The Wealthy Soul

Spider-Man & The Wealthy Soul

   

"I hate the comfort zone."

That's what Broadway producer Julie Taymor said on 60 Minutes.

"I don't think anything that's really creative can be done without DANGER and RISK," she stated.

Producer Julie Taymor was speaking about her latest Broadway production, "Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark."

That 60 Minutes interview is incredibly inspiring to see (video above).

Spider-Man is the most spectacular -

and the most expensive -

Broadway show ever produced.

$60 million.

That's what it cost.

And it's a year late!

Production was halted in 2009 when the show ran out of money.

But they finally found additional backers.

Now it's bringing in $1 million per week.

And it's only in preview stage!

Though I don't know Julie Taymor personally,

and though I didn't have anything to do with Spider-Man,

(officially launching this coming February)

her story and her words about "the comfort zone" and about "danger and risk" sum up the last two years of my life . . .

and the reason I disappeared for 15 months.

 

What the Lifeguard Saw (that no one else did . . . )

I've been dying to share this story for
years.

4 years exactly.

And it involves a beach lifeguard and a 12
year old girl.

And it's a story that, like many of the most
profound things in life, I almost could have
missed . . .

Almost could have let pass from memory.

Almost could have never even paid the
attention it so well deserves.

But in this instance . . . despite the
subtlety of what I witnessed . . . I did
grasp the extraordinary underlying
significance.

A significance that has to do with rescuing a
life.

Rescuing 'your' life.

Rescuing my life.

Or both of us discovering how to rescue a
loved one's life.

How to let Go of your So

We humans are funny little beings.

We hold onto certain ideas as if we're
dangling over a cliff.

And we won't let go . . . as if we'll fall
into a chasm.

Can you relate, my friend?

Just think of an area of your life you feel
stuck in.

Is it a relationship issue?

A financial one?

Something related to getting ahead?

Being more happy?

More balanced?

More successful?

More comfortable in your own skin?

     What's holding you back?

Doesn't it all boil down to some simple
decision that you know you need to make
. . . ?

1 Ocean, 2 Waves

My apologies.

It's 3 months since I've written you.

That's the longest I've ever gone without sending out something new in the 5 1/2 years since I began writing The Wealthy Soul Newsletter.

Indeed, something major has happened that caused me not to write since early June.

I needed time to absorb this life event.

To feel the emotions, and just to "be" with what happened.

To basically "live it," until I could view it with some distance . . . with some clarity. . . and then share it, as I'm finally ready now to begin doing.

How a Pizza Changed My Life

That's right.

A Pizza.

Changed my life.

A mushroom pizza, to be specific.

With onions.

No kidding.

The date was February 24, 2007.

A Saturday.

Let me explain the beautiful thing that happened to me that night.

It started with an order of pizza.

I order it about once a month.

Why?

Because, the rest of the month it's all beans for me.

And salads.

And coconuts.

And fruits.

And nuts.

And grains.

And fresh veggies.

And free-range eggs.

And yogurt.

And all organic, mind you.

Having been around a lot of illness in my life, I treat my body preciously.

However, I throw pizza in every once in awhile to pay homage to the 100 billion cerebral neurons God gave you and me.

You know -

The Great Paradox of "The Secret" Controversy

It's a true Paradox.

And it's a hilarious one.

Kind of a paradox within a paradox.

But, on another level, it's a sad paradox.

It's the paradox regarding the blockbuster
hit DVD movie, The Secret.

It's the paradox over all the controversy
about the movie:

Is The Law of Attraction real?

Can your thoughts really affect your destiny?

Can the difference between thinking negative
or positive thoughts really change the
outcome of your challenges?

Your desires?

Your goals?

Your life?

Is it possible to think purely positive
thoughts all the time?

If you have a negative thought, does it
totally destroy all the effects of all your
positive thoughts?

Are positive thoughts all that's necessary to
manifest your dreams?

Are positive thoughts more important than
positive action?

How To Make A Miracle (pt 1)

If only I could do it everyday.

And I know you wish you could,
as well.

It is an ability that our ancestors
coveted as much as you and I.

They created the legend of Aladdin
as legacy of this deep-rooted
desire.

And we play with our children, saying to them
such phrases as "Abra Cadabra" and "Open
Sesame" . . . our secret desire for this type
of power so silenced by our adult minds, we
don't realize we may have imprisoned our own
spirits.

And yet, at different times of our lives,
we glimpse the possibility of the magic we
yearn for, and for just an instance, the sky
opens up and the light of the true Creator
sparkles in our eyes.

When was the last time you witnessed a miracle, my friend?

And even more importantly, when was the last time "you" created one?

And taking it even a step further, "how" did you create it?

And now, one step further than that, could you create it "again" at will?

"Your Missing Piece"

I'm a collector.

And you should be too.

And what I collect is something that may be missing from your life.

And if it is, you may be living what Henry David Thoreau called "a life of quiet desperation."

He said, "The masses of men" live such lives.

But fear not.

The thing that's missing is easily found.

As easily as a stamp collector finds stamps.

And that's how easily you can begin to reclaim what may be lost in your life.

And reclaim what may be missing.

Just like that.

Found.

Whole.

Feeling like a new person again.

All in the same day.

What am I referring to?

First person to guess it right wins a f'r'e^e 20-minute coaching session with me.

If you guess it right and, additionally, tell a personal story that illustrates it and illuminates it for your brother and sister Wealthy Souls, you get a f'r'e^e  45-minute coaching session.

Your life clock is ticking.

Time to fill in the gap.

