Guy Finley
Encyclopedia
Guy Finley is an American self-help
writer, philosopher, and spiritual
teacher, and former professional songwriter
and musician
.
pioneer Larry Finley
, Finley grew up in the Los Angeles, California
area where many of his childhood friends were the children of celebrities. At a young age, he decided to pursue a music career. He became the first white soft rock
artist signed to the Motown Records
label. While never achieving commercial success as a recording artist, several of his songs were recorded by popular artists including Diana Ross
, the Jackson 5, and Debbie Boone in the 1970s. He also composed
scores
for a number of motion pictures and TV shows. In spite of this growing good fortune early in his professional life, Finley has said he still felt something was missing in his personal life. Seeking to fill this void, he abandoned his music career and left for India
and the Far East
in 1979 to study spiritual teachings and the principles of self-awareness
.
had led him back to the United States
where he became a devoted student of spiritual teacher Vernon Howard
at the New Life Foundation in Boulder City, Nevada
. In the early 1990s, with Howard's encouragement, he began a new career as an author of spiritual guidance books.
His teachings, like those of Howard, draw from many different spiritual traditions and philosophies including: Christian mysticism
, various Eastern philosophies, Fourth Way and Jungian psychology.
In addition to his writing, Finley teaches inner-life classes at the Life of Learning Foundation in Merlin, Oregon
, a non-profit organization of which he is founder and director. He also hosts a monthly live call-in radio
program, Guy Finley Live on HealthyLife.net, as well a weekly syndicated program, Letting Go with Guy Finley.
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
writer, philosopher, and spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
teacher, and former professional songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Early life and career
The son of late-night talk showTalk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
pioneer Larry Finley
Larry Finley
Larry Finley was a late night broadcast pioneer as well a leader in the audiotape and videotape business.Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Finley became a nightclub manager in his hometown at age 18 before moving to Los Angeles, California in the 1930s and opening a chain of jewelry stores...
, Finley grew up in the Los Angeles, California
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area where many of his childhood friends were the children of celebrities. At a young age, he decided to pursue a music career. He became the first white soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
artist signed to the Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
label. While never achieving commercial success as a recording artist, several of his songs were recorded by popular artists including Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, the Jackson 5, and Debbie Boone in the 1970s. He also composed
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
scores
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
for a number of motion pictures and TV shows. In spite of this growing good fortune early in his professional life, Finley has said he still felt something was missing in his personal life. Seeking to fill this void, he abandoned his music career and left for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
in 1979 to study spiritual teachings and the principles of self-awareness
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to reconcile oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals...
.
Writing career and teachings
By the early 1980s, Finley's search for spiritual awakeningHigher consciousness
Higher consciousness, also called super consciousness , objective consciousness , Buddhic consciousness , cosmic consciousness, God-consciousness and Christ consciousness , are expressions used in various spiritual traditions to denote the consciousness of a human being who has reached a...
had led him back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he became a devoted student of spiritual teacher Vernon Howard
Vernon Howard
Vernon Linwood Howard was an American spiritual teacher, author, and philosopher.- Career as writer and teacher :...
at the New Life Foundation in Boulder City, Nevada
Boulder City, Nevada
Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....
. In the early 1990s, with Howard's encouragement, he began a new career as an author of spiritual guidance books.
His teachings, like those of Howard, draw from many different spiritual traditions and philosophies including: Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
, various Eastern philosophies, Fourth Way and Jungian psychology.
In addition to his writing, Finley teaches inner-life classes at the Life of Learning Foundation in Merlin, Oregon
Merlin, Oregon
Merlin is an unincorporated community in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. The area is known for sport fishing and whitewater rafting on the Rogue River. Merlin's ZIP code is 97532....
, a non-profit organization of which he is founder and director. He also hosts a monthly live call-in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
program, Guy Finley Live on HealthyLife.net, as well a weekly syndicated program, Letting Go with Guy Finley.
Books
- Secret Way of Wonder:Insights from the Silence (1992)
- Freedom From the Ties That Bind (1994)
- Designing Your Own Destiny:The Power to Shape Your Future (1996)
- The Intimate Enemy:Winning the War Within Yourself (with Dr. Ellen Dickstein) (1997)
- The Lost Secrets of Prayer:Practices for Self-Awakening (1998)
- Freedom from Self-Punishing thoughts (1999)
- Seeker's Guide to Self-Freedom:Truths for Living (2001)
- Apprentice of the Heart (2003)
- Let Go and Live in the Now:Awaken the Peace, Power and Happiness in Your Heart (2004)
- 365 Days to Let Go: Daily Insights to Change Your Life (2007)
- The Essential Laws of Fearless Living:Find the Power to Never Feel Powerless Again (2008) ISBN 157863427X
- "The Courage to Be Free: Discover Your Original Fearless Self" (2010)
- "Letting Go a Little Bit At a Time"
e-books
- Beyond Dependency: The Death of Addiction
- The Devils 13 Most Trusted Lies: (To Keep You From the Light)
- Who Put That Stone In My Shoe?:How to Walk Away From the Intimate Enemy
- 50 Ways to Let More Love Into Your Life
Selected list of audio programs
- Education of the Soul:Answering the Longing for Immortality
- Liberation of Consciousness
- Living in the Light:Helping Ourselves And Others Awaken to A Higher Life
- Living Now:Secrets of the Extraordinary Life
- Being Fearless and Free
- Secrets of Being Unstoppable
- Secret Teachings of the Sacred Testaments
- Seven Characteristics of Higher Consciousness
- Seven Steps to Oneness:Journey to a Whole New Life
- Teachings of the Timeless Kindness
- The Genesis of Love:Relationship Magic in Heaven and on Earth
- The Heart & Soul of Freedom:Liberation From Limitation
- The Illusion of Limitation:The Liberation of Self
- The Meditative Life
- The Road to Good Fortune
- The Turning Point:The Power of a Life Awakened
- Waking Up Together:Building Compassionate Relationships Founded in Higher Love
- "Liberate Your Self"