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While the end of the 1980s signaled the end of Jim's regular television career, the 1990s ushered in a new chapter in Jim's life. For the first time in 25 years, Jim was no longer going to the studio to tape a show. Finding himself with a lot of time on his hands, Jim began a journey where he explored the darker areas of his life. Despite a long and happy marriage that produced two children and a highly successful career, Jim once described himself as uptight and always worrying. Viewers would never have known that side of Jim since he was confident and relaxed on the TV screen. Jim went on to explain that whenever he landed a new game show, he always worried that it would be cancelled. While he experienced great success, he was never able to fully enjoy it. He felt that he did not deserve the success. And then when the shows were finally cancelled, Jim's worst fears had come to pass. Or were the cancellations the worst thing to happen to him?
While the end of the 1980s signaled the end of Jim's regular television career, the 1990s ushered in a new chapter in Jim's life. For the first time in 25 years, Jim was no longer going to the studio to tape a show. Finding himself with a lot of time on his hands, Jim began a journey where he explored the darker areas of his life. Despite a long and happy marriage that produced two children and a highly successful career, Jim once described himself as uptight and always worrying. Viewers would never have known that side of Jim since he was confident and relaxed on the TV screen. Jim went on to explain that whenever he landed a new game show, he always worried that it would be cancelled. While he experienced great success, he was never able to fully enjoy it. He felt that he did not deserve the success. And then when the shows were finally cancelled, Jim's worst fears had come to pass. Or were the cancellations the worst thing to happen to him?
"It was kind of interesting that the shows went off the air at the time they did and suddenly, I was looking at 'What am I, who am I, and what's going on with my life?" Jim said in a 2005 interview. He was now forced for the first time in his life to come face to face with personal pain stemming from a very unhappy and abusive childhood that had never dealt with in the past. As he put it in a 1992 interview with The Toronto Star, "What I did not have was self-love. I couldn't look into the dark corners of myself and say, 'That's okay, that's me, too."
"It was kind of interesting that the shows went off the air at the time they did and suddenly, I was looking at 'What am I, who am I, and what's going on with my life?" Jim said in a 2005 interview. He was now forced for the first time in his life to come face to face with personal pain stemming from a very unhappy and abusive childhood that had never dealt with in the past. As he put it in a 1992 interview with The Toronto Star, "What I did not have was self-love. I couldn't look into the dark corners of myself and say, 'That's okay, that's me, too."
Jim began writing down his feelings and experiences which led to his first book titled "The Sleeper Awakes: A Journey to Self-Awareness which he described as a self-help book. In the book, Jim talks candidly about his past and how difficult it was for him to express his emotions. He had spent so many years suppressing his emotions that concluded that he had lived in denial for a long time. In order to find true inner peace, Jim would have to accept his past failings and admit that everything that he experienced was a part of his life. And that it was okay that these negative experiences were a part of him.
Jim began writing down his feelings and experiences which led to his first book titled "The Sleeper Awakes: A Journey to Self-Awareness which he described as a self-help book. In the book, Jim talks candidly about his past and how difficult it was for him to express his emotions. He had spent so many years suppressing his emotions that concluded that he had lived in denial for a long time. In order to find true inner peace, Jim would have to accept his past failings and admit that everything that he experienced was a part of his life. And that it was okay that these negative experiences were a part of him.
Jim spent the better part of the year 1990 reflecting and writing this book. "The Sleeper Awakes: A Journey to Self Awareness" was published by Summit Books in 1991. A few years later, Jim wrote a sequel to the first book initially called "There's Got To Be a Pony In There Somewhere." However, the second book was not immediately published due to Summit Books going out of business and the subsequent problems with sales of the first book. It was not until 2012 that the sequel was finally published as an e-book through Amazon.com. The book was retitled "There's Gotta Be a Pony: Considerations on a Journey of Mastery."
Jim spent the better part of the year 1990 reflecting and writing this book. "The Sleeper Awakes: A Journey to Self Awareness" was published by Summit Books in 1991. A few years later, Jim wrote a sequel to the first book initially called "There's Got To Be a Pony In There Somewhere." However, the second book was not immediately published due to Summit Books going out of business and the subsequent problems with sales of the first book. It was not until 2012 that the sequel was finally published as an e-book through Amazon.com. The book was retitled "There's Gotta Be a Pony: Considerations on a Journey of Mastery."
According to the book's review from Amazon.com, Jim stated that the "mastery" in the title referred to seven steps that one must take to find total fulfillment and growth in life:
According to the book's review from Amazon.com, Jim stated that the "mastery" in the title referred to seven steps that one must take to find total fulfillment and growth in life:
1. You grow when you face your life without fear
1. You grow when you face your life without fear
2. You grow when you take responsibility for your life
2. You grow when you take responsibility for your life
3. You grow when you feel what comes upon you without judgment
3. You grow when you feel what comes upon you without judgment
4. You grow when you recognize that life is a journey and you have no reason for guilt or shame
4. You grow when you recognize that life is a journey and you have no reason for guilt or shame
5. You grow when you live your life consciously, for conscious living is the greatest of all meditations
5. You grow when you live your life consciously, for conscious living is the greatest of all meditations
6. You grow when you live your life in truth
6. You grow when you live your life in truth
7. And most of all, you grow when you love what you are.
7. And most of all, you grow when you love what you are.
As it turned out, the cancellations of his shows were not the worst thing to happen to him. On the contrary, Jim found true peace once he finally had the time to stand still and deal with his worst fears: his lack of self-love. Jim stated that he never wrote these books for the money. In fact, he donated all of the earnings from these books to charity. He simply wanted to get his message out and share it with everyone. And though Jim is no longer with us, you can still benefit from his message since his books are available online.
As it turned out, the cancellations of his shows were not the worst thing to happen to him. On the contrary, Jim found true peace once he finally had the time to stand still and deal with his worst fears: his lack of self-love. Jim stated that he never wrote these books for the money. In fact, he donated all of the earnings from these books to charity. He simply wanted to get his message out and share it with everyone. And though Jim is no longer with us, you can still benefit from his message since his books are available online.
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