The Unmistakable Touch of Grace (text only) by C. Richardson

by Cheryl Richardson

Excellent Book

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Adult, Personal Growth

Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Cheryl Richardson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of several books including: Take Time for Your Life, Life Makeovers, Stand Up for Your Life, The Unmistakable Touch of Grace, The Art of Extreme Self Care, You Can Create an Exceptional Life (with Louise Hay), and her new book, Waking Up in Winter: In Search of What Really Matters at Midlife. Her work has been covered widely in the media including The Today Show, CBS This Morning, New York Times, USA Today, Good Housekeeping, and O Magazine. Cheryl was also the team leader for the Lifestyle Makeover Series on the Oprah Winfrey Show and she accompanied Ms. Winfrey on the "Live Your Best Life" nationwide tour. You can visit her at CherylRichardson.com as well as on Facebook at: Facebook.com/cherylrichardson, and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram under the user name: coachoncall.

Reviews

[Stephanie Thoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the kind of thing that shifts your perspective, opening your eyes to the magic of life, asserting that nothing is a coincidence and that our thoughts can dictate our reality. Reading stories of synchronicities that led people to the things they wanted most in life: a new job, partner, etc. paves the way to recognizing when borderline divine opportunities come your way.

Some takeaways:
- Knowing the difference between an impulse and guidance, and not questioning, but acting on intuitive pulls toward or away from something
- Owning a mantra, like: "I am now open and receptive to the power of grace in my life. I ask to be shown clear examples of how this energy is operating in my life."
- When our pain is greater than our fear, we act
- Book recs: The Game of Life and how to play it, Think and grow rich, The power of positive thinking, Who dies?, etc.
- Journaling can be powerful, but sharing what you've written with someone trusted, who can witness' your take on events, is even more powerful. Plenty of exercises here that can be shared.
- Instead of asking God/a higher power to remove painful circumstances, ask for the courage and spiritual fortitude to deal with them.
- "When we set out to look for evidence of grace, we soon find it in the interactions we have with others."
- Questions to ask a friend, and reciprocate: What contribution have I made to your life? What role do you see me playing in your life? How have I been a teacher? How have I challenged you to grow? How have I introduced you to a new way of looking at the world?
- 1. Set goals 2.Adopt new beliefs 3. Trust your gut 4. Get into action
- If you don't learn to surrender your will, you will surrender your peace. (Surrender/let go of suffering before it begins)
- Haste will take the place of something better born from grace
- A little voice of doubt isn't one to be ignored- use it as a reminder that nothing is permanent, and connect to something greater than yourself
- Meditation: 1. meditate for life 2. embrace your imperfection 3. choose something and stick with it 4. create a ritual 5. allow discipline to give you freedom 6. let a chant meditate you

[Monica Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am re-reading this book (3rd or 4th time?) to remind myself to remain open to the challenges of unemployment. It also reminds me to be of service to others, as all of us un/under-employed people are having to take a closer look at who we really are, as opposed to who we thought we were, in terms of being "identified" by our jobs.

[Stacie Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not an Oprahette, so I didn't realize until I was well into this book that it had been one of hers.

This is a great book. I'm apparently stuck in the genre anyway and this was a good one. I don't usually like exercises at the end of chapters, I'm too impatient to actually work through them. All these months of meditating must be paying off as I actually took time to think about and ponder on many.

[Beth Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done. I can be harsh in my criticism and yet can not find much to criticize here (not that I usually want to - it just happens.) This was not too preachy; not too terribly spiritual nor sickeningly inspirational (just the right amount - lest you think I think those things are negatives). I think she left it pretty optional for the reader to get out of this what they might want. It was comfortable and cozy and full of life examples and tidbits from her own experiences. I believe she started out saying all the episodes she related were true, however unbelievable some might be. She having said this, I was afraid I would be "rolling my eyes" and shaking my head at some stories - but that wasn't the case. I wasn't going to pick it apart or look for "holes" - I just wanted to appreciate what she might have to offer. And that was easy enough to do. She has a tremendous amount of contacts and "VIPS" she tends to mention (casually) which could be a bit of a turnoff - but I figure she's earned them and that. Another thing she pointed out from the beginning was that she didn't really know "what her next book should be about. . ." - which made me a little leery that she was just writing for the paycheck or notoriety or whatever her need was. But, again, no fault there. Bottom line, she pulled it off and it hit me just right.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unmistakable Touch of Grace

Richardson has given us a book that explains the role of grace in her life and the lives of her clients and friends. She also explains how we can attain grace in our own lives. The book has “experiments” that the readers can employ and each chapter has a list of resources for further study.

[Timpy Aulakhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about 15 years ago and fell in love with it. There are certain titles which never leave your heart and head and it seems as if it's an integral part of you. I picked this book again now after all these years and fell in love with it all over again. You can open any random page and you will find something to connect with or relate to.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some comforting points made in the book -- but that may be because of the uncertain times we are all currently going through . But I don't think it hurts , especially now, to find comfort and joy where we can

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm on board but so hard to do as a busy working mom. So many authors of these types of books don't have kids!

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful read about how to ask for & become aware of the touch of grace in our lives. Lots of good resources for future reading & study.

[Donna Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read this book 3 times and get more out of it each time. I’ve given it to several people and they have loved it as well.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book to me at a time this spring when I'd received some devastating news. Talk about an unmistakable touch of grace. :) She left me first a note with the title and author and then later a copy of the book on my desk so I could check it out, which I did. It took me a while to get through it--this is not a hard read, but it does require some thought, so it's not a quick read.

Richardson tells many stories throughout the book about her experiences and those of her clients and friends, and while a few felt a little too close to "magical thinking" for comfort, on the whole they really resonated with me and reminded me to slow down and let go of my illusion of control. The universe is unfolding as it should (and has better plans for me than I made for myself in many cases).

I also like that Richardson includes and honors many different spiritual and religious beliefs and practices. And each section has not only stories but also action steps (experiments) to do and resources for further reading and research.

The section on meditation and silence featured Bill Harris, founder of Centerpointe Research Institute, whose research on brain waves has led to the Holosync audio technology which aids people in assisting deeper states of meditation. My eyes popped open at that point because I have the first 2 levels of Holosync at home and have just fallen out of the habit of listening to the CDs. So I saw that as a divine sign I needed to recharge my iPod and get back to meditating on a more regular basis. :)

For readers' advisors: character doorway, I think. Good choice for readers of Louise Hay, Eckhart Tolle, and any other authors from Oprah's Live Your Best Life series.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In The Unmistakable Touch of Grace, bestselling author Cheryl Richardson (Take Time for Your Life and Life Makeovers) moves away from advice about tangible topics, and shares with readers her twenty-year journey of discovery about how the benevolent energy of the Universe, which she calls "the unmistakable grace" works to shape our lives and guide us towards our ultimate spiritual destiny.

According to Richardson, there is a Higher Power that has our best interest at heart and uses grace to guide us to better understand the Divine Plan. The goal of this book is to help readers become more aware of how grace touches their lives, and to teach them to be able to better recognize the touch of grace and to surrender to it so that "the right doors will open to support you in fulfilling your life's purpose.""
___________

Evidently I am either more cynical than the rest of the readers reviewing this book or I have read more extensively in this genre. I don't believe that reading a pithy bumper sticker is a sign that God is directing my life. I'm sure that I am spiritually poorer for that and I invite God to place a bumper sticker on a car in front of me that reads, "Diane, I am directing your life."

There is not a lot new in this book but it does remind the reader of exercises and practices that may be of benefit. Each chapter is followed by exercises for the reader and that is followed by web sites that are mentioned.

[Tiffany Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheryl Richardson's book "The Unmistakable Touch of Grace: How to Recognize and Respond to the Spiritual Signposts in Your Life" includes many examples of grace in her own life and others as well as practices to put in place to accept grace into your life.

One of the practices that I'd like to include more of is being silent, or meditating. Another practice that I hope to do more of is to show others kindness, in small and big ways.

In addition to examples, Cheryl offers questions or exercise at the end of each chapter for you to work through or answer. She also encourages you to write down ways you have been shown grace, which I love because you become more attuned to seeing grace when it appears in your life, when you keep track.

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for spiritual guidance or a new practice. It is an easy read and one that you do not have to have prior knowledge to understand. Just about anyone could get something out of it.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't say enough good things about this woman - luckily, had the opportunity to meet her earlier this month (when I bought the book). I had gone to the second day of the Hay House "I Can Do It" program in Barb's place and was listening to her presentation when I realized I had one of her other books on my bookshelf. Later, I realized I get an e-mail from her every week. Until that point, hadn't realized they were one and the same person, either. Afterward, spoke with her (and got the books signed) and she gave me (and Barb) a most awesome present - I have to acknowledge it as a spiritual signpost.

