Book: “Daily Self-Worth Journal for Women: A 60-Day Guide to Self-Improvement, Kris Jobson, Books Go Social, 2022
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
I think it is important to start off with who Kris Jobson is. On LinkedIn, he is described as, “Creator, Artistic Director, Director, Choreographer, Producer, Writer, Dancer, Model, Actor, and Speaker.” He is definitely a creative whom I can relate to. I understand creatives because we tend to go inwards to find our source of inspiration. It is important to figure out who you are in order to expose yourself to the outside world in creativity.
I think it is important to note, as he does, that this is not to be used as medical treatment. There are people qualified to help you with trauma and many other issues or problem areas of concern.
I am reviewing both journal books for men and women because other than the cover, the orientation for both books are the same.
I feel as if much of this work is based on Kris’s internal dialogue based on counselling sessions. This is purely conjecture but his knowledge seems to have come from somewhere or perhaps years of studying and researching.
The areas he covers from self-love, self-confidence, to letting go and balance are all important key areas of life. I found the book repetitive because you were doing similar exercises for the different areas from writing out certain phrases, to breathing exercises, repeating affirmations and going inwards. I felt as if these would be assignments that a counsellor would give you after each session.
For a journal, there are some good areas to address individually and in a quiet place and space. I think you have to work the program like AA, NA, or OA to get to the root of the problems.
Having reviewed the book, I give the books both 3.5 out of 5.0 for his concern in wanting to help people and providing a framework for reflection. If I were the publisher, I would have reoriented the journal to cover more areas of concern and with an index or appendix that people could go to for the repetitive sections like the personal declaration sections and other continuing sections.
You may also follow Kris Jobson on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. He has his own website under his name.
Book: “Daily Self-Worth Journal for Men: A 60-Day Guide to Self-Improvement, Kris Jobson, Books Go Social, 2022
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
I think it is important to start off with who Kris Jobson is. On LinkedIn, he is described as, “Creator, Artistic Director, Director, Choreographer, Producer, Writer, Dancer, Model, Actor, and Speaker.” He is definitely a creative whom I can relate to. I understand creatives because we tend to go inwards to find our source of inspiration. It is important to figure out who you are in order to expose yourself to the outside world in creativity.
I think it is important to note, as he does, that this is not to be used as medical treatment. There are people qualified to help you with trauma and many other issues or problem areas of concern.
I am reviewing both journal books for men and women because other than the cover, the orientation for both books are the same.
I feel as if much of this work is based on Kris’s internal dialogue based on counselling sessions. This is purely conjecture but his knowledge seems to have come from somewhere or perhaps years of studying and researching.
The areas he covers from self-love, self-confidence, to letting go and balance are all important key areas of life. I found the book repetitive because you were doing similar exercises for the different areas from writing out certain phrases, to breathing exercises, repeating affirmations and going inwards. I felt as if these would be assignments that a counsellor would give you after each session.
For a journal, there are some good areas to address individually and in a quiet place and space. I think you have to work the program like AA, NA, or OA to get to the root of the problems.
Having reviewed the book, I give the books both 3.5 out of 5.0 for his concern in wanting to help people and providing a framework for reflection. If I were the publisher, I would have reoriented the journal to cover more areas of concern and with an index or appendix that people could go to for the repetitive sections like the personal declaration sections and other continuing sections.
You may also follow Kris Jobson on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. He has his own website under his name.
Book: “Affirmations for Empaths: A Year of Guided Journaling,” Judith Orloff, Sounds True, 2022
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
I actually read this book in a very short period of time but that is because it is a journal that you need to work at. The author, Dr. Judith Orloff, is a medical doctor who is a board-certified psychiatrist. Her passion in life is to help empaths deal with issues, problems and concerns as they go through life being highly-sensitive and aware.
The affirmations are ways of being energy shifters from negative to positive or to reinforce positive ones you have started or already have in your foundational being.
I like what she writes about and it is evident that she has direct experience and understanding with and of dealing with empaths. The book was quick to read because I did not do any of the writing parts. It is meant to be done over a 52 week period during the entire year.
The questions are insightful and self-provocative in a good way. I reviewed only the digital book but apparently the actual book is 248 pages so it should have enough room to write answers to the questions but I can not guarantee this as I do not have a physical copy of the book. For this reason, I would recommend buying the actual physical book and writing in it on a regular basis to help reinforce good belief systems of self-caring and self-acceptance.
There are eight sections which you progress through from treasuring yourself to honouring intuitions. With each affirmation written out that you are to reinforce, there are a series of questions that you ask yourself about it and journal on that topic.
One of the most important points Dr. Judith Orloff makes in the book that stood out for me was, “I do what’s possible to make a goal happen, then surrender the results to Spirit to work its magic in my life.”
