1. 1-Sentence-Summary:
1.1. A Return To Love will help you let go of resentment, fear, and anger to have happier and healthier jobs and relationships by teaching you how to embrace the power of love.
2. Favorite quote from the author:
2.1. "It takes courage... to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives." - Marianne Williamson
3. 3 lessons:
3.1. Fear is the root of everything that causes us to be unhappy.
3.1.1. It’s not your fault that your upbringing makes you fear suffering. The odds are stacked against us when it comes to this truth.
3.1.1.1. From a young age you were taught to focus on getting good grades in school instead of being kind to others.
3.1.1.2. Learning to compete with your peers taught you the feelings of fear and contempt as a child, and you’ve known them too well ever since.
3.1.2. Even once we graduate from college and go out into the workplace, our economic stability centers around fear.
3.1.2.1. We’re afraid to lose out on the best job and the home and security that it brings.
3.1.3. It’s as if we’ve got everything working against us to keep us in a habit of fear.
3.1.3.1. Not only is the workplace full of negativity, but the world in general teaches us to fear strangers.
3.1.3.2. Our news seems to only air the dreariest stories.
3.1.3.3. The barriers we set up to try to keep ourselves safe make it really hard to open our hearts to any kind of love.
3.2. Being happier at work and making the world a better place come from turning your career path over to a higher power.
3.2.1. Unfortunately, too many people only listen to their ego when it comes to their career and financial life.
3.2.1.1. When we focus only on our own preservation and survival we separate ourselves from others who are the true key to our success.
3.2.2. Only by opening our hearts and minds to the higher power of love and kindness can we tap into our full potential.
3.2.3. God put each of us here to make the world a better place. That’s the purpose of your career, to help other people, but the way you fulfill it might be unique.
3.2.3.1. Discovering this meaning in your work could require you to go through a few different jobs.
3.2.3.2. If you let a higher power guide you, though, the lessons you learn in each position will become vital to your success.
3.2.4. No matter what you do you can find purpose in how it helps make the world a better place.
3.2.4.1. When Williamson was working as a cocktail waitress, she found it difficult to see the difference she made.
3.2.4.2. Then she thought about how it was just a matter of perspective. Looking for the meaning in her work, she made a quick discovery that her job gave her an opportunity to bring joy to her customers each day.
3.2.5. Regardless of your work, it’s better to focus on kindness and love than just looking out for yourself.
3.2.5.1. Most employers would rather hire the nice guy than the self-centered one with an impressive resume.
3.3. Try to understand the people who are mean to you, most likely all they need is a little empathy for what they’ve been through to open their hearts.
3.3.1. It’s hard to accept that someone who hurt you may only be having a hard time dealing with past trauma.
3.3.2. But remember that you don’t know what the people around you have been through.
3.3.2.1. And you especially can’t tell if you’d act any better had you been given the same lot in life as they have.
3.3.2.2. Instead of passing on their suffering, we need to become more empathetic and understanding of those around us.
3.3.3. Consider an experience Williamson once had while at a salon.
3.3.3.1. While getting her hair done a cold and mean customer walked into the room. Worrying that she may get stuck next to this icy personality, Williamson prayed for some guidance. At the same moment, she heard the woman who’d walked in open up and talk about her abusive father to the hairdresser.
3.3.4. The next time you see someone angry, just stop to think about the shield they’re putting up because of their trauma.
3.3.4.1. Showing them a little love will go a long way to making the world a better place.