COMPASS OF HOPE: User Manual for the Human Condition

Cynthia Clayton, Ph.D., with 44 Visionary Leaders in Conscious Evolution

Go from surviving to thriving!

This book offers a toolkit of practices to navigate humanity’s rising. We are becoming masters of our minds and lives. Following this wisdom will help guide our restoration to health and wholeness.

Marci Shimoff, #1 NY Times Bestselling Author

What a wonderful gift — to humanity, and especially for generations yet to come!  This book is a fabulous and much needed accomplishment. It is ambrosia for our species!  May it reach far and wide, connecting and inspiring people to create the world they wish to see in their lives.

Alexander Laszlo, Laszlo Institute of New Paradigm Research; Global Education Futures

A Toolkit to Improve Your Mental Health
Navigate Through Change to Mastery
Learn the Alchemy of Happiness
Be who you are meant to be – your Best Possible Self!

Image from Prof. Alexander Laszlo’s Keynote Presentation supporting Compass of Hope (The Avatar Mindset)

Compass of Hope is a primer in Positive Psychology, Science of Mind or New Thought, and Neuroplasticity. It’s cloaked as an adventure with wise friends, who have been there and done that, and hand-off DOZENS of tools to you for major life improvements. It’s a fun “How-To” book, training readers to use their brains to the optimal potential. It is also about acquiring more happiness and resilience, unaffected by outer circumstances.

Unless you were a monk or hermit, you experienced a few meltdowns during the Covid Pandemic. Most people have no tools to handle their thinking and emotions during stressful times. This book will enable you to flow gracefully with self-assurance through a future of inevitable changes.

Rescue yourself from the endless loop of negative thinking. Countless headaches and heartbreaks can be avoided with trained thinking. This book is an adventure in self-discovery and self-mastery; to achieve super resilience by becoming a master instead of a slave to your thoughts and emotions. Say goodbye to stress, anxiety, depression, confusion, low motivation, and self-doubt.

The book contains dozens of developmental, playful, science-backed activities and practices from 44 visionary leaders, including medical doctors, therapists, professors, social workers, social activists, healing and energy workers, environmentalists, transformation coaches, new-paradigm educators, business leaders, ministers, and poets.

  • GO FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING! Embark on the greatest adventure of your lifetime as you embrace and master your thoughts and emotions.
  • EMPOWER YOURSELF by finding your own happiness.
  • Achieve SUPER RESILIENCE by becoming a Master of your thoughts and emotions. Flow gracefully through the next pandemic and coming times of rampant global change.

A College Course at Your Fingertips

Included in this book is Professor Clayton’s widely acclaimed course material taught in Oregon colleges based on the findings of Positive Psychology, and UC Berkeley’s Science of Happiness course: “The Art and Science of Happiness, Wellness and Success.” Some mental health therapists, like Julie R., Ph.D., LMFT, took the classes more than once:

I took these classes to learn practices to help my clients. I learned more about positive thinking and mindfulness than I ever imagined! Professor Clayton has extensive knowledge and expertise in this field of study. I would highly recommend any of her material without reservation.

CHAPTER 1: THE FOUNDATION

CHAPTER 2: INSPIRATION FOR THE JOURNEY

DISCOVER YOUR TRUE NATURE. WHO ARE YOU?

CHAPTER 3: PRACTICAL METAPHYSICS FOR SELF-MASTERY

CHAPTER 4: THE ART OF RETRAINING THE BRAIN

CHAPTER 5: REPROGRAM YOUR MIND FOR POSITIVE THINKING

CHAPTER 6: USING WORDS ENERGETICALLY AND ALCHEMICALLY

CHAPTER 7: ONLY MEDITATION AWAKENS INNER PEACE

CHAPTER 8: FOLLOW A LIFE OF PASSION AND PURPOSE  

CHAPTER 9: UNLOCK THE POWER OF YOUR HEART (HeartMath® Chapter)

CHAPTER 11: HAPPY FOR NO REASON (Marci Shimoff Chapter)

CHAPTER 12: MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO LOVE YOURSELF  (Gay Hendricks Chapter)

CHAPTER 13: UNDERSTAND ENERGY AND FREQUENCY IN TRANSFORMATION

CHAPTER 14: THE SPIRIT OF ONENESS AND LIVING SOULFULLY

CHAPTER 15: CONSCIOUS EVOLUTION

CHAPTER 16: TWO PRACTICAL INQUIRIES

CHAPTER 17: TRIALS AND TRIUMPH OF THOSE WHO SUFFER

CHAPTER 18: CONGRATULATIONS! WELCOME TO THE REVERENT REVOLUTION

COMPASS OF HOPE: User Manual for the Human Condition

WELCOME! THREE SHORT REFLECTIONS. 

