Mary Morrissey: A Comprehensive Profile

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Mary Morrissey (born 1949) is an American author, minister, and motivational speaker known for her work in the field of spiritual personal developmentmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Over a career spanning four decades, Morrissey has founded major spiritual and coaching organizations, published best-selling books, and spoken on influential stages around the world. Her journey includes dramatic personal challenges that shaped her teachings, from a teenage health crisis to the rise and fall of a megachurch, and eventual emergence as a prominent life coach and “DreamBuilder” mentor. Below is an in-depth look at her life, career, philosophy, and legacy.

Biography and Early Life

Mary Morrissey (circa 2020)

Mary Manin Morrissey was born in 1949 and grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, in what she describes as a loving family environmentmedium.com. As a teenager, she excelled in high school – serving as junior class vice president, starring in school plays, and even becoming a homecoming princessmedium.com. However, her life took an unexpected turn in 1966 when, during her junior year, she became pregnant by her high school sweetheart. At age 17 she was forced to leave her regular school; the local principal told her it would be “inappropriate for a pregnant girl” to attend classes with the other students, so Mary finished her senior year at a special evening high school for pregnant teens and delinquent youthmedium.commedium.com. She married the baby’s father in a small ceremony and gave birth to a son in early 1967, determined that motherhood would only be a detour – not the end – of her dream to become a teachermedium.commedium.com.

Just months later, at 18 years old, Morrissey faced a life-threatening health crisis. In July 1967, with a seven-month-old infant to care for, she was diagnosed with fatal kidney disease – one kidney entirely destroyed by nephritis and the other 50% damagedmedium.com. At the time, treatments like dialysis or transplants did not exist, so doctors warned she had perhaps six months to livemedium.com. This devastating prognosis became a pivotal moment in her spiritual journey. The night before her scheduled kidney removal surgery, a hospital chaplain visited Mary and introduced a powerful idea: “Everything is created twice – first in thought, then in form.” The chaplain gently suggested that Mary’s own self-hatred and shame (from being a young unwed mother in the 1960s) might be manifesting as physical toxicity, and invited her to open her mind to the possibility of healingmedium.commedium.com. Though skeptical at first, Mary agreed to pray and imagine a future in which she survived to raise her little boy and fulfill her dreamsmedium.commedium.com.

Miraculously, after surgery removed the ruined kidney, Mary’s condition stabilized and then began to improve against all medical expectationsmedium.commedium.com. Within six months, doctors could find “no science” to explain why her remaining kidney had healed to full function, calling her recovery a medical mysterymedium.commedium.com. Mary herself understood this as a spiritual turning point – an early experience of the mind-body connection and the power of faith and visualization to transform circumstances. This “second chance” at life set Mary Morrissey on the path of studying spiritual principles and personal transformation, which would become the foundation of her career and teachings.

Spiritual Career Path and Ministry

By the 1970s, Mary Morrissey felt called to ministry. She became an ordained New Thought minister in 1975 and soon established a nondenominational church community in the Pacific Northwestmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Over the next two decades, she served as senior minister of what grew into a large spiritual community – initially called the Living Enrichment Center (LEC) – based near Portland, Oregonmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Under Morrissey’s leadership, this ministry expanded rapidly. By the mid-1990s, LEC had approximately 4,000 local members (and about 10,000 more affiliated nationwide), making it one of the largest New Thought churches in the United Statesmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. In 1992, Morrissey’s church moved to an expansive 90-acre campus in Wilsonville, Oregon, complete with a retreat center, café, bookstore, rose gardens, and facilities to host high-profile guest speakers like Dr. Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, and Neale Donald Walschmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. At its peak, the Living Enrichment Center was often cited as the world’s biggest New Thought ministrymary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com, blending 19th-century metaphysical philosophy with contemporary self-help teachings to attract many who had drifted from traditional churcheswweek.com.

Mary Morrissey also became a respected figure in the broader interfaith and peace community during these years. In 1997 she co-founded the Association for Global New Thought (AGNT) and served as its first presidentmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. In this role, she worked alongside other New Thought leaders (such as Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith) to promote spiritual activism and inter-religious dialogue. Morrissey was one of the first New Thought ministers appointed to the Executive Council of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, helping bring her tradition into global interfaith conversationsmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Representing AGNT, she co-convened three week-long dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, facilitating discussions between the Dalai Lama and world leaders on solutions to critical global issuesmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. She also served as National Co-Chair of A Season for Nonviolence, an annual 64-day campaign launched in 1998 honoring the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – in this capacity, Morrissey spoke at the United Nations three times, including events marking the 50th anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination and the 30th of Dr. King’smary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.commedium.com. In recognition of her contributions, she was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Order of Preachers, an honor bestowed on prominent faith leaders advocating nonviolencemary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. She even met with President Nelson Mandela in South Africa as part of a delegation promoting peace and interfaith cooperationmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com.

Throughout her ministry career, Mary Morrissey championed New Thought spiritual principles – emphasizing the divinity within each person and the power of thoughts to shape reality. She preached that “we are far more powerful and contain more potential than any circumstance” and encouraged her congregants to use faith and visualization to “press through” challenges and achieve personal growthwweek.comwweek.com. Morrissey’s sermons and workshops often blended biblical references with metaphysical concepts, positioning spiritual self-development as a path to both personal fulfillment and global betterment. This approach placed her among the leaders of the late-20th-century human potential movement, alongside figures like Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson.