Answering the question is your first step in discovering what's missing so it'll never be missing for long again and you'll cease feeling that sense of "quiet desperation".

Share your answer in the comment box at the bottom of this page.

To be precise, the question is:

          "What is The Missing Piece from your life
          (and most people's lives!) that may be
          causing you, my friend, to live a life of
          quiet desperation?"

Big Clue:

          It sometimes is missing from my life, too.
          But not when I write these Wealthy Soul
          Newsletters. Nor when you share your beautiful
          thoughts on my blog.

Share your enlightening answer now, my friend, in the comment box at the end of the page below -

"You won't believe this story, but it's true."

It must be the consciousness I've been in, writing this latest series about Great Whites.

But just after writing the story, joyously reading your comments on my blog, a massive 3-day feeding frenzy occurred right off the coast where I swim every day.

Huge circular schools of fish could be seen jumping out of the water at once followed by either a shark jumping literally out of the water after them, or it's fearsome dorsal and tail fin breaking the surface in hot pursuit.

It was an incredible show like I've never seen before.

Just the week before, I had been swimming a half mile per day with Patty, a young tri-athlete visiting the Florida coast with her husband and young children.

She had been hesitant to swim in the ocean, used to the heated swimming pools and calm lakes of Michigan. She was wary of the riptides, jellyfish and sharks everyone warned her about in the Atlantic.

"No worries," I told her casually. "The riptides, if they're around at all, only pull you out to shoulder-deep water, and I've only seen a shark inside the breakers once. And he was a small one."

Good thing she wasn't around the following week!

However something did occur the week she was here -

Could You Escape From a Great White?

This story is true-to-life.

You're in open ocean.

You're many miles from shore.

You're just minding your own business, feeling your regular playful self.

You are, in fact, a seal.

Two hundred pounds of blubber . . . very gainly on land, but an acrobat extraordinaire underwater.

But you're no match for a Great White Shark.

Your speed can't match his.

Your size can't even begin to be compared to his (he's 10x larger).

And you, my friend, are his favorite snack.

And suddenly he's just there, a massive torpedo from out of the depths, rows of razor teeth just inches from your tail.

When Will You Budge from Your Grudge?

My next door neighbor, Cathy, despised my downstairs neighbor, George.

But no less than George despised Cathy.

In fact, Cathy landed up moving with her husband and their 6-year-old daughter out of their beautiful oceanfront penthouse condo to five hundred miles away because she could no longer stand encountering George in the hallways.

Before that, the situation had gotten so bad, Cathy actually filed a restraining order against George.

And George, who was on the condominium board, landed up suing the board for attorney fees after Cathy called the police on him and actually had him 'arrested' for one of those overblown incidences that occur when we let things get too far out of control.

If this sounds like an episode out of Seinfeld with Seinfeld's South-Florida condo-living parents, it's not. This is a true story.

But here's the point:

"Why the Skinny Guy Wants to Lose Weight"

(And what hidden key about that is crucial to you becoming a Wealthy Soul?)

My whole life, since I'm a kid, whenever I see a friend or a relative who I haven't seen for awhile, the first thing they ask me is if I've lost weight.

If I had, in fact, lost weight each and every time I had been asked that question, there wouldn't be anything left at this point to be asking about.

The truth is, I've weighed between 160 to 170 lbs my entire life and have rarely strayed more than a few pounds from that level. Standing over 6 feet tall, "skinny" definitely can be applied when I fall south of that point, which is usually when I've gone prolonged periods working too hard and not sleeping enough.

The once when I went over 170, when I was living abroad, not working hard, eating a lot of rich Middle-Eastern food, and lifting weights a few times a week, I felt like a hunk. I loved it!

I suppose now in my mid-forties I should be happy that I don't have the challenge most people have with their weight. But as any skinny guy can tell you, where the average person would do anything to be a few pounds thinner, we'd do anything to be 10 to 20 pounds heavier.

It certainly has something to do with the "macho" thing along with being asked that dreaded question by visiting Aunt Esther and Uncle Harry just one too many times - "Sweetie, have you lost weight?"

What I and my fellow slim and trim brothers (it's never, of course, the women who want to gain weight) haven't quite ever gotten is how that question actually may be a compliment. All we know is that we want to gain some more of those coveted pounds!

Though we all prefer the term "trim" and "wiry" to the charge-filled word "skinny," the only time I have felt really good about being so cursed or blessed (depending upon who you are) is when my dentist friend Eddy once said:

"I wish I could borrow your body for just one day, Michael. Then I could eat whatever I'd like!"

I do think about that whenever I'm being treated to a delicious home-cooked meal as a guest somewhere, or when I'm at a really good restaurant, particularly one where it's all you can eat. Because, without doubt, I can pack it away.

But other than on these occasions, though I am more accepting of my weight at this point of life - and even "gloat" when I look in the mirror and see that I have developed the slightest of love handles! - I more often than not dream of being back in that 170 to 180 pound range, with 180 to 190 just too glorious and out-of-reach for me to even consider.

       So, here's the big question, my friend -

Why in the world would I suddenly want to lose weight?

That's right. You heard correct.

I want to lose weight.

And it has nothing to do with my physical health, which, after all I've been through with my family (as you've read in my story, "The 9 Insights of the Wealthy Soul" at http://wealthysoul.com ) I thank God everyday is so good.

Rather it has to do with another reason.

More of an emotional/spiritual one, which may sound like a strange thing to say after I've just told you so much about my liflong desire to gain weight.

But regarding what I'm talking about, it even has a lot to do with financial health, this concept is so far-reaching.

