A Life You Love — Margaux Joy DeNador

Call Recording – Gratitude, Appreciation & Love – with Guest Dave Carroll

Tuesday, May 8, 2012, our monthly telegathering call "Feel and Express Your Gratitude, Appreciation, and Love" included an inspiring conversation with my guest Dave Carroll. Our discussion was based on Chapter Twelve of The Art of Living a Life You Love. Chapter Twelve is entitled, "Feel and Express Your Gratitude, Appreciation, and Love."

To hear the recording of the "Feel and Express Your Gratitude, Appreciation, and Love" telegathering call with Dave Carroll, please click on the link below. You will be able to pause and play by clicking on the bar.

Call Recording - Gratitude, Appreciation & Love - 050812

Our guest, Dave Carroll, is a singer, songwriter, and social media innovator from Halifax, Canada. Following his 2009 YouTube music video release called "United Breaks Guitars" about his poor customer service experience with United Airlines, Dave's career blossomed. He is now a highly sought-after performer, content creator, author, keynote speaker and consumer advocate.       

Dave has a wonderful sense of humor as is shown in his music video about United breaking his guitar. Dave's YouTube music video "United Breaks Guitars" has had close to 12,000,000 views! You can watch Dave's video, which is an amusing and non-confrontational way of handling his beloved Taylor guitar being broken, on Dave's website at www.DaveCarrollMusic.com.

To see Dave Carroll's music video click on the image above.

The video also inspired Hay House to publish a book by Dave which was released on May 15, 2012. I was glad to have an advance copy to read before the call. I started to read his book the night it arrived and was enjoying it so much I didn't want to put it down! I like the way he writes — and speaks — about his experience. You will hear more about Dave's video, his story, and his new book by listening to the recording of the call.

Dave's book "United Breaks Guitars… The Power of One Voice in the Age of Social Media" is now available to order on Amazon.com. I highly recommend Dave's book. As you will discover when you read it, one voice does have great power in the age of social media!

During the call, we also talked about how Dave's video helped my husband and son have a good experience with United Airlines taking good care of their guitars. We heard about the video just over a week before we were scheduled to fly to Maui in 2009. We are extremely grateful that both my husband's beautiful Taylor guitar and our son's beloved Ovation guitar arrived on Maui safely and also arrived home safely after our celebration vacation.

The photo below shows the two guitars that my husband and son took with them to Maui. 

 

Dudley & Zander – Playing their Taylor & Ovation guitars on Maui


We are grateful that we had a great experience taking guitars to Maui and we appreciate Dave Carroll's video inspiring United Airlines to take better care of their passengers!

 

Review: Shift Happens! How to Live an Inspired Life… Starting Right Now! – Robert Holden, Ph.D.

 

 

My curiosity about "Shift Happens!" started while listening to Robert Holden's keynote speech at the 2011 Pasadena "I CAN DO IT!" conference.

My friend, Linda, bought his CDs for "Shift Happens!" We enjoyed listening to some of Robert's stories on our way home from the conference. What we found is that listening to Robert Holden reading "Shift Happens!" with a friend is fun. We liked being able to stop the CD and talk about what he said and what his stories caused us to remember from our own life experiences. CDs rock!

Because we only heard two of the CDs on our way back, I was curious to hear the rest of them. I also became curious to read the book. Because of my curiosity I asked Hay House if I could review both the book and the CDs. I am happy that they sent me both to review!

What I love about listening to the CDs of "Shift Happens!" is the combination of Robert Holden's gentle-sounding English voice and his creative way of making his points with plays on words and inspiring stories.

The text on the back of the book says: Shift Happens! is a book about "more" – more happiness, more success, more love, more peace, more prosperity, and more being the real you.

In this book Robert Holden shares ways to let go of fears, struggle, and trying to do it all by yourself. He also discusses other blocks to happiness. The book is powerful, creative, and can help transform the way you think about yourself and your life.

I like Robert Holden's sense of humor and his creative use of words.

I like his voice – he has a gentle sounding English voice. I found it enjoyable to listen to him tell his stories while driving my car.

I like both the book and the CDs.  

I like the CDs because I can listen to the stories while I am doing errands or driving to or from work. I also like hearing the way Robert Holden adds his feelings to the book by reading it. I've always loved to hear my favorite authors read their books. Listening to them speaking on the CDs makes it easy to re-listen during times when I want some entertainment. I like listening in my car and also while I walk or spend time on our elliptical machine exercising.

The book gave me a chance to read what I had heard in the car and allowed me to highlight key points that I most want to remember. I also like seeing the words written and to be able to read a sentence or paragraph over if I want to really get what he is saying.

Robert Holden says that he has the following, which is in the book, on his computer as a screensaver reminder to always put love first. I like it and want to remember to do it myself so I want to share it here with you.

FIRST LOVE

First love, then think.
First love, then speak.
First love, then look.
First love, then act.
First love, then choose.
First love, then give.
First love, then live.

There is a prayer that one of Robert Holden's clients wrote about saying "YES" to life. The full prayer can be found on page 180 of his book.

I say "YES" to love today.
I say "YES" to happiness today.
I say "YES" to balance today.
I say "YES" to me today.
I say "YES" to miracles today.
I say "YES" to life today.

One of the things I like about the CDs is that they have numbered each of the "chapters" to help you know where you are in the book. I wish there were "chapter numbers" in the book as well.

Following are a few of my favorite chapter titles in "Shift Happens!"

Happiness is an inner light with no off switch
There are no events, only perceptions
Keep smiling – unless you feel like crying
Be the goal!
Give up your fear of giving
Stop improving your life – and start living!
Fear is yesterday
The world has finished with your past… if you have
Forgiveness gives you wings
Commit to living "happily even after"
Shift happens – when you let go
When you take a step, a bridge appears
Exhaustion means there is a better way
If you are alive, you need help!
Some of the best gifts come badly wrapped
Stay open all hours for miracles
Your happiness is a gift

On the CDs and in the small book of 275 pages there are 55 chapters. The titles above remind me of the stories in each of the chapters. After having read the book and listened to the CDs, the titles are now reminders of the lessons and help me remember them.

The following is from the back cover of the book.

"Shift Happens! is about staying open all hours for miracles. Success, love, and happiness are only ever one thought away at most. One new perception, one fresh thought, one act of surrender, one change of heart, one leap of faith, can change your life forever."

The book is fresh, fun, and inspiring. It's a book I plan to keep handy to read again. I love the idea of reading one of the short essays each day. I am glad to have the CDs to hear while driving as well.

In conclusion, I am glad to have both the book and the CDs of "Shift Happens!" because it is great to listen to the CDs in the car and the book can be read one chapter per day to really savor the messages and put them into practice.

I highly recommend both the book and the CDs of "Shift Happens! How to Live an Inspired Life… Starting Right Now!" 

Review by Margaux Joy DeNador – November 23, 2011  

Following are four ways to order:

Book Review: The Angel Therapy Handbook – Doreen Virtue

 

 

I chose to review Doreen Virtue's new book because I was curious to learn more about Angels and to find out what it means to do "Angel Therapy."

Before I begin my review of the book, I would like to tell you a little about how I got interested in Doreen Virtue and the subject of Angels. 

In June 2008, I emailed my schedule for the Las Vegas "I Can Do It!" conference to a treasured friend of mine. He emailed back asking me about Doreen Virtue. It surprised me that he was asking about her — even though she was one of the speakers for the event.  It turned out that he had met a woman named Anna Taylor who had studied with Doreen. As I got to know Anna, I began to ask her questions about Angels. Talking with Anna inspired me to buy a small book by Doreen Virtue called "Angels 101" and reading that book got me curious to learn more about Angels. 

 

 

Before I began reading The Angel Therapy Handbook, I wondered if it would be right for me since I'd never studied with Doreen. But I found myself being fascinated by Doreen's story about how she began to combine her experience as a psychotherapist with what she had learned firsthand about angels. 

What is Angel Therapy?  Here's how Doreen describes it:  "Angel Therapy is a non-denominational spiritual healing method that involves working with a person's guardian angels and archangels, to heal and harmonize every aspect of life."

Angels are a link to Divine Guidance and are available to help when we ask them. The key thing to remember is that they love to help but can only help if we ASK. 

I have to admit that reading the book was fun for me. I enjoyed reading it and began to be more curious about the workshops Doreen teaches. During the past couple of years, I've met more and more people who have studied with her. What they have in common is that they are all kind and loving people that I am glad to have met.

Doreen Virtue has been teaching her Angel Therapy Practitioner Course since 1997 and has helped thousands of people learn skills for spiritual healing. In this book she shares with her readers tools, secrets, and exercises she teaches her students. For those who have studied with her, this is a wonderful reference book. For the rest of us, it is an interesting and entertaining look at her teaching.

 

 
Reading The Angel Therapy Handbook — with Bender

 

On the back cover of the book, Doreen Virtue says, "My life purpose isn't to give angel readings and spiritual healings to clients. It's to teach other people to do these things for themselves and their clients. I always encourage my spiritual-counseling students to teach others — to create an ever-spreading ripple effect that increases the awareness that we all have angels, that we all can communicate with them, and that we all have spiritual gifts we can use to help ourselves and the world." 

This book has great advice for anyone who feels called to speak, teach, or do healing work of any kind.

In the book Doreen talks about a little-known universal law that she says is always in operation: The Law of Action. She goes on to say, "This rule states that as you take any action in the direction of your goal — no matter how seemingly small — the universe will take an even greater step in your direction to meet and support your goal."

Especially during the current economic downturn people often have less work and find themselves with more free time. We can each choose to use that time for some — any — action. We can choose to help others, explore new paths, make new connections, and to stay active. Passivity leads to boredom and self-doubt. Action of any kind helps keep your mind sharp, active, helps you feel good, and moves you toward your desired outcomes. What are some small actions you can take today?

My husband, Dudley, and I enjoyed meeting Doreen when her band, Obsidian, played in San Francisco. Doreen looks like an angel onstage — whether she is speaking or playing guitar with her band. 

Yes, I am glad I decided to review this book. I am also glad that I've begun to learn about angels. What have I learned?

• Angels are non-denominational so they are available to everyone.  
• Angels are with us all of the time — we just need to believe it and tune into them.
• Angels love to help us — but we must ASK them to help.

Do I recommend this book? YES!

If you've studied with Doreen, you'll enjoy having this book as a reminder of what she's taught you. If you are new to her work, I suggest starting with her book Angels 101 so you know the basics of what she teaches. 

If you would like to learn more about angels and "Angel Therapy" get a copy of this book! I feel sure you'll enjoy reading it. 

Here are some ways to purchase a copy of The Angel Therapy Handbook:

The Power of Intention – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

One of my all-time favorite books, The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, has been re-released as a beautifully illustrated gift edition.

Imagine my excitement when Hay House Publishing sent me a copy of this beautiful book to review on my blog! The full-color illustrated gift edition of The Power of Intention is a joy to see. I love the cover as well as the illustrations throughout the book. Each page is unique and is created to highlight the text on it. 

 

 

I first read The Power of Intention in 2004. The hard cover book is a favorite of mine and has yellow highlights and notes in the margins. The illustrated version has the same text as the original book and yet because of the layout and colorful illustrations, the words seem new and feel different to me as I read them.

 

I have to be honest – I love both versions of this book! I still value the original book with my own yellow highlights and notes in it – and I also enjoy reading Wayne's words combined with the graphics and illustrations that add new dimensions to the message. 

It seems to me that anyone who enjoyed reading the original book will also enjoy having this beautiful new version of the book. My husband who is a graphic designer, my sister who is an artist, and I all love the colorful illustrations and layout of the book. I feel the gift edition will have a strong appeal to young people and artists because of the playful graphics. 

In this book Dr. Dyer explores intention as an energy that we are part of — a wonderful field of energy we can access for co-creating our lives as we most want them to be. In the first part of the book, Wayne offers true stories and examples that show how to make the connection with intention. In this part of the book Dr. Dyer describes what he calls "The Seven Faces of Intention."  Dr. Dyer says he believes that if we could see intention it would have the following seven attributes. 

The Seven Faces of Intention

1. Creativity

2. Kindness

3. Love

4. Beauty

5. Abundance

6. Expansion

7. Receptivity

As Dr. Dyer says, to work with the power of intention we need to emulate these attributes and he gives us wonderful examples of how we might go about doing it.

 

In part II of the book, Dr. Dyer offers us a guide with specific ways to apply the principles in our life on a daily basis. In this section the eight chapters show examples of using intention to create the results you want for your life. Two of the eight intentions he covers in this section are, "It is my intention to Respect Myself at All Times" and "It is my intention to Attract Ideal People and Divine Relationships."  Each of the eight intentions includes 10 suggestions for practicing it and each section ends with gratitude as #10 in the list.