Teachings, Philosophy, and Key Contributions

Mary Morrissey’s core philosophy centers on the idea that thoughts shape reality, and that each individual can actively co-create a life they love by aligning with spiritual laws. She often refers to the “invisible side of success” – meaning the mental and spiritual aspects behind outward achievementsbravethinkinginstitute.com. In Morrissey’s view, success in any area of life is not just a result of hard work or luck, but of mindset, vision, and alignment with higher principles. She teaches that “life is not happening to you, life is happening through you”spiritualgrowthevents.com – suggesting that we are channels for the creative energy of the universe, and our beliefs and intentions direct that energy into form.

A defining concept in her teaching is that everything is created twice: first on the inside (in thought or imagination), and then in external realitymedium.com. Thus, cultivating a positive, clear inner vision is a key to manifesting desired results. Morrissey emphasizes the importance of replacing limiting beliefs with expansive ones. She often encourages clients to notice negative self-talk or “toxic thinking” and consciously shift to empowering thoughts, on the premise that persistent “toxic thoughts” can produce toxic results in one’s life and even healthmedium.commedium.com. Conversely, nurturing thoughts of possibility and self-worth can lead to what she calls “miracles” – not supernatural events, but dramatic positive changes that once seemed impossible.

Morrissey’s teachings draw from New Thought lineage (thinkers like Ernest Holmes and James Allen), classic self-help, and her own life experiences. She advocates practices such as visualization, affirmations, meditation, and intuitive guidance as tools to achieve one’s dreams. A signature program she developed is the “DreamBuilder” methodology, which guides individuals to define their dream life in four key domains (health, relationships, vocation, and time/money freedom) and systematically work toward those visions. The process involves clarifying what you deeply love, learning to imagine and “feel” it as if already real, and taking brave action steps – all while staying spiritually attuned and trusting in divine support. This approach is encapsulated in her oft-quoted advice: “Start where you are, with what you have; you always have way more than you recognize.”bravethinkinginstitute.combravethinkinginstitute.com

Another notable contribution is Morrissey’s work on the “Law of Attraction” and related principles. She collaborated with prosperity teacher Bob Proctor to create Working With the Law (also known as The Eleven Forgotten Laws), an audio program expanding on the ideas of attraction and universal laws of successmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.comen.wikipedia.org. Mary’s perspective is that these spiritual laws – such as the law of mind, the law of circulation, etc. – are as real as gravity. By understanding and harmonizing with these laws, people can transform their conditions from the inside out. For example, Morrissey teaches the importance of intuition (a nudge from one’s higher self) in decision-making, saying “We all have access to intuition, but we must choose to recognize and develop it”spiritualgrowthevents.com. She encourages students to listen to their longing and discontent as signals guiding them to growth, and to be “brave thinkers” – willing to challenge fear and conventional limits in pursuit of their purpose.

In the realm of personal development and spiritual growth, Mary Morrissey’s key contributions include:

  • Integrating Spirituality with Personal Development: Morrissey helped popularize New Thought philosophy within the mainstream self-help movement. Her work bridges practical goal-setting and spiritual wisdom, showing how meditation, prayer, and visioning can be applied to achieving career success, relationship harmony, financial abundance, and morebravethinkinginstitute.com. This integrated approach has inspired many to view personal growth as a holistic, spiritual journey rather than just a material pursuit.
  • Empowering Women and Diverse Audiences: As a female thought leader who overcame significant life hurdles, Morrissey has been a role model especially to women in the self-improvement space. Her talks and programs often emphasize self-worth and overcoming societal limitations. Notably, she was invited to speak at the inaugural TEDxWilmingtonWomen event in 2016, where she shared the story of “a time when she almost lost everything” and the lessons that enabled her comebackbravethinkinginstitute.com. By openly discussing her failures and resilience, she has offered a message of hope and empowerment to thousands.
  • Global Peace and Interfaith Initiatives: Beyond personal coaching, Morrissey’s contributions extend to global spiritual initiatives. Through AGNT, she co-created the Synthesis Dialogues with the Dalai Lama (spanning 1999–2004) and helped launch the international Season for Nonviolencemedium.com. These efforts applied principles of compassionate communication and “brave thinking” to address world issues, demonstrating Morrissey’s belief that spiritual principles can effect change not just in individual lives but also in communities and societies.
  • “DreamBuilder” and Coaching Programs: Mary is widely recognized as a pioneer in the life coaching field, particularly on the spiritual side of coaching. She has codified her teachings into repeatable programs such as DreamBuilder and Life Mastery, creating a structured curriculum for transformation that many other coaches now utilize. By training and certifying life coaches (through her institute, discussed below), she multiplied her impact, equipping others to spread these ideas. This train-the-trainer model has allowed her philosophy to reach a broad international audience over the years.

In essence, Morrissey’s philosophy is one of possibility and divine partnership: she teaches that each person is an expression of the infinite, capable of transcending circumstances through faith, vision, and inspired action. Her optimistic slogans – “You can create a life you love” or “We’re all stronger than any circumstance” – have resonated with audiences seeking both spiritual meaning and practical improvement in their lives.

