Official Review: Loving: The Mystical Heart of Success

Jorge Leon Salazar · Post by **Jorge Leon Salazar** » 29 Aug 2020, 09:35

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Loving: The Mystical Heart of Success" by Virginia Ridgeway.]

4 out of 4 stars

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In Loving: The Mystical Heart of Success, Virginia Ridgeway presents an attractive proposal based on enhancing love through the heart; the latter as a pivotal point for the spiritual and personal aspects of humankind. This book indicates we can develop the inner capacity to be successful in the sense of integral fulfillment.

The author begins by recounting her childhood experiences, in which she suffered emotional and psychological abuse. Her mother and all the adults in her family assured her she would be poor and miserable like all of them and she would enjoy it. Inadvertently, she followed the failure pattern her mother and stepfather adopted. Despite the circumstances, from an early age, she maintained the desire to be different, to progress. This steered her to study and research extensively on issues associated with the inner self.

As a result of years of experience, studies, and research, Ridgeway presents an interesting model that highlights principles, reasoning, and practical exercises. This is founded on receiving and being filled with love through the Spirit. Subsequently, the love flows first across us and then outward allows for inner development. Additionally, failure is presented as a lack of love, so success equates to the presence of love.

This work is carefully assembled into four sections and thirteen chapters. Initially, the narrative focuses on the author's bibliographic stories but then centers on explaining the essential concepts: Loving, Heart, Spirit, among others. Next, she outlines her model. In that process, she makes many references to other authors, which reinforces the credibility of the information she provides us. The book includes psychological content. For example, the concepts of the lower self, the middle self, and the higher self. These are analogous to those identified as the subconscious, conscious, and supra-conscious.

I liked Ridgeway's approach of basing her proposal on her own life experience; this makes it relatable and allows the ideas to be exemplified. I found it admirable she was encouraged to want to change course even though she grew up with many negative messages. In addition, I was pleased her motivation was principally related to things like happiness, kindness, love, peace, and fun instead of money.

The notions of Loving, Heart, and Spirit are a bit "romanticized." However, I believe these types of guides can aid us to improve our philosophy of life and be successful. In fact, as Ridgeway showed, many authors agree with her and vice versa. For example, John-Roger. Moreover, there are several mystical points in the book, but life itself is mystical since we are substantially Spirit. I believe the author handles mysticism well by including exercises that make readers experiment and manage to settle the concepts.

As a whole, the book exposes beneficial advice and life principles like forgiving others and ourselves as an act of love, not a weakness. The unique aspect I disliked was that sometimes the reading got a bit heavy at the moments when the interactions between the inner selves were mentioned: low, medium, and high. I think giving other names would help make the reading easier to follow as it eliminates the feeling of talking to oneself.

Definitively, I enjoyed this book. It encompasses an optimistic, pleasant, and helpful approach to the philosophies of life trying to reinforce love as the powerful energy it is. The editing was remarkable as I scarcely observed minor errors that did not affect the reading flow. For all that said, I rate Loving: The Mystical Heart of Success 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this work to those who like the topics associated with psychology, spirituality, and life models based on love.

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Loving: The Mystical Heart of Success

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Loving: The Mystical Heart of Success
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Ify_Reviewer · Post by **Ify_Reviewer** » 31 Aug 2020, 03:43

It is good to know that the author shared the importance of forgiving oneself. Thanks for the review

Topsey · Post by **Topsey** » 31 Aug 2020, 12:21

This sounds like a really interesting and helpful book to read. Thanks for writing a great review!

Kevivas03 · Post by **Kevivas03** » 31 Aug 2020, 13:39

Many people really need to know that the act of forgiveness is a strength and not a weakness, relatable books are a charm and help to build a person up. Insightful review.

Suesea · Post by **Suesea** » 31 Aug 2020, 20:32

It sounds like this book is "what the world needs now." Love is always a wonderful focus of study and any writing that leads us to love more honestly and deeply is worthy of a read. I appreciate how you described the goodness in her book, its wholesomeness, and its healing nature. I will be adding this to my shelves based on your review. Thank you.