4 will explore further the ‘Amazing You’. I will show you games and exercises that will demonstrate to you how creative and unique you are. These same exercises will reveal to you all the spiritual qualities you share in common with the rest of humanity.
You will also be introduced to the thoughts of great spiritual leaders on compassion and understanding such as Gandhi, and the reflections of John Donne, Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Each of these will help you develop your own Compassion and Understanding.
Chapter 5 – Give and Receive! Charity and Gratitude
When you learn the twin graces of Charity and Gratitude, you multiply your Spiritual Intelligence several-fold. Your soul learns to breathe in (gratitude) and to breathe out (charity). One of the richest men of the 19th century, Andrew Carnegie, is a wonderful example of these qualities.
By applying the lessons of this chapter, you will become spiritually stronger and healthier, while at the same time becoming more nurturing, gentle and kind.
Chapter 6 – The Power of Laughter
Laughter is a vital quality of Spiritual Intelligence, and benefits you in many ways, including reducing stress levels and generally leading to a more cheerful and happier life. Research also demonstrates that laughter can help you live a longer and healthier life. You should end this chapter one ‘happy bunny’!
Chapter 7 – Onward to the Child’s Playground
How can it be beneficial to become like a child again? You will find out in this chapter! Investigations have shown that the more Spiritually Intelligent you become, the more the childlike qualities of innocence, cheerfulness, joyfulness, spontaneity, enthusiasm and adventure increase in your life.
Chapter 8 – The Power of Ritual
How do you improve your spiritual and emotional stability, reduce your stress, become more persistent and determined and, as a result, stronger and more confident?
Is there a magic formula? Yes! It’s called ritual, and in this chapter you will learn some important lessons from Indian Yogis. You will finish the chapter knowing how to create your own rituals, and appreciating the incredible effect they have on your brain, body and spirit.
Chapter 9 – Peace
The modern world can provide a lot of ‘negative vibes’ – accumulated stress, jangled nerves and mental clutter. For your survival, both spiritual and otherwise, it is essential to learn techniques to reduce and to eliminate stress, and to cultivate an internal environment that is calm, tranquil and serene. In this chapter I will guide you, with the help of the Maharishi and Confucius, among others, toward that state in which you will be free from mental disturbance, anxiety and distress.
Chapter 10 – All You Need Is Love!
In this the final chapter you will be introduced to the ultimate power – the Power of Love. You will read stories of adventure, trial and tribulation, death and hope, and will be given techniques and approaches to ease suffering, pain and despair.
The Power of Spiritual Intelligence is designed to be stimulating, informative, practical and fun. Each chapter comprises: a definition of each ‘Grace’ or quality being described, and how it will benefit you in your day-to-day life; stories to inspire and guide you in developing your Spiritual Intelligence; and words of wisdom to give you good food for your spiritual thought. There are also Spiritual Workouts in each chapter, with practical games and advice to help you strengthen the particular aspect of Spiritual Intelligence being discussed.
An additional feature is Spiritual Intelligence ‘Spirit Boosters’, to increase the power of the workouts, which take the form of ‘Intentions’ and ‘Affirmations’ that you can repeat to yourself on a regular basis. They will help you refine and strengthen your purpose in life, and by repetition, will reinforce these synaptic connections in your brain, thus increasing your mental and spiritual power.
The Spirit Boosters have been carefully worded to protect you from the many pitfalls that ‘false positive thinking’ can get you into. Their purpose is to keep:
The Power of Spiritual Intelligence also includes Mind-Maps® – colourful, graphic learning tools that I have spent my life developing. They are brilliant route-maps for the memory, allowing you to organize facts and thoughts in such a way that the brain’s natural way of working is engaged right from the start. Within the chapters there will be examples of and reference to Mind-Maps®, as well as exercises in which Mind-Maps® will be used to enhance and develop your Spiritual Intelligence.
By following the ideas contained in this book, you will be able to enhance and develop your Spiritual Intelligence. To give you some idea of your progress along your spiritual path, try answering the following questions; and then come back to them when you have finished the book!
1 Do you feel ‘at one’ with nature? YES/NO
2 Are you playful? YES/NO
3 Do people consider you childlike (not childish)? YES/NO
4 Do you like children? Do they respond truly to you? YES/NO
5 Are you known to be sympathetic to the problems of others? YES/NO
6 Do people come to you for help with personal, ethical or spiritual problems? YES/NO
7 Do you enjoy all kinds of weather? YES/NO
8 Do you dislike many kinds of weather (cold, heat, rain)? YES/NO
9 Do you like animals? Do they respond truly to you? YES/NO
10 Do you go out of your way to kill flies, bugs and ‘creepie crawlies’? YES/NO
11 Do you believe honesty is the best policy? YES/NO
12 Do you believe the human race has a true purpose? YES/NO
13 Do you believe charity and charitable work is only for ‘do-gooders’? YES/NO
14 Do you often experience feelings of awe and wonder? YES/NO
15 Do you have moments of great joy? YES/NO
16 Do you have feelings of oneness with all round you? YES/NO
17 Do you regularly pray or meditate? YES/NO
18 Do questions about the purpose of life, the nature of good and evil, and the relationship of humans to
