Extraordinary Ordinary Forgiveness

In mid argument with a loved one, as we stand unfairly accused, we would much rather be right than happy. As practising forgiveness raises our awareness of our attraction to and identification with the ego''s sneaky ways, our pain often increases. Some of these essays are reports from the eye of just that storm, accounts of my own fear, paralysis and mistaken belief in and attraction to a false, ego controlled self. But in each case, I got through by continuing to ask for help from the part of our mind that sees only our one true self and can never fail us. Today I am spending far less time in the eye of the storm and far more embracing the instant of release that reflects the real world available when we have forgiven all that would hurt us. You can, too.

A blend of teaching and inspiration from John MacArthur's popular books Twelve Ordinary Men and Twelve Extraordinary Women. Includes daily readings and scripture verses. --from publisher description.

In these moving and entertaining essays Susan Dugan continues to share her lively journey juggling work, family, and forgiveness A Course in Miracles- style first chronicled in her previous book, Extraordinary Ordinary Forgiveness. Forgiveness Offers Everything I Want takes up roughly where the last book left off, and conveys the author's growing faith that no matter how wrenching, wild, or wacky the dream of our lives may appear, we always have a choice about which inner teacher we are looking and listening with: the ego, the part of our mind that believed the "tiny, mad idea" of separation from our source had real effects. Or the "right mind" that remembered to gently smile at the bizarre thought of it. Through day-to-day practice we learn that choosing the inner teacher of fear hurts, while choosing the inner teacher of kind forgiveness yields peace that defies understanding and includes everyone and everything in its warm embrace.

How safe is your marriage? The answer may surprise you. The biggest threat to any marriage isn’t infidelity or miscommunication. The greatest enemy is ordinary. Ordinary marriages lose hope. Ordinary marriages lack vision. Ordinary marriages give in to compromise. Ordinary is the belief that this is as good as it will ever get. And when we begin to settle for ordinary, it’s easy to move from “I do” to “I’m done.” Justin and Trisha Davis know just how dangerous ordinary can be. In this beautifully written book, Justin and Trisha take us inside the slow fade that occurred in their own marriage—each telling the story from their own perspective. Together, they reveal the mistakes they made, the work they avoided, the thoughts and feelings that led to an affair and near divorce, and finally, the heart-change that had to occur in both of them before they could experience the hope, healing, and restoration of a truly extraordinary marriage.

How do you feel about decisions you make? Do you know how to manage anxiety? Are you getting the results you want in life? You have everything you need within your grasp to change and achieve whatever you set your mind to. The verses in this book present the power of God’s word to unleash surprising and exciting results in your life. Use them as a guide to Make the Ordinary Extraordinary.

This is the story of Condoleezza Rice that has never been told, not that of an ultra-accomplished world leader, but of a little girl--and a young woman--trying to find her place in a sometimes hostile world, of two exceptional parents, and an extended family and community that made all the difference. Condoleezza Rice has excelled as a diplomat, political scientist, and concert pianist. Her achievements run the gamut from helping to oversee the collapse of communism in Europe and the decline of the Soviet Union, to working to protect the country in the aftermath of 9-11, to becoming only the second woman--and the first black woman ever--to serve as Secretary of State. But until she was 25 she never learned to swim, because when she was a little girl in Birmingham, Alabama, Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor decided he'd rather shut down the city's pools than give black citizens access. Throughout the 1950's, Birmingham's black middle class largely succeeded in insulating their children from the most corrosive effects of racism, providing multiple support systems to ensure the next generation would live better than the last. But by 1963, Birmingham had become an environment where blacks were expected to keep their head down and do what they were told--or face violent consequences. That spring two bombs exploded in Rice’s neighborhood amid a series of chilling Klu Klux Klan attacks. Months later, four young girls lost their lives in a particularly vicious bombing. So how was Rice able to achieve what she ultimately did? Her father, John, a minister and educator, instilled a love of sports and politics. Her mother, a teacher, developed Condoleezza’s passion for piano and exposed her to the fine arts. From both, Rice learned the value of faith in the face of hardship and the importance of giving back to the community. Her parents’ fierce unwillingness to set limits propelled her to the venerable halls of Stanford University, where she quickly rose through the ranks to become the university’s second-in-command. An expert in Soviet and Eastern European Affairs, she played a leading role in U.S. policy as the Iron Curtain fell and the Soviet Union disintegrated. Less than a decade later, at the apex of the hotly contested 2000 presidential election, she received the exciting news--just shortly before her father’s death--that she would go on to the White House as the first female National Security Advisor. As comfortable describing lighthearted family moments as she is recalling the poignancy of her mother’s cancer battle and the heady challenge of going toe-to-toe with Soviet leaders, Rice holds nothing back in this remarkably candid telling.

Learn how to achieve the happiness you deserve "A guide to sustaining your newfound contentment." —Psychology Today "Lyubomirsky's central point is clear: a significant portion of what is called happiness . . . is up for grabs. Taking some pages out of the positive psychology playbook, she coaches readers on how to snag it." —The New York Review of Books You see here a different kind of happiness book. The How of Happiness is a comprehensive guide to understanding the elements of happiness based on years of groundbreaking scientific research. It is also a practical, empowering, and easy-to-follow workbook, incorporating happiness strategies, excercises in new ways of thinking, and quizzes for understanding our individuality, all in an effort to help us realize our innate potential for joy and ways to sustain it in our lives. Drawing upon years of pioneering research with thousands of men and women, The How of Happiness is both a powerful contribution to the field of positive psychology and a gift to people who have sought to take their happiness into their own hands.

How to Become a Miracle-Worker with Your Life is about a powerful ancient technique to solve any kind of problem in a permanent way. This technique, called Ho’oponopono became well-known worldwide when it was used by a doctor to cure a ward of deranged dangerous prisoners without him having any type of personal contact with them. This tool is based on the principles of repentance, forgiveness, love and gratitude. This almighty technique has a very wide application; it can be used to resolve all types of difficulties in different areas, such as relationships, health conditions, financial challenges and career problems. The simplicity and effortlessness regarding the use of this problem-solving tool makes it suitable to be used by anybody on any occasion. The effects of the use of this technique are long-lasting, for this technique focuses on the causes of problems instead of their consequences. This book provides the reader with a stepwise process to apply this powerful technique, with countless practical exercises. With the frequent use of this technique the reader will gradually become healthier, wealthier and more fulfilled regarding career, business, relationships, and other relevant areas.