Explains how Compass of Hope is a foundation of hope for the future, for attaining and sustaining optimum mental and emotional health. People suffered profoundly during the Covid Pandemic because they failed to cultivate an attitude of resiliency and positivity beforehand; weare unfortified against rampant change.To maintain more inner peace during future world crises, to lessen confusion, depression, loneliness, and anxiety, requires no less than retraining our manner of thinking. The three reflections following this short intro are a wake-up call to envision your personal ideal future, for your own life and the world.Then, to realize beyond a doubt that magic exists in your ability to create a person you love to live with (yourself) and the life of your dreams. 

CHAPTER 1/ THE FOUNDATION

A longer introduction to the background premise of the book, its wellness benefits, and fun facts about the individual hero’s journey toward uniqueness.

  •  Understand Why You Are Unhappy
  • Importance of Book (Benefits, Student Comments, Mental Health Crisis, Higher Education’s Blindness)
  • Connect with Your Inner Guru; The Hero’s Journey 
  • Y.O.U./Your Own Uniqueness          

I want the reader to understand the purpose of our uniqueness, the importance of becoming one’s best Self, and not comparing oneself to others

Physical Uniqueness: Fingerprints, Brains, Body Odor, Derriere 

Cognitive and Behavioral Measures of Uniqueness: Personality, Attitude, Experiences, Habits, Creativity, Perspective, Taste, Goals, Hobbies, Passion        

CHAPTER 2/ INSPIRATION FOR THE JOURNEY         

Seven poignant short reflections from futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard’s former ambassadors which invite the reader to discover their true nature. WHO ARE YOU? Including “The Mysterious and Enlightening Power of a Good Question”, “Born to Discover Your Divine Nature”, and “A Wake-Up Call from your Future Self”. They offer their personal experiences and make a friendly mentoring connection with readers: we’ve been exactly where you are now.You’ve got this!

CHAPTER 3/ PRACTICAL METAPHYSICS FOR SELF-MASTERY     

Teaching begins on the first of 3 pillars of my science-based metaphysics. 1) The Law of Consciousness  2) The Secrets of Happiness  3) Self-Love is Key 

  • What Is Practical Metaphysics? 
  • An Exercise in Piercing the Veil of Illusion 
  • Attitude Check-In for Transformation
  • Best-Possible-Self Visualization Exercise 
  • Understand the Law of Creative Consciousness: Control of Feeling, Create Your Reality by Feeling it First, Alchemy Between Conscious and Subconscious 
  • My Needs and Values Activity 
  • Evaluate Your Habits of Thought for Common Cognitive Distortions 
  • Are You Stuck in a “Why Me” Victim Consciousness? Reclaim Your Power of Ownership 
  • Ho’oponopono Practice Clears Your Energy Field   

CHAPTER 4/ THE ART OF RETRAINING THE BRAIN

  • Automatic Thoughts  
  • Your Mind is Your Domain   
  • The Art of Choosing Who to Be Rather Than What to Do   
  • Eric Butterworth. Lecture 3 — Thinking (Incidents Do Not Cause Thoughts; You Always Have a Choice; Taking Responsibility for Thought Changes Your Life; Positive Thinking is Being Attuned to Your Potential; You Can Say No to Negative Thoughts; What Discipline Really Is)
  • Become a Witness to Your Life        
  • Awareness Practice    
  • Osho – Beyond Psychology #22

CHAPTER 5/ REPROGRAM YOUR MIND FOR POSITIVE THINKING          

  • Brendon Burchard Techniques to Practice. Relative Weight of Importance and Duration (RWID); Create 5 Questions; Choose 3 Words            
  • The Power of Positive Thinking Can Improve Your Life; What is Positive Thinking?;        How the Power of Positive Thinking Works; The Benefits of Positive Thinking; How to Think Positive? 8 Tips; Positive Thinking Is a Way of Life: 14 More Tips    
  • Creative Visualization Attunement: Begin From The End Result    
  • A Meditation on Working with Anxiety and Stress  
  • Let’s Play With Trains! 3 Experiences to Quiet Your Mind 
  • Avatar Mindset Tool: Spinning Negative Into Positive        
  • Research in Neuroscience and Epigenetics   

CHAPTER 6/ USING WORDS ENERGETICALLY AND ALCHEMICALLY   

Understanding how our thoughts are based on words. Our words are the powerhouse of our thinking and speaking. Use words impeccably in your thought and speech.

