.



To all the questions like



Has a book ever changed your life?

Has a book raised your consciousness?

Has a book changed the way you feel?

Has a book encouraged you to do something?


There is only one answer and the answers is, Yes!


For those who understand the language of the world, The Alchemist is magical and puts a lasting smile on the face. :-)