Kindly go to the bottom of this page to post your comments regarding if you can guess what I'm talking about here. See if you can guess why I suddenly want to "lose" weight.

     Here's a clue for you -

It has to do with why you haven't heard from me for more than two months - much longer than usual considering that I sometimes send you newsletters once or twice a week. (Believe it or not, my prolonged absence is another clue. Hmmm).

As you can tell, the answer why I want to lose weight may not be easy to guess. In fact I'd be surprised if any one of the thousands of Wealthy Souls receiving this newsletter does get it.

But I'll give the first person who does guess it a complimentary 40 minute coaching session, which otherwise goes for $200+.

Again, the question is, why in the world would I, skinny guy, Michael Norwood, after a lifetime of wishing to gain 10 to 20 pounds, suddenly be spending time LOSING weight?

Your own well-being, my friend, will unequivocally, 100%, downright to the hungry dog bone be affected by your ability to understand what I'm talking about here.

A big ol' "beefy" bear hug,
Michael

   ***    Here's another clue. This is all about "change." So, c'mon, and participate here. The Wealthy Soul Newsletter is all about Your Change, after all. And it starts right here, right now, with your active participation firing those 100 billion cerebral neurons of yours by guessing at the answer to the important riddle posed in this newletter.

Share your comments with me and thousands of others below -

"What The Flying Tomato Can Teach You"

He's the most unlikely Olympic superstar.

First, he doesn't look like an athlete.

He looks, in fact, a bit geeky.

No bulging muscles.

Redheaded, rather than brown or blonde-haired and blue-eyed.

Pale skinned rather than dark and chiseled-looking.

The air more of a fun-loving slightly rebellious awkward teen rather than an intensely focused do-or-die competitor.

The only thing in Shaun White's physical appearance, in fact, that makes him stand out is his long mane of shocking red hair.

But this unlikely gold-medal winner of the snowboard "Halfpipe," without question is the most unforgettable athlete at the Torino Winter Olympic Games. The wonderfully apt nickname, "The Flying Tomato," only deepens the impression . . . a name that is so apt, yet so contradictory to his perfect grace and power as a champion gymnastic snowboarder.

What can you and I learn from "Il Pomegrante Volante," as the Italians lovingly call Shaun White?

American Idol Insider Info: Who The Next Winner Will Be

I have insider information.

. . . information that few other people have.

I know who the next winner of American Idol will be.

The Wealthy Soul Circle Premiere

Saturday, January 27, 11 a.m. EST

By Invitation Only!

"Your Iron Will and Heart of Gold"

  Before reading today's post, c*lick this link to hear a special 30 second audio message from Michael.

                  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

In my last newsletter, I asked you to guess which sitcom was one of my favorites of all time. The clues I gave you were:

          It is about a hilariously dysfunctional family.

          There's constant conflict between the members of
          the family.

          And there's even more love.

Additionally:

"Now, that's what I'm talking about!"

Yeahhhh!

That is indeed what I'm talking about!

As I'm writing this, 75 of you have already responded to the request in my last 2 newsletters to share on this blog where and how you find the Wealthy Souls of the world.

Didn't that feel good, my friend?

Didn't it lighten up your soul to tap into that Wealthy Soul energy simply by writing about it?

That's exactly why I love writing this newsletter and reading what you have to say on the blog.

So . . .

          "Where are the Wealthy Souls?"

I'm going to take a back door approach to answering this one. . .

"Where are the Wealthy Souls?"

I ended my last newsletter, The Geisha and the Wealthy Soul, asking you these two questions about Wealthy Souls:

          "Do you know where to find them?"

          "Do you know HOW to find them?"

In the past as many as 70 of you have responded on my blog when I've asked similar questions.

Only 12 of you responded to these two questions, perhaps showing how rare it can be to find a true Wealthy Soul, or at least to see a bonified Wealthy Soul act.

Or perhaps the truth is that you and I are so busy . . . we're so tuned to our "agenda of the day" . . . we don't see the magic occurring right before our very eyes when it does happen. . .

The Geisha and The Wealthy Soul

In my newsletter last week, "Your Geisha Moment," my suggestion to see the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" created some controversy.

Perhaps you, too, wondered why in the world I would encourage you to see a movie that is about a child sold into a cruel and forbidding world to be trained her entire life to serve men.

Your Geisha Moment

In my last newsletter, I mentioned how seeing the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" just before Christmas Eve was the perfect follow-up lesson for the lessons I learned that day about "Acting Absurd in the Name of Good."

If you have the time I'm going to ask you to see the movie this weekend. Then I'm going to ask you to go to the Comments Field below and tell me your favorite scene in the movie.

Have you ever noticed how the truly great movies - the ones that become classics and usually are nominated for Academy Awards - have one thing in common?

Do you know what that one thing is?

     Here it is:

Absurd Behavior

Listen to Absurd Behavior.

"Acting Absurd in the Name of Good"

Five o'clock, Christmas Eve, I went out to see the hauntingly beautiful movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha." This, as you'll see, turned out to be the exact best thing to do given the disconcerting feelings I was having throughout the day...

The "Real" Dance with the Stars

There are certain moments that occur in life that are so exquisite, they leave you breathless.

The challenge is, if you blink, you might miss them.

There was just such a moment during the dramatic rematch of last summer's hit show, Dancing with the Stars.

Whether or not you saw the show, see if you sense the profundity contained within the moment about to be described:

"Your Fatal Flaw" - the winner!

Chrissey’s response on my blog at http://tinyurl.com/9t6h7 was the first that came closest to figuring out the answer to last week’s newsletter. She said: “The one thing I have learned about human nature is its phenomenal ability to go into denial rather than be responsible for ones own behavior.”

