Acknowledgments Table of Contents 1. Indestructible 2. Contentment 3. It Takes Commitment 4. Living with Yourself 5. Living with Others 6. How Are You Using Your Words? 7. Are Your Feelings and Emotions Positive or Negative? 8. What’s in Your Head? 9. Goals 10. Marriage and Parenting 11. Happiness—It’s Your Choice!
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60801 1. Indestructible
1 Indestructible As a professional counselor I’ve met with men and women from all walks of life; lawyers, janitors, doctors, dentists, nurses, factory workers, business people, waiters and waitresses, tradespersons, executives, laborers, the unemployed, the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, those from good homes and those from miserable homes. When these …
60802 2. Contentment
2 Contentment We have all heard someone wistfully say: “If I could only get that promotion, then I would be happy.” “Being a stay at home mom is degrading. If only I had a job, then I would be happy.” “If my husband would only pay more attention to me, then I would be happy.” …
60803 3. It Takes Commitment
3 It Takes Commitment Almost everyone who comes to my office for counseling has been in pursuit of the advantages of life, but something has seemed to stand in their way. Their happiness and sense of self-worth or self-respect have been shattered. If their self-worth and self-respect are intact, then the lack of joy in …
60804 4. Living with Yourself
4 Living with Yourself Living with yourself begins with self-respect, and self-respect includes having a good self-image. As you consider your self-respect, it is important to evaluate yourself in in five key areas: behavior, speech, reactions, thoughts, and goals. Behavior. Think about what you have done this week. Some of your behavior has been commendable, …
60805 5. Living with Others
5 Living with Others We just discussed the importance of living with yourself. However, your behavior with and toward others is just as important in building self-respect. And I have discovered that our interactions with other people often reveal unexpected, self-centered behavior. My Trip with a Good Friend Several years ago, a mission organization executive …
60806 6. How Are You Using Your Words?
6 How Are You Using Your Words? The use of words is the most common subject that comes up when people come to see me for counseling. With words we compliment and praise one another. Our words can be comforting, helpful, supportive, and instructive, revealing all the good things that are on our mind. At …
60807 7. Are Your Feelings and Emotions Positive or Negative?
7 Are Your Feelings and Emotions Positive or Negative? A friend of mine was the supervisor of summer volunteers for a mission organization. He shared this story with me that illustrates that how we respond to our life situations really does make all the difference in the world. He assigned two couples to different areas …
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60808 8. What’s in Your Head?
8 What’s in Your Head? What goes on in your head is the most private part of your inner life. The longer I work with people, the more convinced I am that everyone can and does control his or her own mind. We make our own decisions, and no one can change them. Power to …
60809 9. Goals
9 Goals I’m firmly convinced that the goals we set for ourselves account for one of the most crucial factors of all in helping us to experience happiness. Goals bring life into focus. They give meaning and purpose to life. But they must all be grounded in God’s plans and purposes. Climbing Mt. Whitney I …