  • Exploration on The Power of Words: Why Did We Humans Create Words? What Do Words Do? What Do Our Minds Do with Words? What Words Are Not; What Words Are; Right Speech – Conscious Use of Language  
  • Affirmations: An Individual Linguistic Wisdom Practice (For those reconnecting with their soul, releasing what no longer serves them; For those called to create, co-create, and manifest from their soul and with other souls)      
  • Using the Magic Words “I AM”: I AM Decrees       
  • The 5 Steps of  Spiritual Mind Treatment (Affirmative Prayer)       
  • Treatments For Wellbeing, True Vision and Right Action, Prayers for Enlightenment, Peace and Calm, Abundant Living

CHAPTER 7/ ONLY MEDITATION AWAKENS INNER PEACE          

  • Super Simple Meditations     
  • M.E.D.I.T.A.T.I.O.N. A meditation teacher of 25 years describes some basic blocks to meditation in acrostic playfulness.   

Meditation isn’t what you think        

Everyone can practice meditation     

Daily practice will give the best results         

Inspiration and calm will find their way to you

Thoughts are not you 

Attitude about your practice is everything    

Time is an elastic construct   

Information is not always necessary 

Only you can do you 

Now is the only real time you have

  • Breaking Free From Your Monkey Mind: 5 Steps to Inner Peace
  • Pausing Practice from the Pir of The Sufi Way        

Pausing Self-Talk, Opinions, Before You Snap Back, in Your Heart, in Nature’s Presence, in Timeless Awareness      

  • Mind Waves: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
  • Being Here Now Practice: Awakening to Where and What You’ve Always Been  

Practices: Being “Here” Through Sensing; Being “Now” Through Breathing; Intuiting the Self through Being

CHAPTER 8/ FOLLOW A LIFE OF PASSION AND PURPOSE 

A short chapter to get the adventuring soul excited again (a breathing space amidst all the practices). Three personal adventure stories by young people who found wildly different purposes by following inner guidance.

  •  Time To Live!           
  • Bellydancer Barefoot Doctor Rides with the Gypsies           

Practices for When I feel Stuck or Swamped

Home of Homes in the Heart 

Gratitude        

Joyful Noise   

Nature

Evolution Through Diversity to Unity          

  • Transformation by the Universal Flow of Spontaneity         

CHAPTER 9/ UNLOCK THE POWER OF YOUR HEART

A generous chapter of findings from HeartMath® Institute. We must employ heartfulness along with mindfulness to create the optimally functioning human.      

  • The Heart Has a Brain!          
  • Heart Rhythm and Coherence
  • Impact of Stress         
  • The Quick Coherence® Technique from HeartMath
  • Optimal Resilience Produced by the State of Coherence      
  • Free E-book.“10 HeartMath® Practices For Reducing the Stress in Pressured Decisions, Choices and Interactions” 

CHAPTER 10/ THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS

  • The Energy of Emotions and Feelings           
  • Emotions are guests, messengers. The Guest House by Jalaluddin Rumi
  • Feelings Inventory: When Needs Are Satisfied. When They Are Not.        
  • The Sedona Method of Letting Go; Choosing to Let Go in 5 Steps 
  • Positive Psychology and the Dimensions of Happiness        

3 Forms of Happiness: The Pleasant Life, The Good Life, The Meaningful Life    

  • Sonja Lyubomirsky – the How of Happiness 
  • Positive Psychology Techniques: Gratitude Journal, Gratitude Visit, Acts of Kindness,     Design a Beautiful Day
  • The Practices of Moment to Moment Love

            Feel the Experience of Love in Your Body  

Imagine Someone or Something You Care for Deeply         

Focus on Feeling What Loving and Being Loved Feels Like           

CHAPTER 11/ HAPPY FOR NO REASON

Featuring Extended Content from Marci Shimoff    

  • Don’t I Need a Reason to Be Happy?
  • The Happiest People in the World    
  • Unconditional Happiness is an Enlightened or Awakened State      
  • Freedom Through Forgiveness          
  • Forgiveness Process by Marci Shimoff         
  • Free E-book. “Discover the Secrets to Deep and Lasting Happiness”

CHAPTER 12/ MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO LOVE YOURSELF    

Why should you focus on learning to love yourself? 