But Chrissey didn’t figure out if it was the husband or wife. And there’s a profound difference between “being in denial” - where you won’t admit something to yourself - as opposed to not being willing to admit you’re wrong to others even when you know it yourself. This was the phenomena so beautifully demonstrated in this episode of “House”.

Suresh Menon figured out who was lying and how the show ended, and was correct when he said “They {people} resort to lies to escape the consequences.” But he preluded it by saying “You could figure it out because your background as a holistic doctor has taught you that most human beings cannot resist the temptation of love and sex.”

Though this obviously has truth to it, it was not a primary reason the writers would have chosen this ending for the show. The primary reason was to portray how, as I described in the newsletter, “people sometimes would rather die than admit to being wrong.”

So, Chrissey nor Suresh got it completely correct. However, because both came closer than anyone else, I’ll let both share the prize and give each a 25 minute coaching session. (Chrissey and Suresh, please email me by replying to this week’s newsletter and we'll set a time up).

Now, my friend, please provide your personal thoughts, comments and stories to the Wealthy Soul lesson portrayed in this magnificent T.V. episode. Comment box is below.

A big hug!

(If you don't yet receive The Wealthy Soul Newsletter, click here)

Your Fatal Flaw

On a recent television episode of the hit medical drama series, "House," the doctors are completely bewildered over the diagnosis of a woman who is mysteriously dying. Her main symptom is such deep sleep she can’t wake up except for brief periods.

After endless testing and eliminating every possible cause, the only diagnosis that remains which matches her symptoms is African Sleeping Sickness. Though treatment will cure the otherwise fatal disease, the medical team cannot dispense the cure without being certain of the diagnosis.

The doctors question the woman’s husband if she or he ever has been to Africa. The husband states that neither of them ever have. The medical team is forced to ask a very delicate question: if he or his wife has ever had an affair - because the disease can be transmitted sexually.

"What's Irritating You?"

RE: Gift 30 of Immortality

Michael, thanks for the "gift".

I too am awakened in the night (lately) and that is when I turn to your book. I am at the part where you are in hand to hand (combat) with Dr. Solihin. Perhaps something is “irritating me” too??

I really appreciate the concept of the soul being pure vs our minds and maybe we should try to let the soul run the show more… I think I will try to do that!

THANKS!

____________________

The Wealthy Soul:

Dear Kevin,

Thanks for sharing your kind thoughts.

Indeed, we’d all be better off if we could let the Soul “run the show” a bit more. But we’ve got this thing called a mind, that . . . well . . . seems to have a mind of it’s own!

Sleep tight!

Many blessings,
Michael

"The beauty was so staggering."

You may want to argue with what I have to say here -

You may believe that television is a waste of time, as many
people do (despite continuing to watch hours of "junk" a day!).

But I believe, depending upon what you choose to watch,
television can be one of the most transformative mediums
in your life.

I say this because there are extraordinary Wealthy Soul lessons certain shows can teach you without you having to go through the oftentimes great challenge of living through those particular experiences yourself.

Up until recently, there were four particular moments on television that I always counted as touching me to the deepest core of my soul.

Then, in the last few months, there came a fifth.

I am a collector of such moments. And this particular one came on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The entire program had held me absolutely transfixed. And then the featured guest, who had told one of the most extraordinary stories I ever witnessed, said the words about his experience that I’ll never forget:

     "The beauty in the midst of it was so staggering."

The context in which the young man said these words is truly life-changing. And I say "is" as opposed to "was" because I wish you to be present with those words for at least the next week.

Hold them in your silences. And look deeply in your own life where such words might apply.

And if you can begin to see their hidden relevance to the most unexpected of your own experiences, you will discover a brilliant new meaning and depth to your life.

Next week I’ll share with you who the guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show was and the story that led him to say such words.

Meanwhile, meditate on how "the beauty in the midst of" one of your own experiences "was so staggering."

     What experience was it?

     Was such beauty expected?

      Or was this beauty, as in the case of Oprah Winfrey’s guest, a paradox?

      A Gift?

     The last thing you could have imagined under such circumstances?

     And therefore, was such beauty an act of Grace?

Share your experience in the form at the bottom of this page. You will not only light up your own soul, you’ll light up the souls of thousands ofother Wealthy Soul readers from around the world.

A big bear hug to you,

Michael

** Why not be a true Wealthy Soul and share this newsletter with a friend? And if you have received this from such a friend, you may subscribe to the Wealthy Soul Newsletter or read about the Wealthy Soul books .

** Now, go ahead and add your own story how "The beauty in the midst of your own experience was so staggering."

The First Stone (Conclusion)

Last week I shared with you a shocking statement made by a woman to a nun, which I later heard the nun share. The woman’s statement was:

           "I hope my children die before I do."

I asked you to share with me and other Wealthy Soul subscribers why you thought the woman made that statement. You can view all your insightful responses on this blog at:

So before I tell you the rest of that story, I want to tell you what I saw recently on television that triggered me to recall the nun’s story, which I heard a number of years ago.

The First Stone

This is a short newsletter, with a quick question, and a powerful message.

It is a true story I heard told by a beautiful nun.

A woman she was speaking to made the shocking statement:

         "I hope my children die before I do."

What's your first reaction hearing something like that? I personally was horrified.

Share your thoughts about it in the comment box at the bottom of this page.

Write what you think the statement says about the woman who made the statement, what kind of person she must be, and what in the world might have motivated her to say something so appalling.

It’s important you share your feedback. You’ll see why when next week I tell you the shocking rest of this story about this woman.

