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In the Garden of Happiness: Gentle Wisdom for Healing, Hope, and Peace
As an emerging leader in positive thinking, New York Times best selling author Dodinsky weaves the words of contentment and self-empowerment. In his second book, Dodinsky takes his readers on a journey to the garden of happiness. Within this garden, Dodinsky gives his readers the wisdom and support to find power within themselves to lead a happy life.
Words from Dodinsky:
You get angry.
You get depressed.
You worry.
But never let these feelings consume your life. You owe it to yourself not to burden your soul with sorrows. You have to leave the past behind and STRIVE TOWARD HAPPINESS.
Words from Dodinsky:
You get angry.
You get depressed.
You worry.
But never let these feelings consume your life. You owe it to yourself not to burden your soul with sorrows. You have to leave the past behind and STRIVE TOWARD HAPPINESS.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfictionArt
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
6 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 31, 2021
Dear Readers,
When life is tough and seems overwhelming, it is my ardent hope that the simple reminders in this book will help center your thoughts and lift up your spirit.
Always Remember:
"The magnitude of your life is proportional to the magnitude of your thoughts."
-Dodinsky
Beautiful, Perfect, & Happy! Discouragement and depression vanishes when this book is open.
The words and images are the perfect combination. Reading this book always elevates my mood :-)
Are you ready to live In the Garden of Happiness?
Favorite Quotes:
Happy people don't go through life collecting and seeking recognition.
They go through life giving it away.
_______
You will find that you are still as complete as the day you were born.
Never broken, just distracted.
_______
There are times when you must cross a bridge, and there are times when you must burn it.
But keep building ONE and never lose faith in life.
_______
If you are unsure of your purpose, fill your days with moments that bring joy to your life, even the silliest or smallest of things.
When you feed your heart with things that delight you, they will illuminate your path to HAPPINESS.
_______
Everyone you meet brings illumination to your life - even those who have caused you pain.
_______
Steer your thoughts away from being trapped in the past so you can accomplish new and better things in the present.
_______
CRUELTY - if you allow it - can subdue your spirit. You must not let darkness descend upon your heart by letting the actions of others cloud your sunshine.
_______
When you decide to graduate from your regrets and disappointments, there is a brilliant career waiting for you called LIFE.
_______
A peaceful man is not free from the pinch of life's aggravations.
He simply DECLINES to give them power and refuses to be held captive by them.
_______
You can find inspiration from others, but DETERMINATION is solely your responsibility.
_______
Don't travel too far away from the child within you, and never abandon the sense of wonder that can magnify the smallest of things into mountains of joy.
When you lose sight of happiness, the child within can guide you back to the things that will NOURISH YOUR HEART.
_____
To find the star that sparkles the most,
you need to look inward - because not all stars are settled in the sky.
_______
WE are made of the strongest fabrics in the universe: hope, love, respect, courage and perseverance. These are the threads we must use to mend our souls when misfortune tears our lives.
_______
Do not carry the broken parts of your aspirations with you if they only serve to injure your spirit.
Find the courage to release the mournful attachments you have with the past, and start tending to the seeds of new beginnings in your heart.
_______
You often need distance to give yourself a good view of where you once stood.
It can help you decide if it's something worth going back to or getting away from.
_______
Never deny or waste an opportunity to be kind to others,
even if some people have been unkind to you.
The two are not related.
_______
Disengage your life from anger, sadness, and insecurity.
You must detach yourself from people who repeatedly contribute to those feelings.
_______
As we search for our truth, we cross paths with those seeking their own.
We discover that life's many roads lead to a shared destination, and that our days are valued not by worldly possessions, but by the amount of treasures the heart has gathered.
_______
There are times when you need to explain your actions to others out of respect. But accept the fact that some people don't really care about what you say or do.
There are times when you need to stop explaining out of respect for YOURSELF.
_______
Do not reciprocate the acts of malice and hurt others have brought into your life. You might get used to being VENGEFUL, and become good at it.
_______
If you allow momentary defeats to find shelter in your heart, you are allowing your most BEAUTIFUL DREAMS to become homeless.
_______
You forgive because you want to build a stronger relationship with yourself and NOT with the ones who hurt you.
_______
Some People will never "get you." Do not spend an eternity asking why, because everyone will see you differently. It is paramount to your happiness to cherish those wholift your soul.
_______
Happiness Is
when your heart gives little attention to opinions that demean your spirit.
