Balancing Your Circle of Life: Creating Your Lifestyle, Relationships, and Happiness with Intention

By Mitzi Gold

Your Circle of Life is your individual road map to inner peace, personal satisfaction, and authentic happiness.

This book shows you how to:
Balance your Life
Enrich your Relationships
Fulfill your Deepest Goals and Dreams
Use Small Steps to Bring About Big Changes
Discover Your Own Purpose and Destiny

The Circle of Life Process is engaging and fu

• Language: English
• Publisher: Life Master LLC
• Release date: May 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9780985823115

Book preview

coverimage

Contents

Endorsements

Title Page

Publisher Page

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction

Part One: The Process of Creating Your Circle of Life

How to Get Started

What Your Circle of Life Tells You about Your Life

Creating the Slices of Your Circle of Life

How to Transform Your Life

How to Use Your Intention to Experience Desired Changes

Filling vs. Emptying Your Circle of Life

Part Two: Using Your Circle of Life Process to Re-Design Your Future

Using the Power of Affirmations to Change Your Behavior

Enhancing Your Self-Esteem to Create the Life of Your Dreams

Reclaiming Your Zest for Life through Creativity

Living Forward … Committing to Your Life’s Journey

How Your Circle of Life Becomes a Spiral

Part Three: Using The Circle of Life to Transform Specific Areas of Your Life

The Circle of Love—The Couples Circle

The Importance of Self-Care

Creating Passion, Purpose, and Direction

Teen Circles—What’s My Life All About?

Spirituality and Your Relationship to the Universe

The Life Review Circle

Conclusion

Recommended Reading and Further Resources

Draw Your Own Circle of Life

About the Author

The Dragon

What’s Next?

Endorsements

Dr. Mitzi Gold has written one of the best self-help books I have read in years. It puts happiness into the reader’s hands, attitudes, and intentions. It reminds me of the Greek philosopher Epictetus who remarked, ‘It is not what happens to us that is important, it is how we react to the event that is important.’ He knew about the role of intention centuries ago, and his advice is spelled out in this life-changing book. Dr. Gold’s Circle of Life process gives readers tools they need to transform their lives and feel grateful for the journey.

—Stanley Krippner, Ph.D. co-author Personal Mythology

sun-graphic.jpg

William James, the father of American psychology, said, The transition from tenseness, self-responsibility, and worry, to equanimity, receptivity, and peace, is the most wonderful of all those shiftings of inner equilibrium … and the chief wonder of it is that it so often comes about, not by doing, but by simply relaxing and throwing the burden down." In Balancing Your Circle of Life, Dr. Mitzi Gold shows us how to unburden ourselves of negative habits and beliefs that limit our life’s possibilities. If you are ready for greater joy, creativity, and fulfillment, this book is for you."

—Larry Dossey, M.D. Author of Healing Words, Reinventing Medicine, The One Mind and One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters

sun-graphic.jpg

Dr. Gold’s book is a blessing for anyone who wants to have a healthier, happier, longer, more fulfilled life.

—Patricia Bragg, N.D., Ph.D.

sun-graphic.jpg

A good self-help book has to stretch your envelope of possibility, lead you into asking new questions and exploring new areas, and help you organize what you do to achieve a clear goal. This book meets all these criteria and more. Dr. Gold has synthesized many years of work into a clear, inspiring and energizing package. She puts complex thoughts and insights into simple pathways for a book that can be more used than simply read.

—Dennis Jaffe, Ph.D. author of Healing from Within

sun-graphic.jpg

Our resilient and creative powers can open doors and bring new life options, if we are willing to look honestly and risk change. This engaging book offers both tools and stories so it can happen for us.

—Dr. Ruth Richards, Saybrook University, and Author/Editor, Everyday Creativity and New Views of Human Nature. (American Psychological Association, 2007)

sun-graphic.jpg

"With a joyful positivity about life and change, grounded in decades of wisdom and experience, Dr. Gold beautifully guides you through a simple yet powerful process to transform all aspects of your life.