I found the journal to be a very good self-awareness and transformational process that you can do at your own pace. I give the book a 4.5 out of 5.0.
Dr. Judith Orloff also has her website under her name with much more information. She is also the author of several books written in the same vein.
Book Review: All For Love – The Transformational Power of Holding Space
Book: “All For Love: The Transformative Power of Holding Space,” Matt Kahn, Sounds True, 2022
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
Matt Kahn writes a sincerely inwardly-looking book that covers his early years in particular and carries on from there. It is most obvious that his childhood has had a profound effect on his outlook and explains how he has come to the spiritual place where he is now at. He was deeply affected by traumatic events in the past and he shows the journey that he has been on.
Matt subtitles this book about holding space and its tranformative powers. According to Heather Plett, holding space means to walk alongside another person. Matt features a number of areas where you can hold space for people who are going through personal areas of concern.
I, personally, like the intentions Matt writes about. They are eloquently written and are down to the point of what needs to be sought after. They are beautifully written. I think, however, that someone does not have to get hung up with the exact wording. If something resonates, then type it out and print it out so that you can read it and reflect upon it. Otherwise, I think it is serves as a good starting point to create your own wordings and reflections. I believe in going inwards and choosing which words, phrases and sayings will work specifically for you personally. The intentions are like supplications from the Infinite – the bigger I to the smaller i.
For his efforts and exposing his vulnerabilities on his path provided by Matt Kahn, I give this book a rating of 4.25 out of 5. He has his own website under his name for more information and he has millions of views on his YouTube channel.
For more book reviews, check out my wordpress website under Mary Mikawoz specifically under the category of Book Reviews.
Book: “Walking Through This: Harness the Healing Power of Nature and Travel the Road to Forgiveness” Sara Shulting Kranz, Harper Horizon, 2020.
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
I found this book by Sara Shulting Kranz to be interesting. I found that her in-depth knowledge of trauma and PTSD is based on the fact that she has had to deal with it and go through it herself.
She understands more than just an empathetic listener. I won’t repeat her life story other than to say that she has gone through a lot. We all do but that is what is so wonderful about this book is that she gives you steps to deal with the trauma.
Sara gives you written meditations that you can read and then practice. After you are done the guided meditation, she gives you some questions to consider as you take your information gleaned from this process and reflect upon any and all insights. She asks that you write about it.
I find it interesting she mentions a little fact that since 2012, the number of people meditating in this world has tripled. That is significant and shows that there is value in following through with inner work including listening to your intuition.
After learning the six steps, she asks you to forgive yourself, the perpetrator and also the world.
In the meantime, Sara has also implemented a number of practical techniques of walking in nature including retreats through the Grand Canyon or standup paddle boarding on water. From Sara doing her work, she is able to give practical advice and not that just of a psychologist or counsellor who doesn’t have any personal terms of reference and can only reflect back to you what they have heard without any concrete suggestions or relevant life event experiences or tasks to pursue.
I give this book a 4.25 out of 5 for being a useful book that was interesting to read. She is on social media like Instagram and Facebook. She has her own website as well.
“Making Sense of Mindfulness: Five Principles to Integrate Mindfulness Practice Into Your Daily Life”
Book: “Making Sense of Mindfulness: Five Principles to Integrate Mindfulness Practice Into Your Daily Life.” Keith Macpherson, Morgan James Publishing, 2018.
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
Book Available Now.
I knew I was meant to read this book when I received it in the mail and lo and behold there was the postage reading in an angelic number. It was meant for this book to fall into my hands. It was destiny at its best. I definitely noticed the significance at once and appreciated it.
I have known Keith Macpherson on the periphery as an interested person. I had him as a yoga instructor although we had not been formally introduced. I had seen him perform with his group, Keith and Renée. Further to that, I had, as many Canadians, seen him perform on Canadian Idol but as a spectator watching TV from my living room. As well, Keith and I are both teachers with a Bachelor of Education degree.
What I find interesting about Keith is how he is able to meld his singing career, yoga and spiritual quest search altogether. He highlights that Wayne Dyer was a mentor with whom he had studied with many times in Hawaii. For me, I had been introduced to Wayne Dyer’s first book “Your Erroneous Zones” which I read in the 1970s as an avid and interested teenager. At that time Wayne was more into the psychological aspects of life and not onto the spiritual aspects quite yet. This self-help book was on the New York Bestsellers List for 64 weeks and sold over 35 million copies. If Louise Hay and Shakti Gawain are the grandmothers of spirituality, then Wayne Dyer is the grandfather of spirituality. His influence is and has been immense.