_______
The STRONGEST people are those who can restrain themselves from throwing hurtful words. Even if they know they can, it does not mean they should.
Anger has a way of inflicting injury on another, but leaves you wounded too.
_______
You GROW where you are appreciated. You wither where you are taken or granted. Choose WHERE you want your soul to dwell.
_______
If you fixate on people's opinions, it leaves you vulnerable to self-doubt and insecurity. If left unchecked, their opinions will invade your life and would your spirit.
_______
HAPPINESS IS
Discovering that the most worthwhile validation is the one you give to yourself.
_______
Embrace happiness. Find your passion. Love yourself. These things can never be taken away from you. Nothing can stop you from rediscovering yourself.
The greatest journey always begins within YOU.
When life is tough and seems overwhelming, it is my ardent hope that the simple reminders in this book will help center your thoughts and lift up your spirit.
Always Remember:
"The magnitude of your life is proportional to the magnitude of your thoughts."
-Dodinsky
Beautiful, Perfect, & Happy! Discouragement and depression vanishes when this book is open.
The words and images are the perfect combination. Reading this book always elevates my mood :-)
Are you ready to live In the Garden of Happiness?
Favorite Quotes:
Happy people don't go through life collecting and seeking recognition.
They go through life giving it away.
_______
You will find that you are still as complete as the day you were born.
Never broken, just distracted.
_______
There are times when you must cross a bridge, and there are times when you must burn it.
But keep building ONE and never lose faith in life.
_______
If you are unsure of your purpose, fill your days with moments that bring joy to your life, even the silliest or smallest of things.
When you feed your heart with things that delight you, they will illuminate your path to HAPPINESS.
_______
Everyone you meet brings illumination to your life - even those who have caused you pain.
_______
Steer your thoughts away from being trapped in the past so you can accomplish new and better things in the present.
_______
CRUELTY - if you allow it - can subdue your spirit. You must not let darkness descend upon your heart by letting the actions of others cloud your sunshine.
_______
When you decide to graduate from your regrets and disappointments, there is a brilliant career waiting for you called LIFE.
_______
A peaceful man is not free from the pinch of life's aggravations.
He simply DECLINES to give them power and refuses to be held captive by them.
_______
You can find inspiration from others, but DETERMINATION is solely your responsibility.
_______
Don't travel too far away from the child within you, and never abandon the sense of wonder that can magnify the smallest of things into mountains of joy.
When you lose sight of happiness, the child within can guide you back to the things that will NOURISH YOUR HEART.
_____
To find the star that sparkles the most,
you need to look inward - because not all stars are settled in the sky.
_______
WE are made of the strongest fabrics in the universe: hope, love, respect, courage and perseverance. These are the threads we must use to mend our souls when misfortune tears our lives.
_______
Do not carry the broken parts of your aspirations with you if they only serve to injure your spirit.
Find the courage to release the mournful attachments you have with the past, and start tending to the seeds of new beginnings in your heart.
_______
You often need distance to give yourself a good view of where you once stood.
It can help you decide if it's something worth going back to or getting away from.
_______
Never deny or waste an opportunity to be kind to others,
even if some people have been unkind to you.
The two are not related.
_______
Disengage your life from anger, sadness, and insecurity.
You must detach yourself from people who repeatedly contribute to those feelings.
_______
As we search for our truth, we cross paths with those seeking their own.
We discover that life's many roads lead to a shared destination, and that our days are valued not by worldly possessions, but by the amount of treasures the heart has gathered.
_______
There are times when you need to explain your actions to others out of respect. But accept the fact that some people don't really care about what you say or do.
There are times when you need to stop explaining out of respect for YOURSELF.
_______
Do not reciprocate the acts of malice and hurt others have brought into your life. You might get used to being VENGEFUL, and become good at it.
_______
If you allow momentary defeats to find shelter in your heart, you are allowing your most BEAUTIFUL DREAMS to become homeless.
_______
You forgive because you want to build a stronger relationship with yourself and NOT with the ones who hurt you.
_______
Some People will never "get you." Do not spend an eternity asking why, because everyone will see you differently. It is paramount to your happiness to cherish those wholift your soul.
_______
Happiness Is
when your heart gives little attention to opinions that demean your spirit.
_______
The STRONGEST people are those who can restrain themselves from throwing hurtful words. Even if they know they can, it does not mean they should.
Anger has a way of inflicting injury on another, but leaves you wounded too.
