What I read, what I learned at the beginning of my transformation

I dug out an old post from my Slight Edge blog, which is (sadly) quite dead right know. It was about my reading material during the first six months into my transformation.

As soon as I decided to seek for change in my life I switched from pop fiction to more serious books.

I recommend below lectures to anyone interested in life transformation. Here goes the transformational books list and the lessons I drew from them.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

I’ve read it second time and forgot 95% of it again. I’m no CEO to use management tactics.

Lessons

I wrote my personal mission statement inspired by this book.

It’s a great starting point of my progress journey.

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

It is a great book to read after The Slight Edge.

Lessons

The Importance of gratitude.

Tracking, pen and paper are powerful tools. I track my daily disciplines and expenses. I periodically track my diet and time.

Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles

New Age, wishful thinking stuff. Yes, maybe. But what an eye-opener!

Lessons

Inspired by this book I read several encyclical letters comparing their content with SoGR. I found it only slightly heretical and full of wisdom. I reshaped its content, so it is less magical and more God-oriented and I’m reading small fragments of it every day.

Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen

The title says it all.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

The scientific (basics of Logotherapy) on the one hand and based on real experienced on the other. It made an ideal mix for me.

Lessons

I’m not crazy looking to fulfill my destiny. BTW, I found similar teachings in encyclical letters.

The Unconscious God by Victor Frankl

Lessons

I believe in God and I’m not crazy.

Titan by Ron Chernow

Rockefeller’s biography. Interesting.

Lessons

The unrelenting focus and success formed from habits – that’s the pieces of John D’s story which made me think.

Start Over Finish Rich by David Bach
Your money Your Life by Joe Dominguez & co-authors

Two books on money subject. Thanks to a few simple tips (and disciplines) I’ve more than doubled my savings within 8 months.

Lessons

Track your expanses. ALL of them.

Pay yourself first.

Transformational books list for spiritual life

And a handful of spiritual lectures. Nonmaterial plane is hard to describe in terms of lessons. Just let me assure you that they contributed to my progress at least as much as the others, more ‘technical’ books did.

Saints’ books.

I’ve read about a dozen of them since reading The Slight Edge. They are amazingly congruent with personal development stuff. I recommend each and every book written by a saint. Mind you, not about them, but by them.

One saint’s man (technically – blessed) story was like a case study from Science of Getting Rich. He went from zero to a dream come true (quite material and substantial dream) within 13 years. I’ve read his letters. His amazing story is outlined here:

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020818_beyzym_en.html

Spiritual lecture for Christians – A Manuscript on Purgatory

I highly recommend it to anyone interested in developing his/her spiritual life. I’ve read it about 10 times and I’ll be reading it every day for the rest of my life.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19876520/A-Manuscript-On-Purgatory

Encyclical letters.

They represent catholic philosophy and I’m working on making their message a foundation of my life’s and my progress’ philosophy.

Populorum Progressio – http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html

Sollicitudo rei Socialis – http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_30121987_sollicitudo-rei-socialis_en.html

Caritas in Veritate – http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html

Laborem Exercens – http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091981_laborem-exercens_en.html

Happy reading.

Can you recommend any transformational books?

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