Big hug to you! (You may need it after reading all of the above!).

Yours for the greatest wealth,
Michael

        ***  The extraordinary end to this story, believe it or not, relates to a famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model!

Share your comments below -

Why you can't forgive . . .

Dear L,

(See her letter below). Indeed, part of forgiveness is knowing that we are capable of handling the same situation if it arises again. People who forgive are people who know they will be able to handle the situation appropriately if it arises again.

"Turning the other cheek" only works as a technique of sorts. If it enlightens the person who is transgressing a trust, then it's a valid technique and, indeed, the most effective one . . . for it allows for self-correction.

If, however, the other person continues doing the same thing, it obviously isn't working. And continuing to turn the other cheek, as your mother did, will eventually breed the opposite of forgiveness - as it did with your mother.

But, when kind-hearted people like your mom later can't forgive, who it is they can't forgive is what's interesting.

It no longer is the other person, but rather - for having permitted the transgressions to continue - it sadly becomes themselves.

And thus self-forgiveness is what truly becomes the first and most necessary spiritual act.

You've indeed learned many lessons. And thank you for all your kind words about the books.

God bless,

Michael Norwood

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

My mother used to say that when you love someone, it is easy to forgive them.  I was always amazed at the way she did that with my father.  She adored him for most of her life.  But I knew since I was in the sixth grade, that my father didn't love my mother, that his relationship to her was one of duty, obligation and much disrespect.  He had at least two affairs, one that was longstanding till the time of his death.  At the end of my mother's life, she refused to be buried with him.  I think your heart can be broken once too many times that there's nothing left to give anymore.   

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (MICHAEL)

Roy was a professional animal trainer; Siegfried a illusionist. Accidents with such a deadly species will bound to happen sooner or later. Humans are a flawed species; We can 't improve our imprefections. We have faults in our design. Like any species we try to perfect our skills; But we all can only do so much! We love our work no matter the consquence.

____________________

The Wealthy Soul:

Well said, Michael! There's risks to everything.

And as another man once said, "I rather live a year as a tiger than a lifetime as a lamb."

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (JAYE)

(Jay's original letter is below my response).

Dear Jay,

You've got a good heart, and I know continuing to support your son and his girlfriend seems a noble thing to do despite how apparently abusive they are to you.

But I've got to tell you, my friend, I believe in "tough love." I believe in accountability. And I believe in making people earn whatever greater favors you bestow them - especially misbehaving children.

Now, I didn't say they have to "earn your love." That love is unconditional.

But I believe "turning the other cheek" is more a form of self-indulgence than true unconditional love.

I don't mean to be hard on you Jay, because up until now, you've come to believe that that is what good parents do, and it probably stems from having been abandoned yourself as you described in your childhood.

But I believe (for whatever it's worth) that when we allow anyone for any reason take advantage of our kind gestures, it is a disservice to ourselves and to them not to put them in their place.

And it is self-indulgent because perhaps it makes us believe we are being noble.

True kindness and true love is long-term. Long-term for your son and his girlfriend means molding them into being responsible loving adult - Wealthy Souls - and not people who believe they have everything coming them.

That means setting boundaries with them, and making them pay the consequences when they cross those boundaries.

Big subject here, Jay. But the bottom line is, you can believe that Siegfried and Roy knew well how to train their tigers. Their unconditional love was demonstrated when they didn't lose their love for the tiger as a result of it's one bad and nearly fatal action.

Learn how to "train" your little Tiger, my friend. Learn when to give him rewards, and when to (metaphorically speaking) bare the whip. He will eventually love you much more for that form of love than the formless kind you now are giving.

Otherwise, you indeed will find that your home becomes a cage, your son a wild animal, and your love destroyed by very predatory behavior.

God bless,
Michael Norwood

When Your Kindness is not Acknowledged

I received an email from an overseas subscriber (who we'll call "R") who was feeling bad he didn't receive a response from a friend of his he sent my Wealthy Soul series to as a gift.

What triggered his email to me was when he received The Gift of Presence email, which is part of The 30 Gifts of Life series I automatically send when someone subscribes to my free Wealthy Soul Newsletter. The Gift of Presence email starts off asking "Where are you?"

This made R acutely aware of his hurt feelings from his friend, to the point he could't even finish the rest of The Gift of Presence. Here was my response to him:

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear R,

If I may be so bold, it sounds like you are quite attached to the response of this person. I know how that can feel - wanting acknowledgement for something nice we do, especially from someone we care about.

Sometimes, though, we just don't receive it. So whatever good deed we do has to be looked at as having been done in the name of higher love and unconditional giving.

There is a universal "bank account" I believe we either squander away or regularly add to. Kind and gracious acts are what build that account. And while bitter thoughts aren't what causes it to lose value, they do effectively render that great worth useless. But have heart, R - this is only until you refocus your attention.

Let the feeling of all your kindest acts fill your heart, and in a little while, you may actually find it almost doesn't matter if the other person responds or not.

After all, is not kindness like a morning sun that warms everyone, and not just those observing its rising?

Warmest smiles,

Michael

The Gift of Prayer

Michael,

Thanks for The Gift of Prayer!  (One of The 30 Gifts of Life presentations) One of the outstanding gifts of my relationship with God, is my freedom to pray to him at anytime, anyplace, and in any manner that I chose.  One of my favorite times being in the very early morning, just as a miraculous sunrise is coming up.  I'm usually driving home from work (I work 11-7 shift as a nurse, at the jails), tired and generally drained emotionally.  When I see the beautiful sun rising, I always utter a prayer of thankfulness for the beginning of another day that will be another opportunity to enjoy all of the God-given gifts in my life. Another day to perhaps right the wrongs of the previous day. Another opportunity to love, and be loved, and to recognize that each day is a gift. These are what I'm reminded to pray a prayer of thanks for.

