Editor’s note: Last year my husband John and I had a powerful experience of attending the “Spiritual Cinema Film Festival at Sea”. Part of the allure of the entire cruise/film festival experience was mixing and mingling with such great writers and metaphysicians as James Twyman, Neale Donald Walsch, Stephen Simon and Gay and Katie Hendricks.
During the course of a week, no only did we view dozens of great movies, but we had the privilege of attending a workshop put on by Gay and Katie with Stephen Simon and crew playing out the talking parts because the movie clip that they wanted to use for an example couldn’t be shown on shipboard without all the copyright sign offs. I won’t go into full detail, but it was powerful, entertaining, and at times slap stick. I will always remember Gay and Katie Hendrix for their willingness to jump in and improvise. When I received Gay’s book for review, I put it on the top of the stack to read for myself. With a foreword by Neal Donald Walsch, I knew it was bound to be a winner.
After hearing the story over dinner one evening, the author of the Conversations With God Series gripped Gay Hendrick’s arm and virtually commanded him to turn it into a book. If you have ever been in Neale Donald Walsch’s presence when he really believes in a project, there is just no telling him no. Gay complied. The result is one of the most powerfully life changing books that I have come in contact with.

In the foreword, Walsch writes: This little book offers you two big gifts: As a story it’s thrilling, heartwarming and funny. As a guide to making your dreams come true, it’s got a powerful new discovery that I predict will make a great deal of difference in your life.”

”When he was in his thirties, Gay was asked one simple question that changed the course of his life, now he gives us a book which asks one simple question and shows how answering it can lead to wealth wisdom and a joyful and fulfilled life.

He was trapped at a cocktail party and didn’t want to be there. Striking up a conversation with a stranger and deciding that they both hated small talk, they jumped right into life’s deeper questions. This perfect stranger asked Gay to imagine that he is on his deathbed – sometime in the unforeseeable future. He said I will ask you one question “Was your life a complete success?” Gay was asked to say either yes or no. Then the man saik “If you said no, you would have some reasons why it wasn’t – what would be the things you’d wish had happened that would have made it a success?”

Gay said “I never enjoyed a long and happy marriage… I wish I’d enjoyed a lifelong blossoming of passion and creativity with a woman.”

Then the man said something that turned out to powerfully affect Gay’s life. “Okay, now turn the wish into a goal and put it in the present tense, as if it’s happening at this moment.”

Gay said “My life is a total success because I enjoy a happy marriage with a woman I adore and who adores me…”

“Okay,” the man said “What’s the second thing you would wish had happened that would have made your life a success?”

“Who the hell are you, anyway?” said Gay. The man turned out to be Ed Steinbrecher, a well-known spiritual teacher and astrologer.

Eventually Gay ended up making five wishes and by framing them the way Ed showed him, they turned into five powerful affirmations that changed the course of his life and have guided his life ever since. Over the years, every one of his five wishes came true.

After writing the book, Gay and his wife Katie have written and produced a 17 minute movie that brings to life the conversation described in the book. It is directed by and stars Michael Goorjian (from the feature film “Hard Rain” and TV series “Party of Five” as well as the writer and director of “Illusion” a film staring Kirk Douglas that was featured in Oracle 20/20 Magazine April ‘07)

P.S. After reading Gay’s book I have already manifested two of my wishes.

Five Wishes Worksheet
A Guide to asking Simple Questions that Can Make All Your Dreams Come True
- by Gay Hendricks

The Gift
I was given the gift of the questions and now offers you the gift with the intention that you will use the power to create your own fulfilled life

The Invitation
Are you willing to receive the gift of the questions and use it to create your own fulfilled life? If the answer is “Yes”, transport yourself in your imagination to the end of your life. Imagine you are on your deathbed and I am visiting with you.

The Questions
I ask you, Was your life a complete success? If you answer no ask yourself the main reason your life was not a total success and write it down.

The main reason my life was not a total success is because I didn’t  __________________
And I didn’t______________________
And I didn’t______________________
And I didn’t______________________
And I didn’t_______________________

Your Five Wishes
Now turn those reasons into wishes. For my life to have been a total success,
I wish I’d_____________________
And I wish I’d_________________
I also wish I’d_________________
and_________________________
and _________________________
until you’ve completed all five wishes.

If you Answered Yes
Of course it is possible that you might answer my question with a “yes” In thirty-some years, I’ve only had a handful of people who did so, but if you are one of those, congratulations! For the sake of celebration, take a moment to write down the five experiences or accomplishments that made it a success.
First and foremost, my life succeeded because I:
_________________________
And because I ______________
And because I ______________
And because I ______________
And because I _______________

Gay Hendricks is an internationally famous author, seminar leader, web entrepreneur and filmmaker. He is the author more than 20 books, including the national bestseller Conscious Loving and the founder of the Spiritual Cinema Circle. He resides with his wife, author and seminar leader Kathlyn Hendricks, in Ojai, California. His website is www.Hendricks.com
Five Wishes is published by New World Library. For more information visit: www.FiveWishesBook.com