_______
You GROW where you are appreciated. You wither where you are taken or granted. Choose WHERE you want your soul to dwell.
_______
If you fixate on people's opinions, it leaves you vulnerable to self-doubt and insecurity. If left unchecked, their opinions will invade your life and would your spirit.
_______
HAPPINESS IS
Discovering that the most worthwhile validation is the one you give to yourself.
_______
Embrace happiness. Find your passion. Love yourself. These things can never be taken away from you. Nothing can stop you from rediscovering yourself.
The greatest journey always begins within YOU.
March 29, 2024
When I was a teenager, I had a lot of problems. (I'm in my 20s now, and I continue to have problems. But that's irrelevant to the review.)
My mother, hoping to comfort her troubled daughter, bought me this book. And I expected to hate it. I expected it to be nonsense and platitudes and completely worthless.
... I ended up loving it.
And I still do. I can't really explain why. It might be the memory tied to it. But I really like this little book. I think it is really just so refreshing to see a motivational feel-good book which has no mention of religion. Typically, these sort of messages are always quick to invoke a higher power. And no disrespect to people who find comfort in religion, but that simply isn't the case for me. So the secular nature of this book is a huge point in it's favor for me.
Thanks, Mom.
My mother, hoping to comfort her troubled daughter, bought me this book. And I expected to hate it. I expected it to be nonsense and platitudes and completely worthless.
... I ended up loving it.
And I still do. I can't really explain why. It might be the memory tied to it. But I really like this little book. I think it is really just so refreshing to see a motivational feel-good book which has no mention of religion. Typically, these sort of messages are always quick to invoke a higher power. And no disrespect to people who find comfort in religion, but that simply isn't the case for me. So the secular nature of this book is a huge point in it's favor for me.
Thanks, Mom.
December 7, 2018
encountered this gem out of pure serendipity...so wholesome!!!!!
Favorite quotes:
"Everyone you meet brings illumination to your life-- even those who have caused you pain."
"WE are made of the strongest fabrics in the universe: hope, love, respect, courage, and perseverance. These are the threads we must use to mend our souls..."
Favorite quotes:
"Everyone you meet brings illumination to your life-- even those who have caused you pain."
"WE are made of the strongest fabrics in the universe: hope, love, respect, courage, and perseverance. These are the threads we must use to mend our souls..."
March 16, 2017
This is a treasure of simple wisdom, great quotes, and cute illustrations that go with them. Love it!!
July 2, 2017
A good little book to re-read every so often to remind yourself of what really matters.
October 30, 2022
This book was lovely with some beautiful and inspiring words that just made me feel good. I might re-read it from time to time. The illustrations are so wonderful and contribute so much in the process of making you feel happy.
An innocent book that just wants to help you from the moment you open it. Try it!
An innocent book that just wants to help you from the moment you open it. Try it!
November 23, 2022
The inspiration of the statements as well as the amazing illustrations helped to heal my soul today and make me understand that people’s words and actions do not need to stay with us or change who we are. I can be happy despite the pain, despair and unhappiness that sometimes surrounds me.
November 3, 2018
I love the inspiration... it feeds my soul.
February 28, 2025
Really lovely artwork. I feel like this is the kind of book that could come across as trite, and yet it didn't.
February 22, 2017
Inspiring words and pictures
January 28, 2015
I received an ARC for my honest review -
This charming book is a delight in many ways. It is not big on words but the words pack a powerful kick. Each page is accompanied lovely artwork that enhances the meaning of the message. This is a wonderful gift not only for yourself on a daily basis, but may be perfect for a teen that is struggling or a friend going through a tough time.
I have been studying one page a day and while the message may seem easy at first, trying to follow and changing as needed is what becomes the challenge. These beautiful messages speak of a joyful life, full of happiness and love. That is something that we have to choose to become and offer to others. This book can help bring you that feeling of hope and joy. I love that.
Simplicity is sometimes hard to find but this book is simplicity in action. Study the message and take it with you and soon you can feel wonderful and be at peace in your heart and soul, if you choose.
Read more at http://twoclassychics.com/2015/01/ins...
This charming book is a delight in many ways. It is not big on words but the words pack a powerful kick. Each page is accompanied lovely artwork that enhances the meaning of the message. This is a wonderful gift not only for yourself on a daily basis, but may be perfect for a teen that is struggling or a friend going through a tough time.
