The Five Secrets From Oz

Here is an excerpt from the new book by inspirational author Steve Garrison. I will be interviewing Steve on November 18th. He is an extremely motivating person to talk to and whenever I have conversations with him, I want to start taking notes because he always has some memorable nuggets.

In this passage, Oz shares two of the five secrets in a jail cell with Tyrone, a man who has been arrested for drunk driving:

“The only way you are going to change is to start being grateful for what you already have and what is still to come your way.”

“So you’re saying that I should be grateful for not only what I have, but also for what I am going to receive? That makes no sense, why should I be grateful for something I haven’t even received yet?”

“That’s exactly my point, my drunken friend. By putting yourself in a position of constant gratitude for what you are going to receive, the world has a way of granting your wish. BE always grateful and mindful for the things that will come and the world will take care of your vision. Then DO the things that those people do who have what you want and you will eventually HAVE what they have. This is a universal law that cannot be rearranged. People think they have to HAVE first in order to receive, but you must BE the person first.”

“I hate to sound like a broken record, but how do I do that?”

“For the next 21 days you will write 25 things that you are grateful for that you already have and 25 things you are grateful for that you are going to receive. I want you to write it, I want you to feel it and I want you to speak it. Do this every day and you will see your life and your attitude quickly change.”

“I think I understand,” said Tyrone.

As Tyrone started to verbally list what he was grateful for, his eyes started to tear up, he started to sit up straighter, his smile got bigger and brighter and the color started to come back into his face.

“This grateful attitude comes with an awesome responsibility. From now on you have to give everyone you meet some kind of gift; something of value, and that is secret number three.”

“How am I going to do that? I would go broke.”

“Why do you think the gift has to be material? A gift could be a flower, a silent message of good will, an intention of love or respect or even a compliment.”

“And why do I have to do that? That seems difficult to think about as I meet every person?”

“Think about it, Tyrone. Concentrate on doing this with everyone you meet and it will keep you from judging others. This is the power of gratitude and this power of the perpetual gift to you. You do this and you will start to receive the gifts and blessings to you. This is the way the universe and eternal love works.”

“Wow! That seems really hard to do, Oz.”

“It may be difficult in the beginning but after a while it becomes part of who you are. This act of giving a gift will start you on your path of forgiveness, which is the fourth secret to getting your life back.”

For more on this book:
Author: Steve Garrison, The Five Secrets From Oz: www.thefivesecretsfromoz.com