5 stars for The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Conversations by Oprah Winfrey.
This book is chock-full of wisdom and great words, words that come together to form meaningful sentences which then transformed into beautifully expressed passages that vibrate with life-altering energy that ultimately instil a sense of peace and calm.
Many of the passages from this book resonate with me and deeply. As I read, I am like OMG, I can totally relate to this and this and this. It is like a spark to my heart, a light bulb clicking on and illuminating the truth. I don't mean the truth as in new information being revealed, but that of what is already there, the truths of life, something I already know all along. And then seeing them put in words, elevate it to a different level; I can see it, feel it and understand it.
Though Oprah Winfrey writes simply, I can feel the power of her words. Deeply. I can feel the simple pleasures of life shining through her words of wisdom and taking root in my heart. I love all her personal essays, the opening passage to each of the ten chapters. The ones on awakening, intention, mindfulness, forgiveness, grace and gratitude, love and connection leave a deep impression on my mind especially. I read those passages not once, not twice, but many times, to allow myself to soak in the present moment of reading and let those feelings wash over me repeatedly.
The Wisdom of Sundays has fulfilled its purpose well. It has helped me uncover the little spaces in my life, find comfort in them, gain insight to their meaning, and see the way forward to an extraordinary new existence; that life matters, that each of us matters and makes a difference. The simplest of things, when appreciated with deep respect, take on a completely new meaning. When we slow down, not only do we allow ourselves to appreciate the simple things in life, we also allow ourselves to delight in the present moment. Following the insights, I find myself making the effort to be more mindful, to slow down to appreciate the little things that I have mostly taken for granted for bulk of my life, such as the changing blue hues of dawn as the eastern sunrise gradually breaks over the horizon, the swaying of willow branches and leaves in the wind along the path less taken, the smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of birds singing and chirping, the sight of bees flying from flowers to flowers, sipping nectar and collecting grains of pollen.
The above said, I do find one downside - which is not exactly a negative in this case, but more of a weakness, I feel - to this book. And that is that these super soul conversations are extracts; they are a section of the original conversations. They may be the gist of different conversations, but still, only a part of the bigger picture. It will be nice to know more than that portion of the conversation, perhaps the full context in some even. Then again, on the flipside, because these super soul conversations are contributed by many - some world-renowned spiritual teachers, others much-admired visionary leaders, best-selling writers - most, if not all, have written quite a number of books, there is no lack of self-help books to turn to if I want to add more to my reading list.
I think the beauty of this book, The Wisdom of Sundays, is that Oprah Winfrey does an remarkable job extracting life-changing insights from all conversations in her self-help talk show, Super Soul Sunday. There are so many super soul passages that I will like to list down in this one review, but to do so is to quote the book in its entirety, which in no way am I doing it. So here's the deal. Read The Wisdom of Sundays yourself.
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication date: 17 Oct 2017
*** Favourite quote 1 ***
Your spirit is the part of you that is seeking meaning and purpose. That's one way someone can relate to that. Another way to understand spirit is that it's the part of you that is drawn to hope, that will not give in to despair. The part of you that has to believe in goodness; that has to believe in something more.
— Caroline Myss
*** Favourite quote 2 ***
The real truths of life are never entirely new to you because there is a level deep down within you where you already know all the things, all those spiritual truths that you read or hear and then recognize them. Ultimately, it's not new information.
— Eckhart Tolle
***Favourite quote 3 ***
The energy we put out in the world is the energy we get back.
*** Favourite quote 4 ***
An intention is the quality of consciousness that you bring to a deed or words. It's an energy. It's your reason for speaking. It's your motivation that creates consequences.
— Gary Zukav
*** Favourite quote 5 ***
Meaningful things happen when you release the anxious thoughts and negative chatter in your head and tune in to what the person in front of you is saying. Slowing down, showing up, and listening to your child, spouse, parent, or friend shows them they have been seen and heard by you. Not only are you providing validation when they need it most, you are consciously creating your own spiritual practice.
*** Favourite quote 6 ***
You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you and allowing that goodness to emerge.
*** Favourite quote 7 ***
Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different. It's accepting the past for what it was and using this moment and this time to help yourself move forward.
*** Favourite quote 8 ***
... the true purpose of forgiveness is to stop allowing whatever that person did to affect how I live my life now.
*** Favourite quote 9 ***
Pushing against the need to forgive is like spreading poison in your veins. Surrender to the hurt, loss, resentment and disappointment. Accept the truth. It did happen and now it's done. Make a decision to meet the pain as it rises within you and allow it to pass right through. Give yourself permission to let go of the past and step out of your history, into the now.
Forgive, and set yourself free.
~ The Wisdom of Sundays
Oprah Winfrey
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Oprah Winfrey says Super Soul Sunday is the television show she was born to do. "I see it as an offering," she explains. "If you want to be more fully present and live your life with a wide-open heart, this is the place to come to."
Now, for the first time, the aha moments of inspiration and soul-expanding insight that have enlightened millions on the three-time Emmy Award-winning Super Soul Sunday are collected in The Wisdom of Sundays, a beautiful, cherishable, deeply affecting audiobook.
Organized into ten chapters -- each one representing a powerful step in Oprah's own spiritual journey and introduced with an intimate personal essay written and read by Oprah herself -- The Wisdom of Sundays features meaningful conversations between Oprah and some of today's most-admired thought-leaders. Visionaries like Gary Zukav and John Kabat-Zinn share their lessons in finding purpose through intention and mindfulness. World-renowned teachers like Eckhart Tolle and Michael Singer explain our complex relationship with the ego and the healing powers of love and connection; and award-winning and bestselling writers like Bryan Stevenson and Caroline Myss explore the beauty of forgiveness and spirituality.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
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