Yes, to be able to pray in the most unusual times and places is the best gift of all of them, I think!!

Thanks!!

Julie Campbell
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The Wealthy Soul:

Dear Julie

Sounds like a Wealthy Soul life to me! 

Greatest blessings!

Michael Norwood

(Friend, to receive The 30 Gifts of Life, click here).

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (MICHELLE)

I do have a couple of thoughts.

First, he obviously really loved the tiger to begin with. Real love doesn't just die, even when circumstances go sour. I can see continuing to love the tiger, but maybe rethinking the handling of him and other tigers. After all, these are not people or pets. They are wild animals. Sigfried and Roy may have learned a valuable lesson, from the details of what happened, in terms of the future handling of such animals.

ALso, you can't blame a wild thing for its nature. Or life. When we choose to take a risk, we have to recognize that it is a risk, and accept it as such. The lack of wisdom in pretending a risk is not a risk may seem obvious, but we forget.

And on the other side of it, we often overestimate the risk involved in a situation, and hold ourselves back needlessly. We become fearful of perceived risks and stuck in our lives, so that in the end, being stuck is much more harmful to our quality of life than the risk itself might have been.

And we tend to blame others when things go wrong. This makes us "victims" in a way that life or others could never do. Roy took a risk, things went wrong, and he moved forward. He accepted his own responsibility in the situation and his accountability for his choices. He refused to blame the tiger or to become a victim. He made himself in the process stronger and more poweful for the future. And an inspiration to others.

And, of course, the value of forgiveness, but I think many others will comment on that. Take care.

____________________

The Wealthy Soul:

In truth, finding forgiveness or not really has little to do with the other person, doesn't it?

Wonderful points, Michelle. 

Michael Norwood

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (SETH)

Within every adversity is the seed of an equal or greater benefit. Sometimes difficult people or situations are our best teacher. These things or individuals show up as master teachers in disguise. The last thing we as individuals want to do is turn and say to this person or situation "I honor you oh Master Teacher".Sometimes its years later before we can realize the great lessons we learned from tragedies. Does anyone want to call up a tragedy just for grins? I would think not unless you are some type masochist that loves pain and suffering. Sometimes things do fall out of the sky. People do you dirty, houses burn and tigers of some form get you by the throat. The question is after the smoke clears is "What did I learn from the experience"?You can be a victim or a survivor, the choice is yours.

____________________

The Wealthy Soul:

A victim or a survivor . . . or a "Thriver."

Or, Seth, how about even a step further . . . how about a Wealthy Soul?

Great points!

Michael Norwood

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (DAPHNE)

I loved your story about the Tiger and It made me think of many personal incidents where friends hurt me and did me wrong yet I continued to go on with them and be their friend. Why? you ask, very simple I loved them and I had to learn to forgive them or else they would never be in my life and I didn't want that ,like Roy when you love someone or an animal you can forgive very easily as love blinds you.

____________________

The Wealthy Soul:

Yes, love blinds you, Daphne.

But, as the universe is constructed of paradoxes, doesn't love and forgiveness equally give you a chance to "see the light?"

Warmly,
Michael Norwood

P.S. I love your sentiments!

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (LOIS)

I do understand Roy's logic about his tiger. Because I came close to really hating a friend and I really don't feel that way towards anyone......this girlfriend and I have been friends for the past 14 years. Everyone wanted to know how I could be her friend because she cannot keep a friend, however, I explained to them that I overlooked her faults, by looking at her through the eyes of God. Until finally last year, she loaned some items from me that got stolen and when I told her that she had to replace them, she got angry and hung up the phone on me. I was angry that I had defended this individual when everyone was saying nasty things about her I came to her rescue and tried to justify her behavior to them and this was the thanks that I got. Although I had forgiven her for her behavior, I thought it best to dismiss her as well. It was my intention to never associate with her again, but after several weeks of her annoying and trying to get back close to me, I gave the matter serious consideration and thought about the one thing that really made us become friends. Today, we do speak, although, the relationship is not what it used to be. Her disposition has not changed and I have accepted the fact that she will never change. However I do realize that we are that way with God, yet, he looks beyond our faults and sees the good in us, hoping that one day we will change. So, Roy loving his pet, saw only the good in his pet and I can only believe that what he says is true.

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The Wealthy Soul:

Yup, Lois, we do need to be forgiving, while safe-guarding our own well-being, as you have had to do with your friend. And sometimes, it may even be necessary to let some friends go.

But truth is, I can't think of a single one of my close friends who hasn't done something major that I could have felt justified ending the friendship over.

And, I'm sure, they can say the same thing about me!

Tsssk. But that we were all angels and knew exactly what everyone ever wanted from us.

Come to think of it, might not life just be a bit too boring that way . . . ?

Blessings!
Michael Norwood

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (INES)

I think a form of "parenting" should necessarily and absolutely be taught {by clever well adjusted people} - because it doesn't come naturally to just any parent - and unfortunately ill adjusted parents mess up their children and this in turn creates a vicious cycle and recurring problems in society. I loved your book about your father!! Well done to share this with us. Thank you.

Ines

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The Wealthy Soul:

Dear Ines,

We are absolutely molded by our childhood, and particularly by our parents, agreed! (and I love your idea of "parenting" being taught by wise folk).

Most parents, indeed, are often far less than perfect.

