Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80784 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 316 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
What you want materially and what you want spiritually are both important, says John Gray, PhD, in How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have. "Wanting more is the nature of our soul, mind, heart, and senses", he says. As an antidote of sorts to the sometimes overly strict books of late that advocate a life of utter simplicity, he concedes that it's okay to want a big promotion or fancy car. It's also noble to want a solid spiritual life and to want to be at peace with yourself. However, he says, you need to recognise and work on the many self-defeating behaviours that may be thwarting your chances for reaching your goals. In fact, he identifies 24 typical stumbling blocks to look for.

How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have is perfect for the ostensibly successful businesspeople who can't explain why they are miserable, or people who blame their partners for their miseries instead of looking inward. It's filled with anecdotes and tools to help you achieve a fuller sense of identity. Gray says that one of the most important steps to reaching this level of self-awareness is meditation, and Gray gives dozens of stepping-off points for meditation exercises to help you ascertain what exactly it is that you want, and how to remove any obstacles--whether external or internal. Take it from a man who used to be so ascetic that he was rendered homeless but now has achieved a strong sense of self and has managed to write nine best-selling books: both spiritual and material success are within your grasp. --Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk Review
John Gray, bestselling author of the Mars and Venus series, has left the Martians and Venusians and their relationship problems way behind as he fires himself off into another stratosphere and works with us earthlings this time.

His book How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have, will provide solutions to both those who feel they haven't quite made it yet--unhappy with their general levels of health, wealth and happiness--and those who seem to have all of the above and are still unhappy. Gray, is as ever intensely practical, breaking the complexities of life and love into bite-sized chunks showing you the way to move forward in life in a step-by-step format. He covers everything from explaining the 10 different types of love that you need at differing stages of your life to listing 12 healing meditations which can help you let go of everything from indifference to self pity. With a more spiritual tone than in previous books, Grey still manages to present a sensible and comprehensive guide to getting a happier and more rewarding life. His book seems to truly give you all the tools with which to make all your dreams come true. It seems it's up to you now.

Synopsis
Western therapies combine with Eastern meditation to give a proven method for becoming happy, confident and content by taking five basic steps: identify blocks to your personal success; understand your soul's desire; release negative emotions; identify needs and take action; make decisions daily.

Customer Reviews

Straight onto my best reads list
It's a shame some people were put off by the use of the term 'God', since a term is all it is.
It does say that it's a 'spiritual' guide on the cover and to be honest, I don't know how anyone could achieve personal happiness without the kind of wisdom and peace that can be included under the huge umbrella of spirituality. I was a staunch atheist most of my life and still technically am since I don't follow any religion per se. I'm so much happier since developing a more open attitude to the experience of life, which after all, is pretty magical whatever you believe in.
The title put me off at first and I really only read it because a good friend bought it for me. I've since passed it on to others and recommended it in the book shop where I work.
I found his breakdown of life stages very interesting if a little overly age specific, and the 'love tanks', as cheesy as they sound, are a simple and ingenious way of looking your emotional nourishment.
If you truly want to understand happiness, maybe opening up is a good step.
But as they say, 'when the student is ready, the master appears' so if you hated it, don't throw it away, it might just not be the right time.

very usefull.
if you think not to read it because you didnt like the mars venus series, this is very different.

i have found the exercises in this book to be incredibly useful.
some people might be put off by his references to spiritual beliefs, but it is actually not essential that you are spiritual or religious. some people might be put off by his rather honey sweet and rosy way of expressing him self at times... your loss.

the ideas he presents are in many ways common sense.
but what has made me read and reread this book again and again, is the section about repressed and stuck feelings. and how to release them. the tool he present is very simple. and it has helped me tremendoulsy, with healing my past, but also with dealing with emotions out of control in every day life.

it is a great tool in understanding your own true motives and reasons behind extreemely negative emotions, and negative behaviour. cognitive therapy approach might teach you to think differently, but this book focuses on feelings and healing the past. and more to the point, creating your future.

it might not solve all your problems, but it can help alot with painfull memories and experiences.but a warning. if you start the letter exercises and open up for alot of pain... FINISH the exercise, it is extreemely important since it is there the healing comes in. i would recomend nathaniel brandon's raise your self esteem book to move to the next level after the emotional healing for more specifics...

there are many different approaches suggested. i have never used the ones involving meditation or prayor. belief in god or anything spiritual is not nessecary.

it found me at a place of desperation and extreeme pain, and i have loved this book for 8 years, and will return to its tools all my life.

but it only gets four stars for being slightly obnoxiously honey sweet. ignore it there be treasure in there...

Amazingly usefull Book
Well, I picked up this book in my brothers library. Never Heard about the author, however once I started reading and scanning through the book I got hooked instantly.
The author used to be a Monch for many years where he had time to get close to god and really find a sense in life and love. However I jumped through the content because I didn't find all the chapters relevant for me, but the few chapters were well worth 3riple the price.
One last warning would be if you don't believe into any stronger power above yoursef be it spirits, god, etc... then this book is also probabky not for you.
However if you are a christian, musslim, buddhist and have a religion than get this book, its fantastic