eat pray love

i recently read eat pray love, by elizabeth gilbert. it is about the author's travels over a year's time. it seems like i haven't loved a book as much as this one in a long time. it was funny, and it had great little insights every step of the way. {which i loved} Here are a few insights that were some favorites from the book:

A friend speaking to Liz (the author): "Where did you get that idea you aren't allowed to petition the universe with prayer? You are part of this universe, Liz. You're a constituent--you have every entitlement to participate in the actions of the universe, and to let your feelings be known. So put your opinion out there. Make your case. Believe me--it will at least be taken into consideration."

Richard-from-Texas's explanation of what as SOUL MATE really is (p. 149): "People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change you life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it."

The importance of CHOOSING YOUR THOUGHTS (p. 178): "You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select what clothes you're gonna wear every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control... On first glance, this seems a nearly impossible task. Control your thoughts? Instead of the other way around? But imagine if you could?"

Elizabeth Gilbert's ANSWER to those who've fallen away from religious teachings or been unable to commit to one religion's school of thought. "You don't want to go cherry-picking a religion," a friend of hers once said. Gilbert's reply: "Which is a sentiment I completely respect expect for the fact that I totally disagree. I think you have every right to cherry-pick when it comes to moving your spirit and finding peace in God. I think you are free to search for any metaphor whatsoever which will take you across the worldly divide whenever you need to be transported or comforted... You take whatever works from wherever you can find it, and you keep moving toward the light." (p. 208)

On IDENTITY: “Imagine cramming yourself into such a puny box of identity when you could experience your infinitude instead.”

On BEING PRESENT to this moment: “The other problem with all this swinging through the vines of thought is that you are never where you are. You are always digging in the past or poking at the future, but rarely do you rest in the moment. It’s something like the habit of my dear friend, Susan, who–whenever she sees a beautiful place–exclaims in near panic, ‘It’s so beautiful here! I want to come back here someday!’ and it takes all of my persuasive powers to try to convince her that she is already here. If you’re looking for union with the divine, this kind of forward/backward whirling is a problem. There’s a reason they call God a presence– because God is right here, right now. In the present is the only place to find Him, and now is the only time.”

This was said by another friend, Sean, an Irish dairy farmer also at the ashram: "Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing--right in the hub of the wheel--not out at the edges where all the wild whirling takes place, where you can get frayed and crazy. The hub of calmness--that's your heart. That's where God lives within you. So stop looking for answers in the world. Just keep coming back to that center and you'll always find peace."

i loved this book and highly recommend it! so take it for what it's worth . . . :) and then go get it or borrow my copy.