In part III of the book you will find Dr. Dyer's description of a person connected to the universal mind of intention. Wayne calls these individuals "connectors." Being with a person who is a "connector" feels awesome because they emulate the "seven faces of intention" — these people are creative, loving, kind, appreciate beauty, believe we live in an abundant world, are expansive, and receptive. Being with them is inspiring and encourages us to believe in our ability to connect with the power of intention to create our world in our own way.  

Two of my favorite quotes from Wayne Dyer are in this book:

"Contemplate yourself as being surrounded by the conditions you want to produce." 

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

As we begin the last month of 2010, let's all remember these two quotes. We can each choose to contemplate being surrounded by the conditions we most want to produce. And I've found it to be true that when I change the way I look at things, the things I look at change. In fact, it's also true that the more you change the way you look at things, the more the things you look at change.

This book, in its beautiful gift edition, is wonderful to give — or receive — as a gift this holiday season!

Four ways to order The Power of Intention – Gift Edition:

Hay House
Amazon
Barnes & Nobel
Chapters Indigo (Canada)

Whether you have been a fan of Dr. Dyer's work for years, or have yet to read any of his books, I highly recommend buying this beautiful new book!

 

Written by Margaux Joy DeNador – November 30, 2010

 

Book Review: The Shift by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

 

 

 

 
 

 

I am happy to announce that I have been asked to be a book reviewer for Hay House Publishing! 

 

The first book Hay House has asked me to review is Dr. Wayne Dyer's book The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning. In this 112-page book, Dr. Dyer takes us behind the scenes and explores some of the ideas and stories shown in his movie The Shift. I enjoyed the movie which shows Wayne Dyer meeting people while at a beautiful resort on the coastline of California. During the movie several of the people make a shift in their thinking — from ambition and ego to meaning and spirituality — that causes them to feel happier and more fulfilled after talking with him. 

 

Because I liked the movie so much, I was curious to read the book. I found it so enjoyable that I finished it in one sitting. In the book Dr. Dyer suggests that at a certain point in life we begin to want to feel life has meaning. He calls this shift moving from the "morning" of life to the "afternoon" of life. The shift in our thinking also causes us to act with humility and feel a greater connection with other people and all of life. If you feel you're one with the Universe, you feel connected with everything instead of separate or apart as the ego sees it. This leads to humility, forgiveness, and meaning which creates a shift in our focus from what we can get — to what we can give. 

 

Here are seven things Dr. Dyer says we will experience as we shift from ambition into a life of meaning:

 

1. We shift to personal empowerment.

2. We see ourselves connected to everyone.

3. We are motivated by ethics, serenity, and quality of life. 

4. We shift to the possibility, even the expectation, of miracles being part of life. 

5. We pursue a meditation practice. 

6. We begin to recognize ourselves in nature's beauty and intricacy. 

7. We are less judgmental, and we easily understand and forgive. 

 

As Dr. Dyer writes, on page 71, of The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning, "By taming the ego, we elicit the support and assistance of our own originating spirit, and we come to notice synchronicities happening in our life. The people we need appear, circumstances come together in a way that assists our Dharma path, financing becomes available that was never there before, and so on."

 

I love Patanjali's quote about inspiration, and in this book Dr. Dyer included the last part of it which says, "Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."  It is inspiration that causes us to come fully alive and use all of our talents. When we allow ourselves to be inspired life can feel like a magical and meaningful journey. 

 

 
 
 

If you are a fan of Dr. Dyer's work, I am sure you will enjoy this book. In my opinion, the book can stand alone or be read as a companion book to the movie. I like the fact that it is a small book and can be easily taken with me as a reminder to shift my thinking. As Dr. Dyer reminds us, shifting from ambition to a life of meaning and purpose allows us to enjoy life more and can also improve our relationships with the people we love. 

One thing I am wondering is how I would feel had I first been introduced to Dr. Dyer's work with this book as opposed to one of his earlier books. It seems to me that if you've never read any of his books, you might want to start with watching the movie or perhaps reading one of his earlier books first to better understand his philosophy. Here are a few of my favorites: Ten Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, The Power of Intention, There is a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, and Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life. As I write this, I feel inspired to re-read some of Dr. Dyer's earlier books myself.

I found this book interesting and inspiring. I recommend buying a copy.  

Dr. Dyer's book, The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning, will be available March 1, 2010. To find out more about the book, and to purchase a copy of it, please click on one of the three links below:

Hay House  
Amazon
Barnes & Nobel

I would love to hear your thoughts after you read The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning. Please send me a message or post a comment on my blog or on my facebook wall. 

Love & Joy, 

Margaux