If you’ve ever felt like you were losing your grip on reality, rest assured you’re simply undergoing an awakening of your heart and mind. You’re Not Going Crazy, You’re Just Waking Up: The Five Stages Of The Soul Transformation Process by Michael Mirdad unravels the complex topic of your emotions, change, and upheaval in your life. 

At some point in your life, have you ever been faced with a crisis that brought you to your knees? I definitely have, and it was the best opportunity for me to decide whether to be cracked open and wake up or to stay closed and in pieces.

Mirdad believes every soul goes through a transformational process to wake up and/or remember its true identity. And there are two methods —the hard way (which is what my soul chose) or the easy way. 

The easy way is more about becoming unfulfilled and feeling out of sorts. Much like Sue Monk Kidd’s Book – When The Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction For Life’s Sacred Questions.

And you probably are familiar with the hard way. 🙂

For me, it was when I ended my 10-year marriage and fell in love with my best friend, that was unavailable. The pain of knowing an amazing soulful connection and realizing that it would never come to pass brought me to my knees and grief that I never thought was possible.

It’s books like this one that I read and Sue Monk Kidd’s and many others on this blog that helped me transform into my new soul’s identity, shedding the old skin… and taking on a new one.

One of the things I loved about this book is Mirdad’s heart-centered approach and how he guides you through the Five Stages of the Soul Transformation Process.

The most difficult part of his approach for me was always looking at my life’s challenges and obstacles as an opportunity for growth. It’s so hard to do that when you’re deep in it. Yet, that’s honestly the time to do it. Whether you are dealing with something now or not, this book will help tremendously.

When you walk through his Five Stages Of The Soul Transformation Process, you take a step toward a deeper understanding of your true self and purpose. His emphasis isn’t just on change. He also shares this insight that the five stages are symbolic movements through each of the five levels of human consciousness—physical, emotional, intellectual, intuitive, and spiritual.

It’s about rebirth and ascending to new heights with your own spirituality—becoming a spiritual master and actively creating a life that vibrates in harmony with your highest good. 

It’s a journey that takes guts, courage, stamina, and having support from family, friends, a coach, and or a therapist. Asking for help – YES, I KNOW it can be so hard. AND, when you do, I promise your life will change.

On another note, I always like to share how spirituality and religion differ. I’m always surprised at folks who think they are the same. They are not. Spirituality is a personal, inner pursuit of connection and meaning with a higher power. It focuses on individual growth and inner peace. Religion is organized and structured, involving specific beliefs, rituals, and practices centered around community worship.

A Book Summary to Inspire You To Read It!

Quick Summary:

You’re Not Going Crazy, You’re Just Waking Up by Michael Mirdad is all about the transformative personal process of awakening your soul. Mirdad likens it to a “spiritual birth.” He also gives you the five stages of your soul’s transformation: Dismantling, Emptiness, Disorientation, Rebuilding, and A New Life. It’s about looking at your “breakdown” as a “breakthrough” towards greater self-awareness and spiritual growth. He gives you many tools to help you navigate the emotional and spiritual upheaval. It’s a spiritual roadmap for you, especially if you’re dealing with a personal crisis, it’s normal and also essential to experience inner change. Plus, it’s a quick 90-page read. Yet, it takes you on a deeper journey.

Who Ought to Read this Book and Why:
Madrid’s book—You’re Not Going Crazy, You’re Just Waking Up, is ideal if you are experiencing significant life transitions, personal crises, or spiritual awakenings. It’s especially beneficial if you’re feeling lost, undergoing emotional turmoil, or grappling with existential questions. This book guides anyone feeling overwhelmed by change and looking for understanding and direction in their journey toward personal growth and spiritual enlightenment. It’s also valuable for therapists, counselors, and spiritual seekers. 

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgments
Forward
Preface

Introduction:
The Five Stages Of The Soul Transformation Process
Stage 1 Dismantling
Stage 2 Emptiness
Stage 3: Disorientation
Stage 4: Rebuilding
Stage 5: A New Life
Conclusion
About The Author 

Things You Will Discover:

The Five Stages of Soulful Transformation – Madrid walks you through the five stages: Dismantling, Emptiness, Disorientation, Rebuilding, and A New Life. These stages are much like the stages of grief. Remember that these stages can be non-linear and unique to each person. These stages are a map that will guide you through the emotional complexities of spiritual growth. 

