Elevated Existence May 2016 Book Picks

Posted on by Tammy

Each month, a ton of new spiritual and self-help books hit the market. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or miss out on some new releases.

We created Elevated Existence Monthly Book Picks to help our readers narrow down their search, and make sure they don’t miss some great options!

The books for this month were chosen by our editor’s as their picks for May 2016. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Click on each title to go directly to Amazon and find out more about the book.

“Being True: What Matters Most in Work, Life and Love,” by Tami Simon — In this audiobook, the founder of SoundsTrue, Tami Simon offers essential lessons learned from 30 years of exploring spiritual wisdom. Broken into four sessions, the teachings cover being true as a process, and the five keys for living in integrity; spirituality in action, how we can apply our highest values in the workplace and in our relationships; and her most transformative encounters with spiritual teachers.

“The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed On Your Own Terms,” by Vishen Lakhiani — Are you ready to break free from an ordinary life? This book explains how everything we know about the world is shaped by conditioning and habit, and most of us live based on limiting rules and outdated beliefs on a variety of topics, including money, love, work, parenting, sex, health and more. Learn the 10 Laws of an Extraordinary Life and replace the old, limiting models holding you back from a life of happiness and achievement.

“The Mastery of Self: A Toltec Guide to Personal Freedom,” by don Miguel Ruiz Jr. — In his newest book, don Miguel Ruiz Jr. carries on the work of his father by taking on the Toltec philosophy of the Dream of the Planet and the personal dream to explain how a person can wake up, liberate themselves from illusory beliefs and stories and live with authenticity.

“The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own,” by Joshua Becker — Are you ready for less cleaning, less anxiety and less stress in your life? Joshua Becker helps readers recognize the life-giving benefits of owning less; realize how the stuff we own is keeping us from pursuing our dreams; craft a personal, practical approach to decluttering your home and life; and more. Learn how to live more by owning less and understand why minimizing possessions is the best way to maximize our life.

“The Sacred Six: The Simple Step-by-Step Process for Focusing Your Attention and Recovering Your Dreams,” by JB Glossinger — Do you want to break free from the rat race and pursue what really matters to you? JB Glossinger did just that, exchanging corporate success for a three-hour workday and freedom to golf, write, spend time with family and guide others to realize their dreams. Now he is teaching the same simple tools he used to transform his own life including identifying the mission, values and goals and then designing an action plan with daily tasks to move forward. It includes practical exercises based on his core six principles to develop positive habits, eliminate blocks to success and making decisions from the true self rather than the ego.

“The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving,” by Lisa Miller — Psychologist Lisa Miller explains the scientific link between spirituality and health and shows that children who have a positive, active relationship to spirituality are 40 percent less likely to use and abuse substances; are 60 percent less likely to be depressed as teenagers and so much more. She translates her findings into practical advice for parents, offering concrete ways to develop and encourage their children’s well-being, along with their own.

“Super Mind: How to Boost Performance and Live a Richer and Happier Life Through Transcendental Meditation,” by Norman E. Rosenthal MD — clinical psychiatrist and New York Times bestselling author shares how Transcendental Meditation permanently alters your daily consciousness, resulting in greater productivity, emotional resilience and aptitude for success. He explores how the practice can improve one’s state of mind during the routine hours of waking life, placing one into a super-mind state of consciousness where one can perform at their peak level.

“The Tapping Solution for Teenage Girls: How to Stop Freaking Out and Keep Being Awesome,” by Christine Wheeler — Using the Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping, teenage girls can reduce anxiety and overwhelm, boost their confidence and alleviate stress. Girls can use it to help them with schoolwork, tests, grades, planning for college, appearance and body image, dating, breakups and more!

Russell Simmons Launches Meditation App

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Hip-hop mogul and bestselling author Russell Simmons introduced a new meditation iOS app called Meditation Made Simple as a follow-up to a book he released last year called “Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple.”

Designed by Simmons, the app offers information about the benefits of meditation, information on how to meditate, and 10- and 20-minute guided meditation exercises. It also includes a vibration that can be used to calm the mind during meditation or before bed, according to the Huffington Post. Simmons learned about vibration mantras from his transcendental meditation teachers.

“The mantra has no meaning,” he told Huffington Post. “It’s just a vibration, and that really stuck with me as a tool. The mantra I give in the book and app is ‘rum,’ the sound of the calming vibration. It’s a simple vibration that you think, not say. You fasten your mind to it, and your mind may drift, but then you gently come back to it. The app is designed to remind you again and again to go back to the mantra.”

Simmons has shared how meditation changed his life in his books and interviews, including the cover story of Elevated Existence’s March 2011 issue, practicing for more than 18 years, and he even meditates with his children in the morning before they go to school.

