Sounds True Radical Forgiveness: A Revolutionary Five-Stage Process to Heal Relationships, Let Go of Anger and Blame, Find Peace in Any Situation

This book is based on the principles in "A Course in Miracles", the basic premise of which is: the world is an illusion that we created from heaven because we wanted to experience separateness (there is no separateness in heaven). Somehow we have got lost in the illusion and are afraid to go back, so we create "forgiveness opportunities" in the form of painful relationships and life situations. The key to getting past these is to realise that everything originates in love, and that whoever we might be perceiving as hurting us is actually acting in our highest interests. Eventually, after we have gathered the lessons offered from the "forgiveness opportunities", we will wake up from the illusion and return to Heaven.This book goes a bit further and says that we actually sign up for a certain amount of pain before we incarnate in this physical existence, and this is our "soul journey". So, the people who hurt us are just different manifestations of ourselves, who are beneficently helping us along in our soul journey. Since every act is in effect an act of kindness and intended to help us grow, there are never any wrongs perpetrated, and rather than forgive, we should thank the person or situation for the learning opportunity it provides.Well, okay... I try to keep an open mind, because sometimes even in the most unlikely ideas, you can find something useful. So I applied their theory and tried to see the learning/growth opportunity in a given situation. I think it's a useful tool actually - when things upset you, the upset is often rooted in unhelpful beliefs, and viewing a problem in this way can help you to identify them.Still, I'm not really that taken with the concept overall (I know, followers of ACIM will say that it's just my ego trying to exert its control, but that seems a weak argument for so many reasons that it would double the length of this review were I to go through them all). The main problem I have with it is this: we are told that we must relive painful situations over and over again, and that this gives us the opportunity to learn that the beliefs associated with them are not true. For example, if you believe that all men are unfaithful and that no one will ever love you enough to be faithful, then you will attract an unfaithful partner so that this belief is played out to you again and again, apparently to give you the opportunity to realise that it is not true.This, frankly, seems a really stupid way of learning / teaching to me. I learn best when people explain things clearly and unambiguously, and then carry out actions which demonstrate the truth of the principle. So, in the example above, the best way to learn that men can be faithful and love you for a lifetime would seem to me to be to find love with a man who is faithful and loves you all his life, and reassures you in your fears when they crop up. (this kind of thinking the books dismisses as world-based rather than spiritually based, and so therefore irrelevant).The other thing I'm not keen on is the frequent reference to quantum physics. I have no problem with people demostrating that science and spirituality need not contradict one another, or even arguing that a particular output from science is incorrect - but here he is using science to validate his conclusions, and he frequently gets the science wrong. For example, he says things like "quantum physicists have actually proven that emotions condense as energy particles...". Quantum physicists (by which i mean the ones who publish in peer-reviewed journals) have never shown anything like that - quantum physicists have shown some really wacky common-sense defying things, but stuff like this is not part of the (already very wacky) mainstream, and it's a bit annoying when non-scientists repeatedly claim that it is (aha! Obviously a "forgiveness opportunity" for me! ;) ).So, I think this one is like the parson's egg, and perhaps worth reading for the good parts.

The author just seemed to take a bit of psychology 101, then threw in every possible things related to religion and spirituality - the introduction chapter started off by mentioning Jesus, spirituality and ended with Namaste. Such a mix of everything. And the worst things is that it’s basically a victim blaming - if you get abused, that’s because your soul asked for it..... disgraceful

My life hasn't been the same since reading this absolutely amazing book. I've brought more to give out. Really is an amazing book to put those old wounds to bed once and for all. I am so grateful to Colin Tipping for writing this and I will cherish this and share this forever. Remember who you are! Thank you Mr T x

there are some bits for me ,but I felt that he just repeats the same thing only with different words just so the book is longer

I am finding this book interesting so far. It has opened my mind to a different way of thinking. Colin Tipping has definitely challenged my current perceptions and ways of looking at things. I think if you are willing to have an open mind and appreciate a different point of view regarding life from a spiritual mindset you will find this book a good read. I have almost finished reading it and already can see that a re read is needed to unpick some of the concepts mentioned.