At a certain age, though, no matter how difficult our childhoods, we must claim dominion over our own lives and rise above the hurts and pains of our past.

Come to think of it . . . maybe that's why they call it "the past."

Unless of course we, through not surrendering and not forgiving, choose to make it our "present."

God bless!

Michael Norwood

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (MICHELLE)

Funny that the story of Roy Horn came up today.....it's God's way of answering my own questions.

Last night my husband and I kicked our son out of the house because he stole a credit card from us and ran up hundreds of dollars on a hard core porn website. This kind of behavior has been ongoing for several years and we were finally able muster the courage to take action.

Even though it's hard to stop crying, I know in my heart that I forgive him. The ache in my heart is knowing that he was raised differently and chose to take this road in his life. It's hard to understand (as it's hard to understand why a tiget cub raised with love and care chose to hurt his 'parent' Roy) why our son chose to hurt us. More importantly, though, it's hard to understand why he chooses a path of stealing and lying when he knows better.

We can only leave him in God's hands now. We can no longer try to live his life for him and try to lead him in the right direction.

We pray that he is safe.
____________________
Michael Norwood:

Dear Michelle,

I'm so sorry about the challenges you and your husband are facing with your son. But you bring up an exquisitely beautiful and important point.

And that is, we usually can forgive to the extent we know in our hearts we are capable of handling a situation. And it seems to me you handled the situation with your son with great deliberation, restraint, and love . . . and yet did what you had to do.

So many people who hold bitterness in their hearts are those who secretly "fear" those they can't forgive -

     Fear they will do the same thing again.
     Fear they will not know how to handle it when they do.
     Fear they will be hurt over and over again.

Making others accountable when necessary and through increasingly stronger means is truly the path of a Wealthy Soul - as well as the path of surrendering and finding forgiveness.

God bless,
Michael Norwood

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (DON)

Has anyone ever hurt you or wronged you?  Has anyone you know ever acted in a way that you felt was terrible or wrong?  Have you ever hurt or wronged someone else?  Have you ever acted in a way that you felt was terrible or wrong?

The simple truth is we have all done "terrible" things at one time or another and we have all had "terrible" things done to us.

Roy's ability to continue to love the tiger that almost killed him has an important lesson for all of us.

Roy was able to separate the tiger's actions (or behaviour) from it's nature (or character).  Roy had known the tiger since it was a cub.  He had played and performed with the magnificent animal hundreds of times.  He knew from the countless interactions exactly what the great cat was like.  So when it unexpectedly "attacked" him (our interpretation), he did not condemn the tiger for it's actions but looked beyond these to see and remember its magnifigance.

When we make mistakes and act inappropriately, we need to be look beyond the actions and remember that we are a special and beautiful creation of a beautiful and loving Creator.  We don't condemn ourselves for the mistake.  Instead, we remember our magnifigance and, from that place of remembering, take the appropriate steps to correct any harm we may have done.  This may mean apologizing and asking for forgiveness.

Likewise, when someone else acts in a way that we view as "bad", we must remember to look beyond the actions and see the person for who they truly are.  We may lovingly point out the inappopriateness of the actions while remembering and reminding the person of their wonder and value.

Whenever I feel the urge to judge or condemn, I will remember the story of Roy and the White Tiger and the important lesson it has for me.

____________________

Michael Norwood:

Beautiful point, Don. He who is without sin, cast the first stone.

Life is a matter of focus. Sometimes we can get so focused on a single impactful event with a person, or a single flaw, we lose perspective of the thousand other wonderful things this person is . . . the thousand other things they have possibly done for us or have to meant to us.

When we open our hearts while maintaining our integrity, we find that even our greatest enemies may have qualities we can learn from. And if we're big enough . . . even love.

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (LORNA)

My husband Brian receives this newsletter. A week ago he underwent surgery for cancer of the tongue and throat. Because of his situation we needed to look at our relationships with several people and to enter this journey we both needed to embrace what has happened in the past, forgive those who had hurt us and ask to be forgiven for the things we had done.
I guess Brian's tiger is the cancer but already so many positive things have come from something that could have proved to be very negative. We both feel blessed to have life, this day, this moment.

____________________

Michael Norwood:

Funny, Lorna, how our greatest adversity's either can ruin us, or allow us rise to an entire new level of life. It's obvious which of the two paths you and Brian have chosen. God bless.

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (CONCLUSION)

In last week's newsletter, I told the incredible story of
Roy Horn's near-death after being dragged by the throat by a
400lb White Tiger on stage in Las Vegas. If you haven't yet
read this amazing story and the comments you wrote, go to:

      http://snipurl.com/cjdq

To see my responses to many of your comments - which I’ll
continue to post on a daily basis over the next few weeks -
every morning check out:

      http://wealthysoul.typepad.com/wealthysoul.

What struck me most about your comments regarding this
story is The Way in which each of you perceived Siegfried
and Roy’s actions. Montecore, the tiger, as you read last
week has been kept as their beloved pet - an extraordinary
act of unconditional love.

      There is, however, a major twist to this story.