You will be amazed and inspired by how these practical steps lead you on a path to the life and relationships you truly want. Enjoy the process!

This book is a true gift to yourself, and to those you love."

—Warren Berland, Ph.D., author of Out of the Box for Life: Being Free is Just a Choice (HarperCollins)

Title Page

Balancing

Your

Circle of Life

Create Your Lifestyle, Relationships and Happiness with Intention

Mitzi Gold

Ph.D., LCSW, MPH

Life Master Books™

Publisher Page

Copyright © 2013 by Mitzi Gold

To make inquiries: www.lifemasterbooks.com

[e-mail]

Published by Life Master Books™

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. To make inquiries visit www.lifemasterbooks.com

ISBN: 978-0-9858231-0-8 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-0-9858231-1-5 (ebook / ePub)

ISBN: 978-0-9858231-2-2 (ebook / Kindle & Mobi)

Get the right digital edition for your favorite eReader: Get the ePub for iPads and B&N Nook, and Mobi for Kindle and the Sony eReader.

Cover photo: ©istockphoto.com/quintanilla. The cover design incorporates an Enso painted by Andy Kay. One Enso holds the ocean and sky, representing all of nature. The other Enso surrounds the woman and the possibility of what will be created as she moves through her life. This symbolizes the idea of all there is and all that will be. The Enso is the circle of infinity, symbol of simplicity with profundity, emptiness with fullness, the visible and invisible … although the shape is the simplest imaginable, each circle is different. —Sacred Calligraphy of the East by John Stevens

Author photo: Palladino/Den Photography

Bookcover and page design by DesignForBooks.com

Important Caution: Please read this

DISCLAIMER

This book contains the opinions and ideas of the author. Intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered, it is offered with the express understanding that the author is not your personal healthcare provider, nor is the author made so by your act of reading this book.

The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise that may be incurred as a consequence, direct or indirect, by the use or application of techniques and/or content in this book.

This book is intended for self-help and/or personal development. If you are presently seeing a healthcare provider, you may want to let him or her know you are reading it. Please seek professional help if you think you need it.

Dedication

Dedicated to Frank Rogers, his constant love and support energizes my passion for living. His forward thinking, vision, and drive inspires me every day.

Acknowledgments

In deep appreciation and profound gratitude to the following special people for their generous support, inspiration, and presence in my evolving life.

Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., a foremost expert in multiple fields of academics—always insightful, resourceful, and wise. He is one of my most treasured mentors.

John Gray, Ph.D., who transformed my personal and professional life with his insights, deep understanding, and healing skills for men, women and their relationships. His passion for living a healthy life inspired me to share his wisdom with others.

Martin Seligman, Ph.D., a brilliant scholar who founded the field of Positive Psychology and taught me about the science of being happy.

Joseph Campbell, Ph.D., whose wisdom helped me identify and participate in my heroine’s journey.

Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., who introduced me to my inner goddesses and gods.

José Arguelles, Ph.D., whose seminal book Mandala captured my imagination and introduced me to mandalas and the power of symbols.

Randolph Stone, DO, DC, a remarkable teacher who introduced me to Polarity Therapy and encouraged me to be a teacher of energy principles.

Pierre Pannetier, ND, who taught me, by showing me, how to teach with love.

Simeon Den, MA, who always has inspired me to dance and whose friendship always makes me feel like I am dancing.

Warren Berland, Ph.D., ACSW, a serious and sincere coach whose bottom line is success.

Genie Joseph, MFA, my writing coach who kept me going to the finish line and made sharing my Circle of Life a joyful writing process.

Joanne Joseph, for her careful, attentive first proofing and editing.

Deanna Gordon, who was always enthusiastic and sincerely willing to find ways to enhance my book and bring it to the public.

Andy Kay, my delightful Zen brush painting teacher who introduced me to the magic of Enso’s and dragons.

Further acknowledgement goes to the following colleagues for their enthusiasm for my project: David Paperny, Babs Clough, Cryslea Russell, Marti Barham, Evelyne Raposo, Meryn Callandar and Bobbie Burnett.

