No Less Than Greatness: Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships

I make no bones about it - I believe Mary Morrissey is one of the most gifted and wisest teachers of our time. You can go to 100 great authors who will motivate and inspire you, but Mary takes it a step further with truly empathetic understanding and solid, workable action steps to actually create the change you seek in your life (instead of just reading about it and sticking with the same life). Mary Morrissey's book, No Less Than Greatness No Less Than Greatness: The Seven Spiritual Principles That Make Real Love Possibleis all about cleaning up our love relationships so that they're more satisfying and gratifying to both parties involved. She's been there and she knows how difficult it can seem to be - you want something more or different that your spouse or lover or child can't seem to get on board with. The 7 principles she teaches, however, begin to close that gap and heal the hurt. These principles I've applied again and again in differing circumstances and I've got to admit - I'm even surprised at how quickly the energy shifts in a more positive direction! I highly recommend this book.

I make no bones about it - I believe Mary Morrissey is one of the most gifted and wisest teachers of our time. You can go to 100 great authors who will motivate and inspire you, but Mary takes it a step further with truly empathetic understanding and solid, workable action steps to actually create the change you seek in your life (instead of just reading about it and sticking with the same life). Her book, No Less Than Greatness: The Seven Spiritual Principles That Make Real Love Possible is all about cleaning up our love relationships so that they're more satisfying and gratifying to both parties involved. She's been there and she knows how difficult it can seem to be - you want something more or different that your spouse or lover or child can't seem to get on board with. The 7 principles she teaches, however, begin to close that gap and heal the hurt. These principles I've applied again and again in differing circumstances and I've got to admit - I'm even surprised at how quickly the energy shifts in a more positive direction! I highly recommend this book.

Since I am a former member and employee of Living Enrichment Center, I read all books by Mary Manin Morrissey from a different perspective than perhaps others would. The first thing that jumps out at me when I read Mary's books is that she talks about people that I knew and places I had been, particularly the grounds of Living Enrichment Center in Wilsonville, Oregon. For example, in NO LESS THAN GREATNESS Mary talks about her stepson Michael. During a period of my employment at LEC I actually worked with Michael. I remember his fondness for the South Park cartoon, as well as for the music of Sublime. He and I had a lot in common. I liked him. Living Enrichment Center, which was a 10,000 square foot church, retreat center, bookstore, kitchen/dining hall, and pool, headquartered on 90 beautiful acres in Willsonville, Oregon, was Mary Manin Morrissey's spiritual "empire." LEC has now closed, and Mary Morrissey is embroiled in a financial scandal that is all over the local media. So, this adds a different dimension to my experience of reading NO LESS THAN GREATNESS. The message of the book is lost on me, and I just am reminded of the community that once existed and for which I am now nostalgic. I have started a Yahoo! group to keep up-to-date about the situation: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lecworldrefugees/ I hesitate to mention this in a review because I don't want it to sound spiteful, but then again what is a review but one person's opinion? My opinion is that Mary Manin Morrissey's books never really appealed to me much. Again, I appreciate the underlying message of tolerance for all paths, and I acknowledge that Morrissey is quite talented at what she does, but the main thrust of her works doesn't appeal to me. Her works, in my opinion, belong in the category that I outgrew about seven years ago: self-help. So, again, I read NO LESS THAN GREATNESS for the sake of nostalgia. These books, Mary's career, and Living Enrichment Center, all comprised the backdrop for a very important and transcendental era of my life. Some of my experiences as a member of the LEC staff, as well as a member of various other LEC groups, and also as a volunteer, remain dear to me and I believe will remain dear to me for the rest of my life. Mary's books may not appeal to me, but as entities, as symbols of a time and place that is deeply important to me (the "LEC Era" of my life, 1997-1999), I retain an odd fondness for all of Mary's books. Andrew Michael Parodi

Mary Manin Morrissey is a mature and wise voice in the sea of spiritual writers and lecturers. Ms. Morrissey captures the essence of moving from a thought system based on self/ego to a thought system based on love. If you follow the work of Marianne Willamson or Carolynn Myss, you will recognize thoughts and principles. This book was an unexpected gift.

Since reading "Building Your Field of Dreams" four years ago my life has changed tremendously. I rediscovered my lost dreams, and my life's purpose. Without that book, I am not sure where I would be in my life today.So it was with great excitement that I started reading Mary's new book. For the first time in my life I read a book in one sitting! I thought I was going to receive tools that I could give my brother so that we could have the relationship I have been yearning for. But instead, what the book is about is me, and what I can do from within to create better, more intimate relationships.One of the things I appreciate the most about "No Less Than Greatness" is how it is written. Often when I read a book of this stature, the concepts presented are heavy and require deep consideration. The concepts Mary offer, though no less important, are written in a way that are understandable and do-able. It is refreshing to read a book that is concise and written simply so that I can start immediately putting into practice the lessons I am being offered. Mary gives practical 'exercises' at the end of each chapter, making it easy for the reader to refer back to. She also offers very helpful examples and ideas on how I can make small changes in my actions that will make a big difference in my relationships, and also how I feel about myself.Thank you, Mary, for your consistent endeavor in learning so that others, like myself, may learn from you. The people in my life are what I value the most, and now I have something practical and easy, but meaningful to refer to so that I can make a difference in all of my relationships, and therefore, have a richer and more rewarding life. I will refer to this book on a regular basis when I need an idea on how to change a circumstance in my life, or if I just need to be reminded that I am walking alone in my journey.I look forward to sending "No Less Than Greatness" to my family and friends. I highly recommend this book for everyone, no matter what your spirituality is, or how good or bad your realtionships are - they can always be better!