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (KATHERINE)

I have not had Cancer.  I do not know the cold fear of facing a disease that exists to steal my very life.  But I know the truth about losing your life, about waking up one day to view the wreckage of your own life – as if a train had run off its tracks in your backyard… or a plane had fallen from the sky into your garden.  I also know the miraculous reality of the worst that life offers being the best thing in your life.  At least that is how it was for me.  Once I lost my life –my old fearful, indulgent and visionless life- I was free to choose to make a life of living.  It is so scary …tinglely in the stomach scary…like in those really awesome roller coasters or maybe like just before you step out on the stage and the floodlights blind your eyes and you wonder what am I doing here?  But who told you of the joy, the delicious happiness that living in hope and wonder and gratitude for all of life that you would not only experience, but know for your own.  I glimpse a little more each day.  Just when I think that I’ve seen all that there is, I step over the edge into a whole new expanse of goodness.  It’s really quite humbling.  The things that I have dreaded the most; the insecurity; the aloneness; the honesty with my self have been the very catalyst for the safety, the friendships and the authenticity that I treasure more than gold.  The losing of my life was the finding of my Self.  How grateful I am for the gifts of the worst in my life…….they pointed me to life as I only dreamed and longed it to be.  I have glimpsed the truth of me.  I am True and Strong and Good.  I am Pure of Heart and reach toward Beauty.  I have Hope and Courage within me.  And I am also weak and timid and scared.  I carry my fears with in me.  I am all of these things. I am enough. I am ENOUGH. I AM ENOUGH

____________________

Michael Norwood:

"The losing of my life was the finding of my Self" - very beautiful Katherine. Roy Horn found something similar in his experience with the tiger. As do all people who transform themselves into Wealthy Souls.

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (JANICE)

My dad was emotionally disconnected too. He would probably be surprised and hurt to even hear that.

It was emotional work to just have a conversation with him. I have no doubt it was because he had a crippled arm from having polio as a child. He told me that absolutely no one ever made fun of him. It must have been a much kinder gentler time. But he was very guarded and had emotional walls up.

I love him and miss him.

____________________

Michael Norwood:

Beautiful, Janice. You truly know what it's all about. God bless.

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (PATSY)

My understanding is that Roy believes that the tiger acted in a protective way towards him because of some perceived threat that the tiger sensed from an audience member.  I tend to believe that as well because I have no dought that the tiger could have killed him in an instant had that been his intention.  Because of that simple fact alone Roy is sure that the big cat acted in a loving way towards him not understanding that the cats version of "love" could be deadly to a meer mortal! 

____________________

Michael Norwood:

Yours comments, Patsy, remind me of yesterday's post "When Love Ain't in the Form You Like", and my respsonse to the writer of that email to me.  Thank you!

Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth (LEN)

I've been pretty lucky in my life.  My only real mistake in this regard was in my relationship as a teenager with one of my sisters but that is well healed now.

A few others have clashed with me in my working life but life is too short to bring these relationships back to neutral ground.  Agree to disagree and move on.  Not every relationship needs to be or should be fixed.

____________________

Michael Norwood:

Indeed, Len, you can't walk around trying to be loved by all the people all the time. Choose your battles, I say . . . but choose also your battles for your soul.

Personally, when it's time for me to transition to the next level (go on to heaven), I'd like to do so with no "charges" in my soul. Meaning: from people I should have forgiven or asked for forgiveness in the form of my apology to them . . . sometimes even when my wrong-doing might have been a matter of perspective.

That's coming from the perspective of "The Grand Perspective: the truly "Big Picture."

When Love Ain't in the Form You'd Like

A reader of The Wealthy Soul book series wrote me a touching letter after reading my books. Below is my response, and in the link after you'll find his letter:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Dear Steve,

What a beautiful letter! Besides some touching similarities between our dads, your Dad's ways makes me think how everyone has their own way of showing and sharing their love. All we can do is accept it and be thankful for the form it takes (ie. your Dad and you with cars, me and my Dad with stocks –at least you had more of an interest in cars then I did in stocks!)

Life begins today, Steve. However your father was, however you are, it is 100% up to you how you continue to be.

Take the good and leave what you perceive as less good behind.

Grasp your life in your own hands and start developing the qualities of whoever you wish most to be!

God bless!

Michael

(See Steve's letter by clicking "Continue Reading. . .")

"Your Throat in a Tiger's Mouth"

I would like to share with you a strangely beautiful story.
To do so, kindly allow me to introduce it by asking you to
consider a very unusual question:

What would it be like to have a 400 lb White Tiger's
huge jaws wrapped around your tiny throat?

Roy Horn of the famed Las Vegas magic show duo, Siegfried
and Roy, was walking  on stage with the tiger he had raised
since it was a cub when the tiger unexpectedly took his arm
in its great mouth, refusing to let go.

Horn, in front of a packed audience at the MGM Grand Hotel,
began hitting the tiger over the snout with his microphone
until the tiger finally released its grasp (standard
procedure for this . . . ahem . . . "non-standard"
occurrence).

Then, depending upon whose version you hear in the audience,
Horn fell to the ground. (Others would say the tiger knocked
him down). The tiger then grabbed Horn's neck in its
forbidding mouth and began dragging him off stage.

WGOD in the morning!

Received the following anonymously written poem from Wealthy Soul subscriber Carol Phillips:

    I met God in the morning,
    When my day was at its best,
    His Presence came as sunrise,
    Like a glory in my breast.

    All day long he stayed with me;
    We sailed in perfect calmness
    O'er troubled sea.

    So I think that I know the secret,
    Learned from many a troubled way.
    You must seek Him in the morning,
    If you want Him through the day.

As an early morning riser and writer, I LOVE THIS. Even when I was working full-time in holistic care, I would wake up early every morning at 5 - 6 a.m. and write.

Though I sometimes wrote for only 15 - 30 minutes, it was (and still is) enough to open my  vessel and make me feel I tuned in all day long.

What about you, my friend?

How are you going to regularly start the day tuning into God and your Highest Power so your day goes equally well?

Yours for the greatest wealth,
Michael Norwood