Book SummaryThe Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, by Deepak Chopra

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

Many people measure success in terms of how much they achieve or accumulate. According to best-selling author and world-renowned well-being practitioner Deepak Chopra, this definition of success limits you and keeps you trapped in a cycle of achievement and accumulation that creates more anxiety than success.

Chopra argues that your entire reality springs from an invisible, spiritual world of consciousness. This invisible realm pulses with the energy and knowledge of the trillions of thoughts that have ever existed and are yet to exist (we’ll refer to this energy and knowledge as “thought-energy”).

He explains that true success comes from aligning with the thought-energy that flows within you and connects you to everything in the universe. This connection allows you to...

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Summary Reality Is a Reflection of the Spiritual Realm

According to Chopra, the thought-energy that lives within the spiritual realm gives birth to and lives within all matter in the universe: In other words, everything you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch is simply a reflection of all of the thoughts that live in this spiritual realm.

Further, Chopra claims that, by flowing through everything in the universe, this thought-energy connects us all. It uses this connection to synchronize all of the interactions that govern and underlie the universe.

For example, we rely on the complex process of photosynthesis to keep the atmosphere in balance so that we can breathe, but we don’t need to learn how to breathe or explain to trees how to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Rather, the spiritual realm provides all organisms in the universe with inherent knowledge and instincts that allow them to effortlessly interact with other organisms to...

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Summary Success Comes From Aligning With the Spiritual Realm

In this section, we’ll explore how your awareness of your connection to the spiritual realm influences your experience of success. We’ll first clarify why identifying with physical reality negatively impacts the way you feel about success. Then, we’ll explain how building awareness of the spiritual realm encourages you to feel truly successful.

Identifying With Physical Reality Leads to Fear-Based Success

Chopra claims that when you don’t feel connected to the spiritual realm, you assume there’s nothing more to your reality than what you perceive. This narrow point of view encourages you to identify solely with what’s happening outside of you, creates feelings of anxiety, and compels you to develop fear-based responses to your experiences.

Connecting to God Leads to Inner Peace and Fulfillment

Chopra’s claim that your lack of connection to the spiritual realm leads to external identification, feelings of anxiety, and difficult life experiences lies at the heart of many dominant religions. For example, Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, explains that God...

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Summary How to Align With the Spiritual Realm

Chopra claims that you can align yourself with the flow of thought-energy and experience success in all areas of your life by practicing five interrelated methods.

Method #1: Silence Your Internal Monologue

Chopra argues that practicing silent meditation restricts your internal monologue and allows the thought-energy to flow freely through you. He explains that most of your thoughts focus on analyzing, judging, and classifying your experiences. These thoughts cloud your experiences with thoughts of how you think things should be and prevent you from experiencing the flow of energy in the moment.

(Shortform note: Research confirms that practicing stillness through meditation or other mindfulness techniques calms your internal monologue, reduces common symptoms of overthinking such as stress and anxiety, and encourages mental well-being. In Mindfulness in Plain English, Bhante Gunaratana recommends making time for daily mindfulness practice, either in the morning or the evening, and meditating for at least 20 to 20 minutes.)

Method #2: Recognize How Your Reality Reflects Your...

Shortform Exercise: Focus Your Thought-Energy on What You Want

According to Chopra, when you focus only on what you want to experience, your thought-energy flows to and creates those very things. In this exercise, we’ll determine what you want and how you can focus on it.

What one thing would immediately improve your life experience and make you feel successful? (For example, you might feel successful if you find a satisfying job that pays well.)

Shortform Exercise: Define Your Innate Gifts and Interests

According to Chopra, goals that align with your innate gifts and interests are vital to experiencing satisfaction and success in your life.

Write down two things that you’re naturally good at and enjoy doing. Consider times when you feel engaged in what you’re doing and don’t feel like you have to make an effort. (This could be anything from cooking a meal to creating a spreadsheet.)