I have been studying one page a day and while the message may seem easy at first, trying to follow and changing as needed is what becomes the challenge. These beautiful messages speak of a joyful life, full of happiness and love. That is something that we have to choose to become and offer to others. This book can help bring you that feeling of hope and joy. I love that.
Simplicity is sometimes hard to find but this book is simplicity in action. Study the message and take it with you and soon you can feel wonderful and be at peace in your heart and soul, if you choose.
Read more at http://twoclassychics.com/2015/01/ins...
January 9, 2015
I have been a fan of Dodinsky for a few years ever since I found some quotes that spoke to me.
In The Garden Of Thoughts, Dodinsky beautiful speaks to your soul. The words resonate love, feeding your soul, heart and mind with an outpouring of positive thoughts that I want to bottle and read all day, every day.
No matter what you are going through personally you will feel Dodinsky has written this just for you.
I feel if I were to read this book every single day for the rest of my life, nothing negative will affect me.
Give this book to yourself, give it to a friend, give it to a stranger in need.
The words, the images are pure peace!
In The Garden Of Thoughts, Dodinsky beautiful speaks to your soul. The words resonate love, feeding your soul, heart and mind with an outpouring of positive thoughts that I want to bottle and read all day, every day.
No matter what you are going through personally you will feel Dodinsky has written this just for you.
I feel if I were to read this book every single day for the rest of my life, nothing negative will affect me.
Give this book to yourself, give it to a friend, give it to a stranger in need.
The words, the images are pure peace!
April 26, 2015
Nje liber kaq qetesues!
Mendimet jane shprehur ne menyren me frymezuese dhe pikturat jane muzike qe kalojne permes syve, direkt e ne shpirt. Ngjyrat e qeta dhe mesazhi qe percojne eshte po aq i forte sa dhe fjalet e Dodinsky-t.
Mendimet jane shprehur ne menyren me frymezuese dhe pikturat jane muzike qe kalojne permes syve, direkt e ne shpirt. Ngjyrat e qeta dhe mesazhi qe percojne eshte po aq i forte sa dhe fjalet e Dodinsky-t.
July 31, 2015
I liked Dodinsky's messages; they were on target for emotional health and well-being. I tried to feel each though when I read the page and have it wash over me to connect me to it. I can sense the calm and deliverance with incorporating these suggestions. I loved the illustrations by Ignacio.
Want to read
January 15, 2016The babies and I were reading this. Had to take a break though because it's a bit long for them. They love the illustrations and colors and enjoy being read to even though it's more aimed at grown ups.
December 23, 2014
Review to come...
January 24, 2015
I loved it! Beautiful illustrations and so very insightful.
July 17, 2015
I love this authors books! They are such a pick-me-up.
Filled with beautiful color and happy sentiment.
Filled with beautiful color and happy sentiment.
January 13, 2015
Uplifting
Great! I found this book to be very positive and motivational. It was just what I needed for encouragement today.
Great! I found this book to be very positive and motivational. It was just what I needed for encouragement today.
January 13, 2015
Amazing inspirational book.
An amazing inspirational book with words we all need to hear and remember. I highly recommend this book to everyone
An amazing inspirational book with words we all need to hear and remember. I highly recommend this book to everyone
November 10, 2015
This book is a good pick me up. It is a good book to read when you are feeling down or need word hear some words of encouragement.
February 12, 2015
This is an inspiration type picture book for adults.
I really like parts of it but it was too long and a little too wordy.
I really like parts of it but it was too long and a little too wordy.
February 26, 2015
Makes you happy from the inside out, words and illustrations.
April 1, 2015
"Embrace happiness.
Find your passion.
Love yourself.
These things can never be
taken away from you.
Nothing can stop you
from rediscovering yourself."
Find your passion.
Love yourself.
These things can never be
taken away from you.
Nothing can stop you
from rediscovering yourself."
May 3, 2015
Simply amazing.
June 27, 2015
A powerful little book.
July 1, 2015
Absolutely delightful! Simple reminders of how to achieve happiness. Happiness is possible folks and learning the lesson behind anything that disrupts your life is truly a joyous occasion!
December 7, 2015
Such a cute inspirational book. Definitely read this is you need a quick pick me up with motivational quotes. The illustrations are great too!
January 3, 2016
Absolutely loved it.
May 24, 2016
I love little "guest books" you can leave around the house. "In the Garden of Happiness" is one such book. Upbeat, full of hope, joy, and beautiful illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews