Your heart is a magical kitchen. Open your heart. Open your magical kitchen, and refuse to walk around the world begging for love. In your heart is all the love you need.” You will forgive them not because they deserve to be forgiven, but because you don’t want to suffer and hurt yourself every time you remember what they did to you." My review isn't about discussing the possibility of the love the writer is referring to, or questioning the Toltec philosophy. There is a lot to think about and to analyze before giving a decisive opinion. But I can say that I loved the message of this book, and here are some major points I like to mention: This book really speaks towards the way society can implant negative thoughts on us, and how we can be raised to believe them. We are all born innocent and full of love, and somewhere along the way we learn how to be distrustful, and how to be hurt, and to be hurtful in return. Our parents learned this while they grew, and they (along with the rest of society) then teach it to us as we grow up, and the cycle continues ever onward. Personally, I would hope that I have the strength to stop that cycle, and leave my children full of love and respect.

This is how we are with Happiness and Love. When we love others completely and absolutely, we are completely full of happiness. No one can offer us more happiness or love…we already have all we need, and we can share with everyone else…forever! We will never run out. But when we feel like we have no love, no happiness, and someone offers us a sliver, we jump at it. We take whatever we can get, no matter the price. We enter into terrible relationships simply because we have no love for others, no love for ourselves, and we need someone else to give it to us. As he states: To master a relationship is therefore about action. It is not about concepts or attaining knowledge. It is about action. Of course, to have action, we need to have some knowledge or at least a little more awareness of the way humans operate.” We have the power. When we’re able to access this overflowing love that exists within us, we can feel it extend to others with generosity. Miguel Ruiz says this is the only way to feel truly happy. 5. The quote redirects our search for love: this book was filled with lots of wonderful nuggets of wisdom and truths regarding the ideas of love, and how love is the driving force in our lives. i learned a lot and marked down a lot of specific phrases, as the writing was calming and beautiful. it definitely felt like a spiritual experience just reading it, and ruiz's storytelling made for a fresh and magical read, making this book different from the average self help book.

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You cannot change other people. [...] That is a fact. They are what they are; you are what you are. You dance or you don't dance. You need to be completely honest with yourself -- to say what you want, and see if you are willing to dance or not. p74 You know the kind of man or woman that you want? The one that makes your heart sing, the one is aligned with the way you are, the one who loves you just as you are. Why set yourself up for something else? Why not get what you want? Why pretend to make someone fit what she is not?” It very simply explains that all you need to do is love yourself first and all things will fall into place. Disclaimer – I doubt I ever would have chosen to read this book without a recommendation from someone else. It was lent to me by a co-worker, and I read it, in part, out of respect for her. Happiness can only come from inside of you and is the result of your love. When you are aware that no one else can make you happy, and that happiness is the result of your love, this becomes the greatest mastery of the Toltec: the Mastery of Love. — don Miguel Ruiz

Everything is what it is. You don't need to justify what is true; you don't need to explain it. What is true doesn't need anyone's support. Your lies need your support. p167 This book certainly contains some good and well needed advice, for example it frequently stresses the importance of self acceptance and self love, a concept which I think many of us struggle with. You were born with all of this love, and it’s yours for the taking for the rest of your days. Your only job is to allow it to flourish within. When you live within this love, you are complete. You can feel happiness alone (experiencing your loving heart graciously flowing), or you can enjoy sharing your love with others. It’s your choice, but either way, you’re good! This love is all you need.Soon we forget who we really are, and we start to live our images. We create not just one image, but many different images according to the different groups of people we associate with. p20 According to Ruiz, the Toltecs have prophesied a new world where humans accept responsibility for their lives and beliefs. “Imagine that from one day to another, you awake from the Dream and you are completely healthy. You no longer have wounds, you no longer have emotional poison. Imagine the freedom you are going to experience. Everything is going to make you happy just to be alive wherever you go. Why? Because the healthy human being is not afraid to express love. You are not afraid to be alive, and you are not afraid to love.” When you recognize the infinite love within your heart, you no longer need to feel the longing for others to love you. You can extend this miraculous love to yourself. You can live in a place of abundance and love in and around you. 8. Don’t take things so personally.