Transformation Through Your Crisis: Whatever personal crisis you’re going through or have gone through, it catalyzes your profound spiritual and personal growth. 

Healing and Renewal: Madrid talks about the huge importance of healing your past traumas. And how important it is to renew your spirituality, be open to experience, and let go of all of your emotions. 

Self-Reflection and Coping Mechanisms – In this 90-page book, Mirdad offers you several tools to help with deep introspection and an understanding of your inner crisis. He also gives you strategies for dealing with your confusion and distress when walking through each of his five stages of awakening.

Inspiring Book Quotes:

Your Psyche is:
“…your psyche is a chalice, or cup, but needs to be emptied of old toxic materials so it can be refilled with the fresh waters of life, or new opportunities to live life with more love, peace, and purpose.“

The Soul Focuses:
“…the soul focuses on healing any unhealed wounds from the past and or learning more about its true identity.”

Open Up To Your Voice:
“Maybe the still Small Voice we are waiting to hear is already in the details of our lives—especially the details we wish would go away and leave us alone. ~ Thomas Schmidt, A Scandalous Beauty”

Unconditional Love:
“Nearly all processes of learning and healing that your soul creates and or experiences result in opportunities to understand and experience greater levels of unconditional love.”

3 States of Mind:
“The first state of mind, the victim. It’s by far the most common because it is the unfortunate State of Mind held by most human beings. The second, the student, usually manifests in individuals who are on the spiritual path. The third, the master, is held by individuals who have come to realize that they are indeed co-creators of their lives and the world.”

Dismantle Your Personal Illusions:
“Once Masters become proficient and dismantle their personal Illusions about life in themselves, such painful Illusions become few and far between. Instead, their lives more consistently manifest harmony.”

Ask For Support:
“Cultivate the support of friends who will not distract you but, instead, will support your process. Let them know you don’t need them to fix you or to tell you that their lives are even worse. You want them just to listen and be supportive.”

Gratitude:
“…Practice using an attitude of gratitude. Be responsible enough to look for any lessons or healing that you need to integrate and then practice giving thanks for them.”

Be Aware:
“Be on the lookout for either residual stuff that still needs processing or Inspirations that begin to appear—offering hints of some new direction.

Take A Hard Look At Your Life:
“.. you must recognize and accept that some things in your life have simply not truly been valuable or for your highest good.”

Get Back On Track:
“Your soul knows when you are living in conflict (in mind or body) and are not pursuing your higher good. Your soul will do something (eventually anything) to wake you up and get you back ‘on track.’”

Stop The Drama:
“When you confront your Soul Transformation Process with a higher level of consciousness and responsibility, you will cease waiting for such dramas to occur. Instead, you will take the initiative to dismantle your problems yourself and make a change in the relationship one way or another.”

Take Pride In The Now:
“When your Illusions class with reality, when your falsehoods Clash with the truth, then you have suffering.~ Anthony DeMello”

This Is Your Sign?
“If and/or when you have done all you can to make something happen, but you’re still at a dead end, it’s possibly a sign that you need to back off and stop forcing the issue.”

Your Ego Mind:
“The ego mind needs things to be familiar because it has spent years getting you stuck here in the first place.”

Gain & Loss:
“If you lose anything whatsoever, it is nothing that serves your Highest Good.”

About the Author: Michael Mirdad

Michael Mirdad is the author of numerous bestselling books. He is commonly referred to as “a teacher’s teacher and a healer’s healer,” having four decades of experience facilitating thousands of lectures and classes and leading sacred sites tours throughout the world. He teaches the various spiritual disciplines of the world (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism, the 12-step program, etc.) and is often said to have a similar vibration to Yogananda or an ascended master, and yet he is delightfully simple and has a great sense of humor. Michael not only teaches an unsurpassed number of topics but also weaves them together, demonstrating the connectedness of all subjects and beliefs while making God (and the awakening of Christ’s Consciousness) the common thread.

Where I Would Recommend Getting Your Copy:

You’re Not Going Crazy… You’re Just Waking Up: The Five Stages Of The Soul Transformation Process by Michael Mirdad  

Other Books I’d Recommend:

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice For Difficult Times by Pema Chodron

Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodron

Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better: Wise Advice For Leaning Into The Unknown by Pema Chodron

The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron

Getting Unstuck: Breaking Your Habitual Patterns & Encouraging Naked Reality by Pema Chodron

Living Untethered: Beyond The Human Experience by Michael Singer

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle