Having It All: Achieving Your Life's Goals and Dreams

Assaraf starts with his life story, where he was initially successful in real estate. He took time off for world travels and encountered many kind, interested people including many with limited materialistic things. He learned that happiness was a choice, a decision to be happy right now despite current events or circumstances. This is where Assaraf varies someone from the more mystical thinkers of the law of attraction, because although he describes the underlying vibrating energy of all things, he focuses on the work of the subconscious brain to bring what is wanted, and emphasizes the importance of planning and repetition to train the subconscious and untrain unhelpful conscious habits. I’ve also heard him in a You-Tube video talk about the importance of GOYA – Get Off Your Ass. The later parts of this book go into the planning and action process for making changes in different parts of one’s life.I especially enjoyed his description of the role of our subconscious mind in achieving our goals, and also in resisting risk which can work in opposition to those ends unless trained otherwise.He describes how our brains create references for us by processing and storing every experience. The conscious part has six functions: reason; will (mental toughness); memory (facilitated with learning exercises);perception (to provide our brain information); imagination (world of possibilies); and intuition (picking up vibrations or feelings that feel right or not).Of the tens of million of pieces of information that come into the brain in a short period, conscious thought will control only a small percentage. The subconscious handles information faster than can be felt, and it thinks everything it receives is true, which is why visualization and affirmations can be effective. It manages all cellular and biological functions. It stores all memories, habits and beliefs and runs those programs without us being aware of it. When a habit is fixed in the subconscious, it is on autopilot and can be devastating if the habit is not helpful. Thoughts pressed on the subconscious will eventually be adopted by the subconscious. The subconscious will then be attracted to things that support those thoughts. The subconscious also connects with the energy fields all around us, that are constantly in a state of motion.Assaraf provides some biological information about different parts of the brain. People process things differently. There are also different types of intelligences depending on how the brain operates. This explains why people have different skills and behaviors, because the separate parts of their brains interact in various ways. Assaraf believes that meditation is the way to access the frontal lobe and connect to the larger quantum field of energy. Brain plasticity, known as neural plasticity, allows the brain to make new connections. You can increase neural activity with practice, with new thoughts and behaviors.My interest is in understanding different approaches to the law of attraction. I like Assaraf's focus on explanations that include the substantial role of the brain, and biology. Brain function is the “how” of law of attraction. Abraham-Hicks, another law of attraction supporter, advocates being in the vortex, meaning being in a psychic place where one feels the desired result before it’s been achieved,, and not to worry about how the result is achieved. Assaraf explains how the subconscious brain is doing to work of finding the path to the result. His explanations of brain functions are excellent. These include: the Reticular Activation System – RAS are the cells in the brain that sort through sensory information to see if there is something important. If something is not important the conscious mind won’t be aware of it. However, if the information is about something you do think about, like being overweight or unable to pay bills, it will bring in every bit of information that supports that belief. If you train your subconscious brain to look for things you want, the RAS will start to look for items to support it.Abraham-Hicks says don’t worry about the “how” just trust that what you desire is waiting for you. Assaraf provides the how in explaining that the brain can be trained to see things about which we may not be conscious, that are elements or steps to acquire what we desire.Assaraf discusses the brain mechanisms that keep us from making changes, even if those changes could be desirable. Psychocybernetics, the control and response systems, resists changes to what the brain has been comfortable with. This mechanism is why people regain weight or keep having the same disfunctional relationships. You will revert to where you were before unless you rewire the brain to behave differentlyThe Amigdula is a group of neurons in the brain that senses potential and stress and releases neurotransmitters in response that create doubt fear and anxiety. Its intend to help you make decisions but can also hold you back. When trying a new behavior or thought, it can sense stress and steer you back to your familiar thinking pattern.Assaraf discusses the different brain waves and their vibration. Beta is the fastest wave, the awake state. Alpha is conducive to learning, intuition, and access to unconscious mind or quantum state. Theta is a state for increased creativity, changed behavior, and tapping in to universal intelligence, often in dream state. Delta, usually dream state, also is conducive to human growth hormone production. Some monks can attain delta waves in an awake stage. Assaraf says in order to be receptive to information we need to achieve goals, we need to be in Alpha state. This is achieved through meditation and visualizations.Assaraf asserts that the universe is perfect, and all things operate by precise laws. He believes these laws are consistent with various spiritual beliefs, including a belief in one god. He describes the seven laws of energy, of which number 7, in particular, assists in understanding the law of attraction. That is the law of perpetual transmutation of energy. Energy is constantly changing form. All of the energy in the universe is moving at varioius speeds, all are connected and are flowing from one form into another. Sun’s rays shine on a tomato plant which grows. The plant’s energy is transferred when consumed. Energy is never created or destroyed. Thoughts are a form of energy and can transmute from the nonphysical to the physical..Assaraf is an advocate of meditation, writing and affirmations to stay on course to alter or reinforce your belief system. Your self image and beliefs are not fixed and can be changed. Bombard your subconscious mind with new beliefs, to recondition old programming. Positive affirmations, reading, writing, seeing them over and over again until they become natural. Write affirmative, not negative, beliefs. Saying “don’t do X” makes the brain focus on X. Repetition and emotional conviction are most effective. An audio tape talking about the new belief can be effective. Add visualization to be more effective, creates cells of recognition in the brain. The brain doesn’t know you are not experiencing what you are visualizing doing. Try to use all tools available to reinforce the belief. He suggests meditating and visualizing several times a day.Assaraf recommends designing a life design matrix to find your true north. This involves taking inventory of perceptions and beliefs about yourself, and your life situation, through brainstorming. Write a short evaluation of where you are in different aspects of life. (work, family, health, spiritual, etc.) Note that the results you have achieved are from existing beliefs (cause and effect).Think of where you want to be, and then what beliefs are necessary to have the desired result.A plan is provided for using visualizations, meditations and affirmations to achieve desired goals. I like that he offers a process to analyze one's life and design a plan to improve it. He has another book/CD calledl“The Answer,” in response to “The Secret.” It expands on these ideas particularly in the area of developing and expanding business, and is also recommended.

John Assaraf and his book have turned my life around. I have struggled with my ability to manifest for years, ever since I first learned about "creative visualization". I had rather hit-and-miss results for 30 years and it left me feeling frustrated and left out in the cold. Why was it that other people were manifesting great results and I wasn't? I felt like banging my head against the wall. For a while, I gave up and felt hopeless.Then, I stumbled onto this book here at Amazon while looking for something else. I bought it, read it and have been applying these principles as faithfully as possible and I am beginning to see some nice results. In the first demonstration, I had been trying for months to retrieve a small amount of money I had earned and have it properly paid to me. I spent time over 4 months addressing this unfinished business. Within two weeks of having applied John Assarafs principles and techniques, the money showed up in the right amount with my proper address on the envelope. Also, I've been trying to find work in a particular field for a few years and sent out hundreds of resumes, to no avail. Three weeks into this process, I stared receiving calls for job interviews. THIS WORKS!The major difference for me is that suddenly, affirmations and visualizations are no longer just lovely, wishful thinking. These techniques are now scientifically verifiable with all the brain science laid out in easy-to-read language for big ole nerds like me who need the hard data. Now, my WHOLE BRAIN believes that it is possible to achieve my goals and dreams, not just right side where all the daydreams and fun stuff reside.After I finished the book, I was able to launch into setting goals, writing affirmations, visualizing, meditating and taking action with complete confidence and peace of mind, knowing that I was doing the right stuff at the right time and would achieve the right rewards.I feel happy and peaceful and optimistic. It's a whole new life. Thanks, John.

"Having it All" is an excellent book on many levels. First of all, as some of the past reviewers mention, the book is written in such a way that it is easy to understand. There is some science mixed in but it is in "plain English" and simple to grasp. John Assarf's overall writing style almost feels as though you are listening to him speak which is something that I like a lot and many people have a much easier time with. He does not bore with unneeded details.Unlike some other sources out there, this book makes no illusion that it will take time, energy, and effort on the reader's part in order to affect the changes in life that are desired. Too often, I've heard from people who just don't understand how to go about becoming successful and what it entails, or they can't get by their own "stuckness". There is a great explanation about what actually causes people to become stuck and ways to identify and move past your natural resistance to change (people resist change naturally, even if it's good change). Actually, the explanation of the Reticular Activation System makes buying this book completely worth it.The general message is ANYONE can have the success that they want but there is no magic pill or dependable "Get Rich Quick" scheme. One has to be willing to create the mindset to be successful, take the necessary action, have faith, and never give up.

John Assaraf is an amazing person. I came across him several years ago. He once described making a vision board which included the style house he wanted to buy. 10 years or so later, having just moved into his new house with his family, he rediscovered his vision board, unseen for several years. He was startled to find the house he'd just moved into, was the very one he'd chosen 10 years previously. I recently told my daughter to envisage the flat she wanted, as she was struggling to find something suitable in her price range in London. She followed his system, carefully detailing everything she wanted (she forgot to 'choose' the doors). A few weeks later, she rang to say she'd found the perfect flat, but the doors were boring, then remembered she'd forgotten to specify she wanted interesting doors! She loves her new flat. His systems work! Do try it and prove it to yourself :)

Love this book. I've read once I'm now on the second read through and taking things on board and in to practice. Easy to read and a easy concept to understand.As with all this type of book, you have to find the one that resonates with you and be ready to change . That is the key. Mindset.

Easy read

Practical guide to help improve your life

Great bookDown to earth& to the point