To have been in the presence of this incredibly, influential man such as Keith Macpherson has had the opportunity to learn, would have been so profound and there is evidence of this affect and effect in his book.
Keith’s book, “Making Sense of Mindfulness” bridges the information between many thought leaders that are promoted and published by Hay House. As a person, who has reviewed many spiritual and self-help books, many of which are from Hay House authors, I find Keith has found a good way to combine and glean out for you, a combined knowledge of what are the essential kernels of truth from many of these same authors. In effect, you are getting the most important aspects of spirituality found in this book.
I think one of the most important pieces of this book is the section that deals with those of us, which is most of us, who do not deal with our emotions. It is kind of a culturally learned behaviour and expectation that we do not expose and relate positively to our feelings and stuff them down into a cellular level in our bodies which causes us, as Louise Hay would say, dis-ease. It is important to acknowledge and release that which we refuse to look at in order to move on.
Keith shows you a number of mindfulness techniques. I have previously reviewed mindfulness books in the past and have also taken mindfulness classes through a variety of places having worked in Social Services and Education. He is able to highlight and delve into what is important to know and practice in your daily and moment to moment life.
I would have loved to have met and known Wayne Dyer, but with Keith Macpherson, you get the next best thing. Further, I have also taken Keith’s Mindfulness course online. He reviews 5 principles of mindfulness with online videos, meditations and exercises. You can find out about it and other valuable material at his website:https://www.keithmacpherson.ca
I would like to start to wrap up by saying that I think there is a beauty in the way Keith writes that I believe he gets from his musical background in that some quotes and passages were lyrical and musical in presentation. I felt as if he said certain things in a very meaningful and poetic way that comes from a person who has the ability to capture life by writing lyrics into songs along with melodies. The passages are melodic.
Finally, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 and I believe that if you are stressed in any way and are not sure how to deal with it, this book is for you. Keith combines all his experience as a yoga instructor, student of Wayne Dyer and also a life coach with knowledge and actual practice with valuable insights. He offers courses, personal coaching, leadership coaching, online yoga and now offers an online community called “Mindful Tribe.”
This is a photograph of a pink parrot that I took at the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. I like the way she looks. I hope you do too.
I added some purple to the backdrop for special effects and a sense of cohesion with the hue levels.
Thanks in advance for liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing.
If you are interested in prints, contact Mary directly at mikawoz@gmail.com.
This is my interpretation of when your chakra system is blocked – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. There is hope as I see the healing sun beaming from the upper left healing down a rainbow of energy and light to cleanse the energy centres of negativity and energy blockages. This is originally an abstract artwork with acrylic paints.
According to chakras.info website the following is very interesting:
“Each of the chakras in the body is paired with an endocrine gland and governs its function.
Root chakra (1st) — Reproductive glands (testes in men; ovaries in women); controls sexual development and secretes sex hormones.
Sacral chakra (2nd) — Adrenal glands; regulates the immune system and metabolism.
Solar Plexus chakra (3rd) — Pancreas; regulates metabolism.
Heart chakra (4th) — Thymus gland; regulates the immune system.
Throat chakra (5th) — Thyroid gland; regulates body temperature and metabolism.
Third Eye chakra (6th) — Pituitary gland; produces hormones and governs the function of the previous five glands; sometimes, the pineal gland is linked to the third eye chakra as well as to the crown chakra.
Crown chakra (7th) — Pineal gland; regulates biological cycles, including sleep.”
Thanks in advance for liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing.
If you are interested in prints, contact Mary directly at mikawoz@gmail.com.
On this day, Dominion Day or Canada Day, July 1, 1916, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment faced the German army at Beaumont-Hamel on the first day of the Battle of Somme, inflicting 90 percent casualties.
According to Wikipedia, there were a number of memorials erected by the Newfoundland government after the war. “ Four were erected in France at Beaumont-Hamel, Gueudecourt, Masnières, and Monchy-le-Preux and the fifth is Courtri/Kortrijk in Belgium.” A sixth monument stands in Bowring Park in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
The memorials are all centrally identical featuring the emblem of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment being the caribou standing atop of Newfoundland granite appearing to roar in the direction of the enemy. This photograph was taken at Beaumont-Hamel in France. We walked around the paths.
Thanks in advance for liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing.
If you are interested in prints, contact Mary directly at mikawoz@gmail.com.
I look this image of the bee in the flowers in Freeport, Bahamas. What I like about this photograph that I took is the fact that the flower is in various stages of development just like people from baby to youngling to adult. I find the spiky nature particularly appearing which I guess would be like the teenage years.
Thanks in advance for liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing.
If you are interested in prints, contact Mary directly at mikawoz@gmail.com.
Mary Mikawoz Creative Pursuits Blog 