“In working with more than twenty thousand people during the last two decades, I have come to feel that learning to love yourself is the key movement from which mental, emotional, and even physical health flows. Based on my twenty-some years as a psychologist and having worked with every mental and emotional difficulty in the book, I can tell you that learning to love yourself is the most powerful therapeutic technique I know of.” Gay Hendricks, founder Hendricks Institute, counseling psychologist

  • The Two Secret Universal Love-Creation Skills       

            1. Emotional Self-endorsement         

2. The “Reasonable Best (RB) Test” of Self-Worth  

  • Learning to Love Yourself Workbook. Extended Excerpt from Gay Hendricks      

Activity 1: I Love Myself Unconditionally   

Activity 2: Directing Love for Others to Love of Yourself  

Activity 3: From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be           

Activity 4: A Creative Visualization 

Activity 5: A Letter of Appreciation 

Activity 6: Locating Your Feelings in Your Body: Sadness, Anger, Fear    

            Activity 7: Loving Your Feelings      

Activity 8: Getting to Know Your Fears       

Activity 9: Breathing Through Fears 

  • Remember These Four Principles      

            1) Experience Your Feelings 

            2) Breathe With Your Feelings          

            3) Telling the Microscopic Truth       

            4) You Don’t Have to Act on Your Feelings

CHAPTER 13/ UNDERSTAND ENERGY AND FREQUENCY IN TRANSFORMATION

It’s all energy, frequency and vibration. Einstein and then Tesla supported this realization, now recognized by quantum physicists. Students need to relate to change and their own bodies as parts of this malleable Field of Creation.        

  • Can I Trust in a Loving Universe? The Trust Frequency: Ten Assumptions for a New Paradigm  

We Create Reality by The Power of Our Consciousness      

The Ten Assumptions Needed for Living in the Trust Frequency    

  • Free E-book. “Further Exploration of The Ten Assumptions”         
  • Quantum Field Self-healing Practices           

Resonance and Entrainment  

Perspective from the Director’s Chair           

Energy Practices:       

            Decree for Clearing Negative Energy

            Magic Frequency Bubble      

            Embody Intention      

            Kinesiology    

CHAPTER 14/ THE SPIRIT OF ONENESS AND LIVING SOULFULLY

How is an adventuring soul on a mission of self-discovery and self-mastery to consider his solitary life as part of a whole?     

  • Quantum Entanglement Proves Oneness Connection           
  • You Matter in the Web of Life
  • Journey to Our Future: Oneness Consciousness        
  • The Four Hopes That Our Soul Carries by Sufi Elder          

Unconditional Love   

Nurturing       

Spiritual Warrior        

Fulfillment

CHAPTER 15/ CONSCIOUS EVOLUTION          

  • Expanding Towards a Planetary Consciousness        

Four Practices Of Conscious Evolution:       

Meditate or contemplate on the intelligence with which you are endowed. 

Meditate on your inherent talents, your genius.        

Assess the impact of your actions.     

Relentlessly seek out collaboration.   

  • The Key is Sacred Remembrance of Gaia     

Why We Are Broken, What’s Missing          

Turn Your Light Back On! These Are the Times      

  • Authentic Education to Awaken, Elevate, and Evolve Consciousness         

CHAPTER 16/ TWO PRACTICAL INQUIRIES

We are all addicted to money and our devices; especially younger generations. These are important re-considerations in designing a more holistic lifestyle.

  • Our Relationship with Money

Quotes About Money 

What is a Relationship with Money? 

How Does One Understand What Money Means to Them, or to Others?    

Why Does It Matter? 

Guided Activities to Think About Your Relationship with Money  

  • Could It Be My Cell Phone?

Warning for Young Children, Pregnant Mothers, and Sensitives     

Experiment #1

Experiment #2

Experiment with Friends       

CHAPTER 17/ TRIALS AND TRIUMPH OF THOSE WHO SUFFER

I wanted to circle back to the current dire situation of mental health, to bring the statistics off of the charts and let you inside the real-life stories of people facing suicide and depression. Can you imagine 21 of your friends committing suicide?   

  • The Actual Reason Why We Suffered During the Pandemic
  • Suicide and Depression          
  • Saga of Suicide: My Forever 21        
  • Dimming the Depression Demon      

Daughter Karmi’s Story        

Mother Satinder’s Story        

Letter to My Dear Child        

CHAPTER 18/ CONGRATULATIONS! WELCOME TO THE REVERENT REVOLUTION

Where are we going? If we have gleaned some of the fruits of this book, thinking is easier, life flowing smoother, we’ve taken responsibility for our own happiness, developed more respect or love for ourselves/others, now what? We claim it! Be in awe and reverence of the magical possibilities of positive change still unfolding in your life.    

  • The Reverent Revolution       

            An Unprecedented Crisis and Opportunity   

Being Locked Down and Opened Up to a New World         

An Evolutionary Leap to Conscious Evolution         

  • Begin Right Now!     
  • Radical Self-Love Blessing

You can be happy simply because you want to be happy.

Abraham Lincoln once said: “A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.”