I was in terrible need of something inspiring to read. Not even the Cubs winning the World Series after 108 years could pull me from this weird slump I've been in lately. To top it off, we've been having amazing weather the last few weeks here in the greater Chicagoland area... yet, here I was. Stuck and in an irreversible circle of blah.
So, I decided to take a stab at reading something positive. Joel Osteen's Think Better, Live Better: Deleting Negative Thoughts, Labels, and Attitudes reared it's shiny head in my Kindle's carousel. Let me be clear, I'm not religious nut or zealot (although I have no problem with them... I have quite a few in my family), I don't think you need to be to feel inspired by the words of encouragement provided in this read.
I'm not sure if it's because I was raised in a religious home, but at times I find comfort in the stories of the Bible where people are faced with unbelievable odds and still triumph. REALLY, don't we all cheer for the underdog? So, I knew going forward with this book, like in other's I've read by Osteen, that biblical references would be used to make a point. But, thankfully for those Bible-phobes, he includes his own real life experiences and those of people he's met, to get his point across that it's important to delete negativity from our minds.
Joel Osteen continuously drills into the readers that we aren't who we are labeled to be and are in fact perfectly made. We are not the person who was called "fat", "ugly", or "stupid". That we are not bound to the limitations given to us by man. It is imperative to our success that we remove doubt and live our lives free of the chains placed on us. I needed to hear this. I needed to know that I don't suck so bad. And, although I really think there's a target on my back at work, that none of the weapons used against me will succeed. I'm great at my job and I will continue to thrive in the company I work for because the darts and spears thrown by my enemies will not succeed.
Readers beware!!!! Think Better, Live Better is actually very repetitive. It's conversational tone does not do anything to hide this flaw. Honestly, it did get a little annoying, but ironically, I deleted that negative thought and figured, I need to stop being so negative. This man wrote a novel to encourage me and help me to be a better person. The least I can do is hear him out... over and over again. If I had let that negativity set in, I would have missed all the small gems such as not waking up in the morning in neutral. Instead, wake up claiming it to be a great day.
Joel Osteen's section on allowing, or renting space, to worries or negativity speaks volumes to me. I am the queen of worry. Even writing my reviews, I worry so much on not offending someone that I have to take a step back and remember I must be honest.
In conclusion, Think Better, Live Better: Deleting Negative Thoughts, Labels, and Attitudes was just what I needed to get out of the slump I've been in the last few weeks... actually probably my whole life. Sure, Osteen has made clear to me that restructuring my thinking will take time, but I'm willing to take the journey. It's inspiring to think of the possibilities that lie ahead if I can just put in the work of thinking better.
Copy provided by FaithWords via Netgalley
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