Organizations Founded or Led

Living Enrichment Center (1975–2004)

The first major organization Mary Morrissey founded was her church, the Living Enrichment Center (LEC), in the 1970s. As mentioned, LEC grew into a megachurch in the New Thought movement, with thousands of members and a wide-reaching ministrymary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Morrissey led LEC for 23 years, turning it into a hub of spiritual teaching and community. However, in the early 2000s the church was rocked by financial scandal (detailed under Criticism below) and ultimately closed in 2004. This marked a turning point in Morrissey’s career: she transitioned from leading a nonprofit church to operating in the personal development business arena.

LifeSOULutions and Evolving Life Ministries

After the collapse of LEC, Morrissey established new ventures to continue her work outside the traditional church structure. One was “LifeSOULutions”, a for-profit personal development company she co-founded around 2004–2005en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. LifeSOULutions (sometimes styled as “Life Soulutions”) offered seminars and coaching programs and was effectively the bridge between Morrissey’s church ministry and her later institute. She also started a small ministry called Evolving Life Ministriesen.wikipedia.org, possibly to serve those followers who still sought a spiritual community with her after LEC’s closure. During this period, Morrissey’s operations were under close watch by state regulators because of the ongoing efforts to repay former congregants (LifeSOULutions’ corporate structure even drew questions from Oregon officials, as it allowed a partner to receive a large share of revenue not subject to restitution funds)en.wikipedia.org. Despite those complications, these entities kept Morrissey’s work alive and laid the groundwork for her next big chapter.

Life Mastery Institute (2011) and Brave Thinking Institute

In 2011, Mary Morrissey took her mission in a new direction by founding the Life Mastery Institute (LMI), a professional training and coaching organization. As founder and president of LMI, Morrissey created a “training center for transformational coaching,” aimed at teaching others to become life coaches and share the DreamBuilder philosophymary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.commary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Under her leadership, LMI offered certification programs for DreamBuilder Coaches and Life Mastery Consultants, as well as personal development courses for individuals. This represented a shift from serving a single congregation to mentoring a network of coaches and clients globally. LMI grew rapidly as Morrissey leveraged online marketing and partnerships to reach a worldwide audience of aspiring coaches.

Around 2018, Mary Morrissey and her team decided to rebrand LMI in order to unify their many programs and appeal to a broader audience. They chose the name Brave Thinking Institute (BTI), which was actually the title of one of Mary’s flagship courses and encapsulated her emphasis on courageous, expansive thinkingtippinggardner.com. The rebranding was also motivated by legal reasons (securing a unique trademark) and a desire for a fresh, modern identitytippinggardner.com. Under the Brave Thinking Institute banner, all of Morrissey’s offerings – spanning personal Life & Transformation, Love & Relationships, Business & Leadership, Health & Well-Being, and Life Coach Certification – were consolidated into one organization with a cohesive brand visiontippinggardner.com. Mary Morrissey remains the founder and owner of Brave Thinking Institute, which as of the 2020s is described as “the world’s premier center for transformational training and coaching.”bravethinkinginstitute.combravethinkinginstitute.com

Today, the Brave Thinking Institute is the primary vehicle for Mary’s work. It operates numerous programs: from free webinars and short courses up to in-depth 6- or 12-month coaching certifications. Signature programs include DreamBuilder, Life Mastery, Into Your Genius, Working with the Law, and more, each targeting different aspects of personal growth. The institute also hosts live events (often virtually), such as the DreamBuilder Live seminars that Mary leads, and mastermind retreats for advanced students. Through these avenues, Morrissey and her faculty (which includes other coaches she has trained) teach thousands of people annually. According to Morrissey, her companies have collectively reached clients in over 150 countries worldwidemedium.com and have built multiple revenue streams in the multimillions of dollars. In a 2023 interview, Mary noted proudly that she has built “3 multi-million-dollar businesses” in her career (the church being the first, and her coaching enterprises the others)medium.com. This entrepreneurial success is a testament to how she turned her spiritual teachings into a scalable enterprise.

Notably, Mary Morrissey serves as a mentor to many emerging coaches through BTI. Graduates of her Life Coach Certification often credit her with giving them the tools and confidence to launch their own coaching practices. This “multiplier effect” has extended Morrissey’s influence far beyond what she could reach alone. By 2025, Brave Thinking Institute advertises a global community of coaches and students and continues to expand its digital offerings. Mary holds titles such as “CEO Consultant” and “Empowerment Specialist” on her websitemarymorrissey.com, and remains actively engaged in teaching via video lessons, group coaching calls, and stage presentations (albeit now often in online formats).

In summary, Mary Morrissey’s organizational leadership spans from a large nonprofit church to innovative for-profit coaching companies. Key organizations she founded or led include:

  • Living Enrichment Center (LEC): Founder and Senior Minister (c. 1975–2004) – once the largest New Thought church in the U.S.mary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com.
  • Association for Global New Thought (AGNT): Co-founder and first President (est. 1997) – a coalition of New Thought churches and leaders working for peace and interfaith understandingmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com.
  • LifeSOULutions/Evolving Life Ministries: Founder (mid-2000s) – personal development company and ministry that succeeded LECen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
  • Life Mastery Institute (LMI): Founder and President (2011) – a transformational coach training institute, which later became BTImary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com.
  • Brave Thinking Institute (BTI): Founder and Owner (2018–present) – the rebranded evolution of LMI, offering a full suite of programs in personal transformation and coach certificationtippinggardner.com.