“Being in the present moment is a simple, yet elusive idea,” he told Elevated Existence in the 2011 cover story. “People don’t understand that noise is the biggest distraction separating them from their goals. Being awake and being in the present is what allows people the freedom to attain their goals. That has to be step one before you start to chase the world. Go inside and then the world will come to you.”

Jennifer Aniston Says Transcendental Meditation Keeps Her Young

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Actress Jennifer Aniston has been known for her beautiful hair since her famous haircut on friends, and is also known for her radiant skin. But when asked what helps her stay young, she credited Transcendental Meditation, a technique using a mantra pioneered by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950’s, Female First reported.

“I’d say a little over a year ago I started doing TM [transcendental meditation] and that’s really changed everything. Starting your day off with that and ending with that is pretty powerful. Twenty minutes, you just notice the difference. When I get lazy and don’t get it in, I can feel a difference. I do it first thing when I wake up.”

Transcendental Meditation Technique Shown to Reduce Anxiety, Study Shows

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Transcendental Meditation technique (TM) has been shown to have a large effect on reducing trait anxiety for people with high anxiety. Trait anxiety is a measure of how anxious a person usually is as opposed to state anxiety, which is how anxious a person is at the moment – according to a new meta-analysis published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

The meta-analysis covered 16 randomized-controlled trials, the gold standard in medical research, and included 1,295 subjects from various walks of life, age groups and life situations. TM was compared with various control groups, including treatment-as-usual, individual and group psychotherapy, and various relaxation techniques.

Studies on high stress groups, such as veterans suffering from PTSD and prison inmates, showed dramatic reductions in anxiety from TM practice, whereas studies of groups with only moderately elevated anxiety levels, such as normal adults and college students, showed more modest changes.

“It makes sense that if you are not anxious to begin with, that TM practice is not going to reduce your anxiety that much,” said lead author of the meta-analysis, Dr. David Orme-Johnson, an independent research consultant. “Groups with elevated anxiety received significant relief from TM, and that reduction occurred rapidly in the first few weeks of practice.”

Additionally, TM was found to produce significant improvements in other areas worsened by anxiety, such as blood pressure, insomnia, emotional numbness, family problems, employment status, and drug and alcohol abuse.

“Control groups who received usual treatment did not show dramatic reductions in anxiety. In fact, control groups that were highly anxious to begin with, if anything, tended to become more anxious over time,” co-author Dr. Vernon Barnes of the Georgia Prevention Center, Georgia Regents University in Augusta, Ga. Explained. “However, progressive muscle relaxation was also effective in reducing anxiety. But, it did not have the other side benefits of TM, such as increasing overall mental health, and increasing the rate of recovery of the physiology from stressors.”

Katy Perry Talks Morning Meditation

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In a recent Marie Claire magazine article, pop star Katy Perry spoke about her daily practice of transcendental meditation, explaining she likes to meditate in bed first thing in the morning for 20 minutes.

”I start the day with transcendental meditation,” she said. “It puts me in the best mood. I wake up and just prop myself up in bed for 20 minutes. It’s the only time my mind gets absolute rest. When I’m asleep, my subconscious mind is switched on and, when I’m awake, I’m alert.”

She also spoke about the importance of taking vitamins and probiotics for an afternoon boost of energy, and to help with digestion.

”Like everyone I have a four o’clock slump. I take vitamins after lunch and they give me an energy boost. I have iron, vitamins B, C and D and probiotics, which help with my digestion.”

Russell Brand Raises Offers VIP Packages to Benefit David Lynch Foundation

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Don’t you love celebrities who use their fame for good?

Actor and comedian Russell Brand is selling a limited number of VIP ticket packages for his 2013 comedy tour to benefit the David Lynch Foundation, a nonprofit charity that teaches transcendental meditation to at-risk communities, including inner-city students, homeless adults and teens, abused women and veterans with post-traumatic stress, BroadwayWorld.com reported.

“I have become a better person through Transcendental Meditation, and I want to help bring this gift to others,” said Brand, who has been meditating for four years.

Currently all U.S. dates are sold out and only European packages are available. Each includes one premium reserved ticket located close to the stage; an exclusive meet and greet with Russell Brand; a personal autograph and photograph with Russell Brand; a DVD copy of David Lynch’s documentary, “Meditation, Creativity, Peace;” and copy of David Lynch’s book “Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity.”

“Russell Brand is a great comedian and a great human being. I am very grateful that he is supporting the Foundation’s work to bring Transcendental Meditation to one million at-risk youth around the world,” said David Lynch, filmmaker, founder and chair of the David Lynch Foundation.

Click here to purchase packages.