To my conscientious patients willing to create their Circle of Life and follow their self-designed paths to happiness.

To special family and friends for their belief in this project and sincere encouragement: The Graumann Family, Sirena Castillo Long, Alika Serrato, Vima Lamura, the Joseph Family, and to Rachael Angelese.

Thank you all for assisting in bringing this project to fruition.

Gratitude-circle-150.jpg

In Memoriam

Big Bopper & Mom, who are dearly missed,

Onward and Upward

Foreword

During thirty years as a therapist in private practice, I have seen many people come into my office wanting to change their life. They just don’t know how to start. They feel confused, hopeless, and overwhelmed, without a clue as to where to begin. All they know is that they want to lead happier lives. For some people, even making the first step to seek professional help is a big deal, and I wanted to give them a tool that they could easily learn and quickly use. That’s how I developed the Circle of Life process.

The Circle of Life process gives people the tools to make a realistic assessment of where their lives are right now, and what simple actions they can take to begin to make the changes that will be helpful. It is a starting point for taking control over one’s life and crafting a future based on one’s true desires.

After using the Circle of Life process for over twenty years with couples, individuals, and families, I am still impressed by the profound changes people can and do make in their lives using this simple process. The first steps give patients the opportunity to experience their present life as a whole, and then to design a path to create an inspiring future. The best part of the Circle of Life process is that no one is telling you what to do or even how to do it. You already know what is working or not working in your life. You are the one who decides what and how fast you want to change.

I created this book to give people a place to start to make the changes they desire, and also to give them a life-long tool. Keeping a book or file of all your Circles as you move through the important stages of life provides a wonderful resource that will inspire and assist you during challenging times. Seeing how much progress you have made will motivate you to keep going. Viewing your life span over the course of time can be amazing, if you choose to do the crucial Life Review process at the end of this book.

The Circle of Life process is basic enough for everyone. It is adjustable to the individual’s level of development. It is simple enough for adolescents who want to set their lives on the right course. It is powerful enough to help adults navigate the twists and turns of opportunities and choices. The Couples Circle helps get relationships back on track and leads to more fulfilling partnerships. It is sophisticated enough for mature, conscious seekers to gain deep insight, and to make sure the second half of their lives is meaningful and pleasurable.

The Circle of Life encourages you to view your life as a creative process. Instead of focusing on what you think you did wrong, you learn to focus on what you can do to get into the driver’s seat of your life and move forward. It uses positive self-talk, creative imagination, affirmations, and simple action plans. As a therapist, I have always found it exciting to see how patients can use this process to quickly empower themselves to be the best they can be, and to live meaningful and enriched lives. I acknowledge and congratulate the efforts and amazing progress my patients have made using this process as they achieved their desires for personal development and success. I am also honored to play a role in your life’s journey as well.

Life is about moving toward self mastery, and the Circle of Life process is the perfect tool to help you achieve all your goals. It will quickly lead you to more clarity, focus, and hope. I truly believe it will inspire you to live your life as you’ve always dreamed it could be.

—Mitzi Gold, Ph.D., LCSW, MPH, LMT Honolulu, Hawaii, 2012

Zen-circle.jpg

The circle is the simplest shape there is. When we brush a circle with ink on paper, we create an Enso. Each one is different. This celebration of uniqueness is mirrored in the Enso and shows the quality of energy of that person creating the Enso in that moment.

—Andy Kay Andy Kay, Zen Brush Artist, Enso Instructor

Introduction

Symbols are images that carry deep, profound meanings for the social groups that employ them, and the mandala is one of the most frequently encountered. From the Tibetan and Navajo circular sand mosaics to the wheels in ancient Vedic texts and Carl Jung’s drawings in The Red Book, mandalas have been used to represent wholeness, closure, and a completed journey. Dr. Mitzi Gold has gifted her readers with two mandalas, one a Circle of Life and the other a Life Review Circle. Both symbols emerged from Dr. Gold’s three decades as