Books and Major Publications

Mary Morrissey is a best-selling author, with several notable books and numerous multimedia programs to her name. Her writings typically blend personal stories with spiritual lessons and practical exercises. Below are her major publications:

  • “Building Your Field of Dreams” (1996): This was Morrissey’s breakthrough book. Building Your Field of Dreams is part memoir and part spiritual guidebook, chronicling Mary’s journey of creating her ministry and the power of visioning to achieve one’s dreamsen.wikipedia.org. It lays out seven spiritual principles for manifesting goals (many drawn from Biblical parables and New Thought teachings) and encourages readers to trust the “still small voice” within. The book was well-received and gained a wide audience beyond her congregation. It was later adapted into a televised special on PBSbravethinkinginstitute.commary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. In the late 1990s, PBS often featured motivational programs during pledge drives, and Mary’s Building Your Field of Dreams talk became one such special, raising her national profile.
  • “No Less Than Greatness: The Seven Spiritual Principles That Make Love Possible” (2001): In this follow-up book, Morrissey focused on applying spiritual principles specifically to relationships and love. No Less Than Greatness asserts that true love – whether romantic love, self-love, or divine love – is our birthright, but we must cultivate certain spiritual attitudes to experience it fully. The “seven principles” in the book guide readers to release resentment, live in integrity, deepen forgiveness, and so on, in order to foster healthy, loving relationships. This book also became a bestseller in the self-help and spirituality categorybravethinkinginstitute.com. (Sometimes the title is given with a longer subtitle; it’s referenced in sources as both No Less Than Greatness and No Less Than Greatness: The Seven Spiritual Principles that Make Love Possiblebooks.google.com.)
  • “New Thought: A Practical Spirituality” (2003, editor): Mary served as the editor of this anthology, part of the New Consciousness Reader seriesamazon.com. The book is a collection of essays and writings explaining the New Thought movement – its history, core beliefs, and practical application. Morrissey’s role as editor (and a contributor) reflected her standing as a leading voice in New Thought at the time. It’s often recommended as an introduction to New Thought philosophyamazon.com.
  • “The Miracle Minute” (2009): This is a shorter inspirational book that Mary self-published through her company LifeSOULutions. The Miracle Minute contains daily reflections or “mini-chapters” illustrating how a brief shift in thinking can create a miracle in one’s day. It appears to be a compilation of anecdotes and insights meant to be read in small doses (hence the title). While not as widely known as her earlier books, it is available in hardcover and has been rated highly by her followersamazon.comabebooks.com.
  • Audio Programs: In addition to print books, Morrissey has produced many audio-learning courses. The most famous is Working with the Law (co-authored with Bob Proctor), which was later marketed as The Eleven Forgotten Laws – a comprehensive program on universal laws of successmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.comen.wikipedia.org. She also has audio series like DreamBuilder: Vision, Mindset, and Results, and meditations like Into Your Genius and Visualization: The Power of Your Imagination, among others. Many of these have been distributed as part of her coaching programs or sold through her websites.
  • “Brave Thinking: The Art and Science of Creating a Life You Love” (2023): After a long gap since her last full-length book, Mary Morrissey released Brave Thinking in mid-2023. Published by Page Two Books, this work distills the essence of her teachings and is presented as both a personal memoir and a practical blueprint for transformationmedium.com. In Brave Thinking, Mary shares her own journey of overcoming adversities (including stories from her youth and the church collapse) and sets forth the fundamental principles of her “brave thinking” philosophy – essentially, how to think with courage, imagination, and faith to create extraordinary results. The book outlines tools for readers to implement these ideas in their own lives. Brave Thinking was timed with the expansion of her institute’s brand and serves as a capstone to her legacy of work. In interviews, Mary described the book as containing decades of wisdom and strategies she has seen work for “hundreds of thousands” of peoplemedium.com.

In summary, Mary Morrissey’s bibliography includes two major trade books from the early 2000s, a few niche or self-published works, and a significant new book in 2023. Her early books Building Your Field of Dreams and No Less Than Greatness established her as a reputable author in spirituality, even earning endorsements from other thought leaders (for instance, Building Your Field of Dreams came with a foreword by Dr. Wayne Dyer). Meanwhile, her latest book Brave Thinking reintroduces her message to a contemporary audience. Morrissey’s written and recorded materials have been instrumental in spreading her teachings beyond her live events; many people first encounter her through a book or audio program and then pursue her coaching programs for deeper study.

Public Speaking and Influence in the Personal Development Movement

Mary Morrissey is widely regarded as a dynamic public speaker and teacher, and her speaking engagements over the years reflect her influence in both spiritual and personal development circles. She has a warm, story-rich speaking style and frequently shares the stage with other prominent motivational figures. Here are some highlights of her public speaking career and overall influence:

  • United Nations and International Forums: As noted earlier, Morrissey spoke multiple times at the United Nations in New York, particularly in the late 1990s when she helped organize events for the Season for Nonviolencemary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Addressing the UN is a rare honor for self-help teachers, underscoring her stature within interfaith peace activism. She has also been a presenter at global conferences like the Parliament of World Religions and various international symposiums on spirituality and leadership.
  • Meetings with Global Leaders: Morrissey’s role in the Synthesis Dialogues allowed her not only to meet but to facilitate conversations with the Dalai Lama on multiple occasionsmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. She often mentions that she has had “three different week-long meetings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama” over the yearsmarymorrissey.com. These were private gatherings of spiritual and cultural leaders aimed at brainstorming solutions to world problems. Additionally, her meeting with Nelson Mandela in 1998 in Cape Town (as part of a Gandhi-King delegation) is a point of pride she frequently highlightsmarymorrissey.com. Through such interactions, Morrissey positioned herself as a connector between the New Thought movement and the wider world of global peace initiatives.
  • Human Potential and Self-Help Conferences: Within the personal development industry, Mary Morrissey has shared stages with many big names. She has been a featured speaker at seminars and summits alongside teachers like Bob Proctor, Les Brown, Marianne Williamson, Jack Canfield, and others. For example, she co-hosted events with Bob Proctor (of The Secret fame); one such program was Living Full Spectrum, a live seminar series they taught together on applying spiritual laws of successyoutube.com. At her own Living Enrichment Center, she regularly hosted and introduced guest speakers, which further connected her to luminaries in the field and built her reputation. After transitioning to coaching, Morrissey often keynotes at coaching industry events and new thought churches around the country, reinforcing her influence across both religious and secular personal growth audiences.
  • TEDx Talk: In October 2016, Mary delivered a TEDx talk titled “The Hidden Code for Transforming Dreams into Reality” at TEDxWilmingtonWomenbravethinkinginstitute.com. In this talk, she recounted some of her personal story (including, allusively, the period when she “almost lost everything”) and distilled lessons about how to move confidently in the direction of one’s dreams. Being invited to a TEDx conference – especially one focused on women as change-makers – indicated that Morrissey’s message had appeal beyond her own follower base, resonating with general audiences interested in empowerment. The video of this TEDx talk has since been used as a promotional and inspirational tool by her teamspiritualgrowthevents.com.
  • Media Features: Mary has been featured in major media outlets, further amplifying her voice in the personal development world. Her work has been covered or mentioned by publications like SUCCESS Magazine, Fast Company, HuffPost, USA Today, and CNN, as listed on her official sitemarymorrissey.com. For instance, Success Magazine profiled her on “how to discover your life’s purpose”success.com, and ForbesWomen did an in-depth interview in January 2024 on her “Brave Thinking” approach to achieving goalslinktr.ee. These interviews often focus on her thought leadership and offer advice to readers, thereby extending her influence to professionals and entrepreneurs who follow business media.
  • Mentor to Other Leaders: Over the years, Morrissey has mentored or influenced other spiritual teachers and coaches. As co-founder of AGNT, she worked closely with people like Rev. Michael Beckwith (who later became famous through The Secret)mary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. In the coaching sphere, she has been a colleague to figures like John Maxwell and Mary Manin Morrissey (herself) – which is to say, she is often cited alongside the foremost life coaches. Through her certification programs, she has effectively multiplied her influence by empowering an army of coaches who carry on her methodologies in their own practices. Many of these coaches consider Mary a direct mentor and often invite her to speak on their platforms (webinars, podcasts, etc.), thereby continuously refreshing her reach.
  • Honors and Awards: While not as publicized as some peers, Mary Morrissey has received honors within her field. We mentioned her induction into the MLK Order of Preachersmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. Additionally, she holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (awarded for her humanitarian and interfaith work)bravethinkinginstitute.com. She also earned a Master’s in Counseling Psychology during her early careerbravethinkinginstitute.com, which gave her professional credibility in the counseling domain. These credentials, combined with decades of results, contribute to the respect she commands in the personal development community.

Overall, Mary Morrissey’s influence in the personal development movement is significant. She is often regarded as “one of the elite teachers in personal development”bravethinkinginstitute.com, particularly noted for infusing spiritual depth into the genre. Her willingness to engage both the spiritual establishment (churches, interfaith events) and the secular self-help industry (seminars, media interviews) has allowed her to bridge audiences. As a speaker, her personal storytelling – from overcoming teenage pregnancy and illness to rebuilding after financial ruin – has inspired many who face their own adversities. Today, even in her mid-70s, Mary continues to speak at her own events and occasionally at select conferences, maintaining her role as a guiding voice in the field of transformational coaching.

Media Appearances and “The Secret” Connection

Mary Morrissey’s work has also intersected with popular media in the self-help and spirituality genre. While she was not a featured teacher in the original 2006 film “The Secret,” she became involved in several related projects and media appearances:

  • “Beyond The Secret” (2009): This was a follow-up documentary to The Secret, intended to delve deeper into the Law of Attraction and how to apply it. Mary Morrissey was one of the featured teachers in Beyond The Secret, appearing alongside other motivational speakers like Les Brown, Bob Proctor, Paul Martinelli, and Marcia Wiederimdb.comtvguide.com. In the film, Morrissey shares insights and techniques for manifesting goals, building on the enthusiasm generated by The Secret. Her presence in Beyond The Secret connected her to the broader audience that The Secret had cultivated, and underscored her standing as an expert on the Law of Attraction principles.
  • “The Moses Code” (2008): Mary appeared in another spiritual documentary called The Moses Code, directed by James Twymanmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com. This film explored the concept of using Moses’s biblical code (“I AM that I AM”) as a tool for manifesting miracles and was something of a response to The Secret. Morrissey’s contributions in The Moses Code align with her background as a minister, discussing how ancient spiritual wisdom can be applied to modern life challenges. Her Working With the Law material with Bob Proctor was also featured in this film’s contextmary-manin-morrissey.blogspot.com.
  • “The Inner Weigh” (2010): According to one source, Mary Morrissey appears in The Inner Weigh, a documentary about using one’s subconscious mind to achieve healthy weight and body imageen.wikipedia.org. The film applies Law of Attraction ideas to weight loss and personal wellness. Morrissey’s inclusion here shows the range of topics her philosophy can touch – in this case, melding spirituality with physical health transformation.
  • Television and Radio: Beyond documentaries, Mary has been interviewed or featured on various TV and radio programs over the years. For example, as noted earlier, her Building Your Field of Dreams lecture aired on PBS as a specialbravethinkinginstitute.com. She has also appeared on talk shows on networks like CNN (her site mentions a CNN appearance) and on morning news programs discussing how to overcome adversity or find one’s purpose. Additionally, Morrissey’s proximity to figures like Dr. Wayne Dyer and Oprah’s circle of authors placed her in the milieu of inspirational media, though she herself did not have an Oprah Winfrey Show appearance that we know of. She did, however, write guest pieces for HuffPost and other online outlets which function as media exposure.
  • Podcasts and Online Media: In recent years, Mary has actively embraced online media. She hosts the “Brave Thinking Institute Podcast”, where she shares lessons and also interviews other experts. She’s been a guest on numerous podcasts, such as The Miracle Morning Podcast (episode titled “How Your Thoughts Determine Your Success”)miraclemorning.com. On YouTube, her team maintains an official channel with hundreds of videos of Mary giving short lessons, affirmations, and clips from live events. Some of her YouTube content has garnered significant views, further amplifying her reach to a younger, digital-native audience.
  • Social Media and Live Streaming: Mary Morrissey maintains an active social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), often doing Facebook Live sessions or Instagram videos with quick motivational messages. For instance, she has shared stories about her interactions with the Dalai Lama on these platformspinterest.com, which tend to get circulated among fans. Her professional, polished online image (her websites and social profiles are carefully managed) has prompted some observers to note that negative reviews are hard to find – an indication of how well-curated her media presence isreddit.comreddit.com.

In summary, Mary Morrissey’s involvement with media projects like “The Secret” is tangential but noteworthy. She wasn’t in the original Secret, yet she collaborated closely with Secret teachers (Bob Proctor, Michael Beckwith, etc.) and appeared in subsequent films (Beyond The Secret, Moses Code) that rode the same wave of interest in the Law of Attraction. Her own teachings and persona fit neatly into that narrative, which likely helped her attract clients during the late 2000s self-help boom. Moreover, her savvy use of television, print, and digital media over the years has solidified her as a recognizable name in personal development. Even those who haven’t attended her seminars might recall seeing her on a PBS pledge drive or in a list of Secret-related teachers. This media exposure has both expanded her influence and, as we’ll see next, drawn some criticism from skeptics who are wary of the Law of Attraction movement.

Criticism and Controversies

Despite her success and the genuine praise she receives from many followers, Mary Morrissey’s career has not been without controversy and criticism. There are two major areas of critique: (1) the financial scandal and collapse of her Living Enrichment Center church, and (2) skepticism about her current teachings and business practices in the life-coaching industry.

1. Living Enrichment Center Scandal (Early 2000s): In 2004, Mary Morrissey’s thriving church abruptly imploded due to severe financial mismanagement. The situation stemmed from years of unchecked borrowing and spending. Mary’s then-husband, Edward Morrissey, had been serving as CFO of the church and, over time, embezzled or misappropriated a large amount of money – later estimated at over $1 million – from church fundsmedium.com. To cover shortfalls, the Morrisseys had solicited loans totaling $10.7 million from church members, effectively treating congregants as private lendersen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. When the scheme unraveled, LEC was left $20 million in debt and on the brink of bankruptcywweek.comwweek.com. In March 2004, Mary resigned as the church’s CEO amid the crisis (though she initially hoped to remain as spiritual leader)wweek.com. That year the church shut its doors for good.

The legal aftermath was serious. In 2005, Edward Morrissey pleaded guilty to money laundering and fraud charges for using church money to pay for personal expenses for himself and Maryen.wikipedia.org. He was sentenced to federal prison (serving about a year)en.wikipedia.org. Importantly, Mary Morrissey was never criminally charged, but court documents and her own attorney acknowledged that the couple had commingled funds and that Mary, as the church leader, had also pressured members into making the questionable loansen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. In a deal with prosecutors, Ed’s guilty plea came on the condition that Mary would not be prosecuteden.wikipedia.org. However, Mary did sign a consent agreement with Oregon state regulators, accepting responsibility to repay the entire $10.7 million owed to congregants (essentially treating it as an unregistered securities issue)en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.

Critics argue that Mary Morrissey escaped lightly given the scale of the debacle. By 2006, it was reported she had repaid only around $24,000 – a minuscule fraction of the debten.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. The Wilsonville Spokesman newspaper calculated that at the rate she was paying, it would take 300 years to clear the debten.wikipedia.org. A KATU News report bluntly stated the debt “may never be repaid”en.wikipedia.org. Understandably, many former church members felt betrayed and angry. Some lost life savings in the loans and were upset that Mary avoided prosecution and was allowed to continue new venturesen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. As part of the settlement, both Mary and Ed Morrissey were barred from leading any nonprofit organizations or selling securities in Oregon thereafteren.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. Mary also divorced Edward around this time, distancing herself from the scandal on a personal levelen.wikipedia.org.