The book is great, too. I did read it all the way through, but only just starting to do the exercises in it. Years ago, wrote an outline of my spiritual journey (so far) as an exercise for a spiritual gifts class; looking forward to using this to update and propel it forward.

[Andrea Thorpe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book by a friend directly coinciding with my divorce after 11 years of marriage. Ironically, the moment I decided to divorce was a very "grace-filled" moment in a yoga class where I had complete and utter clarity and control of my life for the first time in years. I read this book about 9 months after that moment and connected to the strength of moments in our lives that alter the entire path we take. I believe in what Cheryl speaks of here. I also feel that I have been a spiritual change agent in others lives and that I have met some people that have played that role in mine.

Overall, I would recommend this book, not as a religious experience, but as a soulful look at what giving credence to the small moments and brief encounters we have in this world does for our own inner world.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful!! I didn't get so much into her other book "Take Time for Your Life," even though is pretty good and definitely accomplishes what it sets out to do, that one is more business-like. This one is All heart and soul. It is uplifting and heartwarming. When I first read everything in my life was making sense so it just heightened my feeling of having been touched by grace. I didn't know then that about a month after I finished it my life was going to radically change and that book helped me to cling to life, even though I didn't want to most of the time. Even now, when I look at Cheryl Richardson's face in the cover of that book, she seems to me angel-like.

[Kelly Sudsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took my time with this book - months of reading and re-reading before I finished it. It is dog - eared and highlighted and quoted in my journal. There are tabs everywhere. There is so much to learn from this book about how to live life to its fullest.

Definitely eye opening and a light for me. Every time I read a passage I am inspired.

The interesting thing about this experience for me is I am an atheist and do not believe in a God. However I believe in a universe and a journey I am destined to be on - and that's how this book speaks to me.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sounds a little regligious but the author does a good job of keeping things more "spiritual" and recognizing everyone sees Grace in their own way, whether it's God, Allah, The Universe, or your own intuition. I like the concept of there being no coincidences and that everything does happen with a reason. Events and people you know (or even just briefly meet) do have a lesson or message. Kinda makes that irritating co-worker a little more tolerable.

[Betty Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book! This quoted from Cheryl Richardson best describes what the book is about. "Every event we experience and every person we meet has intentionally been put in our path to help us lead a more conscious and fullfilled lives. They are blessings in disguise, gifts that make you stronger, more conscious, and ultimately, more alive" - Cheryl Richardson. Will read the book again.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overview of the many approaches to spirituality via different religions . Some very useful exercises to expand one's spiritual awareness as well as suggested reading material. As one who's tried many times and failed at meditation, I particularly found useful her advice: pick one method and stick with it.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a practical guide to finding how grace is operating in your life. It explains how the universe sends you unmistakeable signs to let you know if you are on track to living the life you are meant to live. A very inspirational read.

[Heather Hamlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent book. Each chapter has a nice resource section with websites and recommended reads for further information on the topic. I enjoyed the latter chapters as I found them more personally applicable.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheryl reaches out and touches the reader on every page. Her spiritual journey parallels certain moments of my own, and beckons to me at the same time. I often stop to just think things thru as I read...

[Tania P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure read this book at the right time. Lots of great insights, further reading suggestions and exercises to explore grace further. I tried suggestion 1 under How To Use This Book (page 255), and was floored.

[T J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Cheryl Richardson's earlier books but it was an excellent read. It shows grace in from a different viewpoint and I loved the experiments after each chapter. If you want to make a positive change in your life, this is a good book to start with.

[Jane Lassiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was life-changing for me! It started me on a wonderful journey... My highlight this year was having the opportunity to meet Cheryl Richardson in person -- what a thrill!

[Ndari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learn that i shouldn't give up to this life and learn to have more patient and try to be grateful with what i have now.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book when you're feeling unhappy, lost, or just looking for answers to some of life's questions.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far very inspiring - helps to think about things in a more positive way. Also has lots of references to other books I'd like to read.

[Jill Bliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Reaffirmed some lessons that I already knew, but it was nice to gain a new perspective! Great tools and lessons if you struggle to find spiritual balance in your busy life!