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Description
Sujets
Informations
Publié par | Inspiring Voices |
Date de parution | 19 avril 2012 |
Nombre de lectures | 0 |
EAN13 | 9781462401130 |
Langue | English |
Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0240€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.
Extrait
Also by Linda Slaton Anderson
Celebrating the Church Seasons
Also by Seth C. Anderson
Closed-End Funds, Exchange-Traded Funds, and Hedge Funds:
Origins, Functions, and Literature
Exploring the Investments Jungle
Investment Management and Mismanagement: History, Findings and Analysis
Mutual Funds: Fift y Years of Research Findings
Confessions of an Expert Witness
Closed-End Fund Pricing: Theories and Evidence
Introduction to Mutual Funds
Initial Public Off erings: Findings and Theories
Closed-End Investment Companies: Issues and Answers
Keys to
Happiness, Health, and Prosperity
The Joy Guide
Linda Slaton Anderson
and Seth C. Anderson
Copyright © 2012 Linda Slaton Anderson and Seth C. Anderson
Photographer for author photo on back cover: Bob Sanders © Image House 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:
Inspiring Voices
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.inspiringvoices.com
1-(866) 697-5313
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0112-3 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0113-0 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012936895
Inspiring Voices rev. date: 5/11/2012
Key to Biblical References
All biblical references were accessed online. Unless otherwise noted, all biblical references are to the New International Version Bible. The key below provides abbreviations of other versions used:
ESV English Standard Version
KJV King James Version
NAB New American Bible
NLT New Living Translation
Disclaimer: The Joy Guide: Keys to Happiness, Health, and Prosperity is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not a replacement for the medical counsel provided by your personal physician.
Contents
Preface
Section I: Happiness
Chapter 1Happiness: Finding Joy in Daily Living
Chapter 2Love: A Many-Splendored Thing
Chapter 3 Friendship: The Spice of Life
Chapter 4 Worry Less and Enjoy Life More
Chapter 5 Keys to a Positive Attitude
Chapter 6 Kindness Is a Boomerang
Chapter 7 Something to Smile About
Chapter 8 How to Deal with Difficult People
Chapter 9 Words of Wisdom
Chapter 10 Finding Comfort during Times of Loss
Section II: Health
Chapter 11Keys to a Long, Healthy Life
Chapter 12 Discovering the Fountain of Youth
Chapter 13 Laughter: The Best Medicine
Chapter 14 Music: A Prescription for Health
Chapter 15 Techniques for Improving Memory
Chapter 16 Living Conscientiously
Chapter 17Good Night, Sleep Tight
Chapter 18Sunshine Brightens Your Day!
Chapter 19 The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Section III: Prosperity
Chapter 20 Budgeting Your Money
Chapter 21 Investing for the Future
Chapter 22 Sharing Your Financial Resources
Chapter 23 Providing for Others after Your Death
Section IV: Tying It All Together
Chapter 24 Conclusion
Chapter 25 Format for Group Discussions
About the Authors
Endnotes
To our children,
Lela, Frank, and Richard
You can have peace of mind, improved health and an ever-increasing flow of energy.
Life can be full of joy and satisfaction.
~ Norman Vincent Peale 1
Preface
“Your job is to make us happy!” These words were spoken to me one day by a participant in a counseling program I was leading, and, in a nutshell, this directive reflects my objective in writing The Joy Guide: Keys to Happiness, Health, and Prosperity. Although I can not make you happy, God can. The chapters that follow will provide you with suggestions that promote a joyful future for you and your family.
Do you know that God’s plan is for us to be joyful? In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we are told, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This mandate leads us to the awareness of the joy that comes from God’s loving presence within us, regardless of what is happening around us.
As part of my work as a counselor, I present talks on self-improvement topics. This book is a compilation of the research I have done for many of these talks. Written from a Christian perspective, sections I, II, and IV include suggestions on techniques that can enhance our spiritual, psychological, and physiological well-being. My husband, Seth, generously contributed his expertise as a finance professor and consultant in writing about prosperity in section III. Each chapter in the first three sections is self-contained and independent of the others, so you may read the chapters in any order you choose.
Seth and I hope you will find all four sections of The Joy Guide to be helpful in enriching your own joyful journey. Of course, considering the vastness of the subject matter, this book is not comprehensive. We hope the material presented will be as enjoyable and interesting for you to read as it was for us to write.
By making scriptures come alive with practical applications for daily living, The Joy Guide is a reader-friendly resource for group discussions, such as book clubs, Bible study programs, Sunday school, and Christian formation classes. A suggested format for group discussion is included as the last chapter.
Throughout our marriage, I have provided editorial support for Seth’s academic publications. However, this time the tables are reversed, and he has helped to edit my own writing. I am forever grateful to him for sharing his insights, wisdom, and time with this endeavor. I also appreciate the helpful suggestions offered by our daughter, Lela.
Many thanks to Ryan Carlberg, Amanda Parsons, Lisa Worman, and the entire publishing team at Inspiring Voices for their guidance. It has been a pleasure working with them.
Depression and mental health issues may be caused by factors beyond the scope of this book. In such cases, consultation with a physician or therapist may be helpful.
It is our hope that your spirits will be uplifted by the information, anecdotes, humor, scripture, and words of inspiration that await you in this book. In weaving the wisdom of the ages with the findings of modern research, The Joy Guide will enhance the quality of your daily life and will provide you with tools for finding joy.
We welcome your feedback. Please contact us at thejoyguide@yahoo.com with your comments. We look forward to hearing from you.
Linda Slaton Anderson
April 6, 2012
Section I: Happiness
Chapter 1 Happiness: Finding Joy in Daily Living
Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice!
~ Philippians 4:4
Happiness has been pursued throughout the ages, though some have found it to be elusive. Authentic happiness is not a state of mindless bliss, for it is perfectly normal to experience a range of emotions over the course of our lives. Rather, it is the attainment of balance in life, characterized by inner peace and joy. It is an awareness of God’s loving presence within us, not the absence of life’s difficulties.
Learning to appreciate the simple pleasures of each day can help us discover God’s plan for living abundantly. The suggestions that follow may enhance our quest for joy.
Nurture Relationships: Comedian George Burns quipped, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” 2 Yet, in reality, the quality of our relationships with our family and friends is a significant predictor of happiness. 3 Research indicates that the cultivation of satisfying interpersonal relationships is a key component of happiness.
Go to Church Religiously: Numerous studies show that people who are religious are healthier and happier than those who are not. 4 In fact, churchgoers are about twice as likely to report being “very happy” as those who do not attend religious services. 5 Spiritual people suffer significantly less depression and have lower incidences of substance abuse and suicide than do secularists. 6
During the first two decades of my marriage, I thought of myself as a “Sunday widow.” My husband, Seth, was supportive of my own spiritual journey, and although he encouraged me to take our children to church, he rarely attended church with us. However, once Seth decided to become active in church, his outlook on life became healthier and more joyful, and as a result, the quality of our entire family’s daily life improved immeasurably.