Morrissey has since expressed remorse for the collapse of LEC. She acknowledges that her “blind trust” in her husband and her failure to oversee financial affairs contributed to the downfallmedium.commedium.com. In reflections, she admitted she ignored warning signs due to fear of public embarrassment (she dreaded the stigma of a second divorce more than the irregularities happening)medium.com. Ultimately, she has framed the episode as a profound learning experience: losing her church, home, and reputation forced her to “begin again” with greater humility and wiser stewardship. By her own account, Morrissey spent the next 14 years working to repay debts, and claims that by 2016 she succeeded in paying it off entirelymedium.com – though this claim is difficult to verify against the earlier reports of default. Regardless, the LEC scandal remains a major tarnish on her record in the eyes of critics, some of whom label LEC as a “cult-like” environment where followers were too unquestioning and Morrissey held too much unchecked authority over finances.

2. Criticism of Current Teachings and Business Practices: In the realm of her life coaching business, Mary Morrissey has faced skepticism common to many self-help gurus. Detractors question both the efficacy of her methods and the cost of her programs:

  • Law of Attraction Skepticism: As a proponent of Law of Attraction-style teachings, Morrissey is inevitably a target for those who dismiss these concepts as pseudoscience or even exploitative. One outspoken skeptic commented that the very premise of her work – that by thinking positively and focusing on one’s desires, the “universe will hand them to you” – is “a load of nonsense.”reddit.com This critic equated Mary with the trend of The Secret and its predecessors, suggesting that she profits by repackaging age-old wishful thinking under new branding. “Mary Morrissey is rich not because she manifested wealth through positive thinking … but because she’s charismatic enough to convince people to spend $30,000 on her nonsense,” the commenter wrote bluntlyreddit.comreddit.com. Such criticism highlights a view that Morrissey’s success may owe more to savvy marketing and the desperation of people seeking quick fixes, than to any unique wisdom.
  • High Prices and “Coaching Pyramid” Allegations: Indeed, a frequent critique is that the Brave Thinking Institute programs are extremely expensive. Reports from participants indicate that becoming a certified “DreamBuilder Coach” or Life Mastery Consultant can cost tens of thousands of dollars in fees. In one review, a user noted being quoted $40,000 for a 6-month coaching program and was alarmed that the course lacked any accreditation by independent coaching organizationsmary-morrissey.pissedconsumer.com. The reviewer flagged these as “red flags,” comparing the hard-sell tactics to a “timeshare” pitch and warning others to beware of the emotional pressure to buy inmary-morrissey.pissedconsumer.commary-morrissey.pissedconsumer.com. Similarly, on forums like Reddit, people have inquired whether Brave Thinking Institute operates as a form of multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme, since graduates are encouraged to recruit clients (and sometimes new coaches) and the marketing is very polished with almost no negative reviews visiblereddit.comreddit.com. While BTI is not literally an MLM (there’s no indication of commissions for recruiting coaches, for example), these discussions reflect a concern that it might be more focused on selling costly dream-building “kits” and trainings than on delivering value commensurate with the price.
  • Complaint Boards: Websites like PissedConsumer host a few complaints from former customers of Mary Morrissey’s programs. Common themes include feeling that the program delivery did not match the big promises made, high-pressure sales funnels (e.g. free webinars leading to expensive upsells), and difficulties obtaining refundsmary-morrissey.pissedconsumer.commary-morrissey.pissedconsumer.com. It must be noted that, relative to the size of her business, the number of public complaints is not huge – as some have pointed out, her team is very proactive in managing their online reputationreddit.com. But the complaints that do surface align with the general criticism: overpricing and under-delivering, in the eyes of those who expected more tangible outcomes.
  • Balance of Praise vs. Critique: On the other side of these critiques, Morrissey’s supporters argue that the high investment in her programs is worthwhile, citing personal breakthroughs and business successes that resulted. Many testimonials (which her marketing prominently features) speak of life-changing experiences, increased income, improved relationships, etc., attributing them to Mary’s coaching and the supportive community she fostersspiritualgrowthevents.comspiritualgrowthevents.com. This highlights the highly subjective nature of judging self-improvement programs – what one person decries as a “scam,” another celebrates as priceless mentorship. Mary herself often addresses skepticism by highlighting her decades of study and the thousands of success stories, positioning her methods as proven by both science and spiritual tradition.

In conclusion, Mary Morrissey’s legacy is complex. She is undoubtedly a visionary leader who has touched many lives, yet her journey has been marred by a major scandal and ongoing debates about the legitimacy of her approach. The financial collapse of her megachurch remains a cautionary tale about mixing spirituality with money, and it continues to shadow her reputation among some in the New Thought community. Meanwhile, as her coaching enterprise prospers, it draws the kind of scrutiny now familiar with high-ticket self-help programs: Are they empowering transformations or “get-rich-for-the-guru” schemes? Mary’s story illustrates both the inspiring potential and the possible pitfalls in the realm of spiritual personal development.

