My go-to book: "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success"

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I love reading. I have always loved the ability to read about other people's ideas, experiences, successes, and challenges. I love reading non-fiction books because I can't stand reading about things that are not real.

Over the years, I have read plenty of books, but for some reason, there is one book I always go back to, especially when I feel unbalanced in my life. No, it's not the Bible. I wish it was, but even when I like reading the Bible, it's a little bit complicated sometimes. When I feel unbalanced, I like straightforward and simple things to read.

I bought this book in 1997 before moving from Puerto Rico to Upstate NY. I was in a pharmacy store and saw this thin, small, and cheap book that caught my attention. I bought it and started reading it. I really liked the introduction and told my husband about it. At that time, he was not an avid reader, so I asked him if he minded listening to me reading the book out loud so I could share the information with him. It seems odd, but he agreed. Night after night, we sat down, and I read it out loud. 

This book's name is "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" by Deepak Chopra. What this book states challenged my life and personality in so many ways. I am a very driven person and grew up believing I could totally control my present and future. I wanted the world to think the way I felt and believed that because something was the "right thing to do," it was evident to everyone.  In a way, I still have moments like those. The only difference is that now I'm more aware, and when I start feeling the need to get my way or disappointed by the entire world, I remember what I learned and try to apply it.

These seven laws sometimes don't make sense to us (at least they didn't to me) because they are based on ideas and concepts that are not popular in our society: concepts such as "Least Effort," "Giving," "Detachment," and "Purpose." I must admit these laws were complicated for me to swallow and still are. 

I will only cover the First Law, The Law of Pure Potentiality, in today's blog.  

The First Law concerns our existence. It states that each of our actions is based on our ego, which is our self-image. This means that if we think we are shy, we will behave that way. If we think we are confident, we will act that way. If you think you are better than others, your actions will be based on that. That's pretty obvious. However, we are so much more than what we think we are.

Our true self (not our self-image) is our spirit, our soul, completely free of our ego (like when we were children). It is immune to criticism, fearless of any challenge, and feels beneath no one. And yet, it is also humble and feels superior to no one because it recognizes that everyone else is the same self, the same spirit in different disguises.  

When we feel better than someone else because we are more intelligent or have more power or money, that feeling is based on something external. The book describes it as "object-based" power. That is very interesting because as soon as you lose that object, who are you? How do you feel if you lose the money or meet someone smarter?  Light Bulb Moment, right?

Silence is one of the best ways to connect with your true self. Being silent and not reacting to everything has helped me meditate on what my ego" wants to do" versus what my true self "should do." Of course, I forget about this sometimes, especially when someone does something I don't like. 

I read this book when I was in the process of moving to Upstate NY. At that moment, I was not working and spending a lot of time at home. I had a lot of time to think and meditate; those years were the happiest years of my life. We had NOTHING! We didn't own a house, we only had one car, we didn't have any money in the bank, we wore clothes and shoes from bargain stores, our dining-out was pizza, and I used coupons to buy everything. Well, we had our true selves, and we were delighted. I have videos and videos of those times and can see the pure potentiality in all of us.

I guess I need to reread this book. That's why I created this bookshelf on my blog. We can get lost in this book together. To your "True Self"! Cheers!