Current Projects and Legacy

As of 2025, Mary Morrissey continues to be active in her mission of empowering others to “create a life they love.” Her current focus is on expanding the Brave Thinking Institute and cementing the legacy of her teachings for future generations. Here are some key aspects of her present work and enduring legacy:

  • Brave Thinking Institute Programs: The Institute regularly updates and offers a range of courses. Recent courses include the Brave Thinking Masters Program, advanced training for experienced DreamBuilders, and niche workshops like “Into Your Genius” (exploring six faculties of the mind) and “Working with the Law” (applying universal laws to business and life). Morrissey often appears in live online events – for example, multi-day virtual summits or “challenge” programs – which serve as both teaching sessions and introductions to her larger curriculum. The flagship Life Coach Certification is an ongoing program, with multiple cohorts each year, through which Mary and her faculty certify new coaches who will spread the Brave Thinking message. She also still delivers her signature DreamBuilder LIVE seminars (recently these have been held virtually and occasionally in person in Los Angeles or other major cities). Participants in 2025 can access a blend of self-paced online lessons and interactive coaching from Mary and her team, reflecting how her delivery has adapted to the digital era while keeping her personal touch.
  • Books and Publications: Morrissey’s Brave Thinking book (2023) is a current project in the sense that she’s actively promoting it and perhaps developing companion materials or workshops around it. There is talk that she might launch a Brave Thinking workbook or an online course that walks readers through the exercises in the book, to deepen its impact. Additionally, Mary occasionally writes articles on her blog and for external publications. She contributes pieces that encapsulate her philosophy on timely topics (for instance, finding purpose during turbulent times, or tips for goal-setting in the New Year). These writings help keep her voice in the public conversation of self-development.
  • Mentoring and New Leaders: A significant part of Mary’s legacy is the community of “Brave Thinkers” and coaches she has cultivated. She often expresses that her goal is to equip others to continue the work: “to ensure the organization’s success for generations to come.”tippinggardner.com In line with that, she has groomed a number of master coaches on her team who can teach the programs (names like Jennifer Jiménez, Mat Boggs, etc., who appear as faculty on the institute’s site). These individuals are effectively the next generation carrying forward Morrissey’s methodologies. Mary’s son, John Boggs, is also involved as the Director of the Business & Leadership division of Brave Thinking Institute, indicating a family legacy aspect. By empowering these leaders and certifying thousands of independent coaches, Mary is ensuring that her influence persists even as she eventually steps back from day-to-day work.
  • Philanthropy and Social Impact: Mary Morrissey’s later years have also been about giving back and social impact. Through Brave Thinking Institute, she supports various charitable causes. For example, part of the proceeds from some events go to organizations aligned with her values (like programs for empowering women and girls, or education initiatives in developing countries). While not heavily publicized, she remains connected to interfaith and humanitarian efforts. Morrissey has also been involved in AGNT’s continued activities; AGNT sponsors initiatives like the Global New Thought Peace Initiative and spiritual activist conferences, and Mary’s early leadership there is part of her legacy of service beyond just her own company.
  • Continued Personal Development Advocacy: Even in her mid-70s, Morrissey embodies the principle of lifelong growth. She sometimes shares with her audience what she herself is currently learning or which mentors she consults (she’s mentioned still being in masterminds or studying material from newer science of mind research, etc.). This aspect of her persona – as a fellow traveler on the journey of transformation – endears her to long-time followers and adds credibility that she practices what she preaches. It also shows how she stays updated with evolving knowledge in psychology and spirituality, integrating new insights into her teachings.
  • Overall Legacy: Mary Morrissey’s overall legacy can be viewed on multiple levels:
    • Spiritual Legacy: In the New Thought religious community, she will be remembered as the charismatic minister who built a record-breaking ministry, co-founded a global interfaith network (AGNT), and brought New Thought into dialogue with world leaders. Despite the scandal that ended that chapter, many still respect the spiritual vision she demonstrated and the innovation of something like LEC which combined church with retreat center and multimedia outreach.
    • Literary and Educational Legacy: Through her books and programs, Morrissey has left behind a body of work that encapsulates her philosophy. Building Your Field of Dreams and No Less Than Greatness continue to be read, and now Brave Thinking stands as a comprehensive guide that can influence future seekers. Additionally, her concepts like DreamBuilder have become almost a brand of their own in coaching.
    • Influence on Coaching Industry: Arguably her biggest legacy is the impact on the coaching industry. Mary Morrissey was an early adopter of life coaching within a spiritual context. By professionalizing it (with a certification program) and scaling it globally, she helped pave the way for many similar coaching academies. The fact that Brave Thinking Institute has alumni in dozens of countries means her methodologies will likely persist in practice, as those coaches teach clients, who teach others, and so on. She’s created a ripple effect of “dream builders.”
    • Personal Narrative of Resilience: Finally, Mary’s life story – surviving teen pregnancy, cheating death at 18, achieving great heights then losing everything and rebuilding – is itself part of her legacy. It serves as a powerful example of resilience and reinvention. For many, that narrative is as impactful as her specific teachings. It shows that transformation is an ongoing process and that failure can be a stepping stone rather than an endpoint.

In her own words, Mary Morrissey often says she wants to be remembered as someone who “loved well, served many, and helped people realize their own greatness.” As it stands, she has already influenced hundreds of thousands of individuals through her sermons, books, and coaching programsmarymorrissey.commarymorrissey.com. Her legacy is a testament to the idea that dreams can be built – even rebuilt – and that one person’s vision, when shared bravely, can ignite transformation in countless others.

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