Masterful Living

What is Masterful Living? A masterful piece of art opens a window on the nature of the artist. It embodies and becomes an extension of its creator. You are God's artwork. You can be transformed into the image of the Master by becoming full of God's nature. Not through a list of do's and don'ts. Not through trying harder. Not even through a lifetime of religious activity. Masterful Living is holy living because you're full of the Master - who is holy. Learn how God can become visible in you, transforming you and extending outward from the center of your life through: Transformed Character, Responsible Engagement, Healthy Relationships, Wise Decisions, Integrated Life, Purposeful Heart, Servant Leadership, Meaningful Work, Curious Thinking, and Restored Self. Begin Masterful Living now!

Benjamin Franklin was in his early twenties when he embarked on a "bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection," intending to master the virtues of temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. He soon gave up on perfection but continued to believe that these virtues, coupled with a generous heart and a bemused acceptance of human frailty, laid the foundation for not only a good life but also a workable society. Writer and visual artist Teresa Jordan wondered if Franklin's perhaps antiquated notions of virtue might offer guidance to a nation increasingly divided by angry righteousness. She decided to try to live his list for a year, focusing on each virtue for a week at a time and taking weekends off to attend to the seven deadly sins. The journal she kept became this collection of beautifully illustrated essays, weaving personal anecdotes with the views of theologians, philosophers, ethicists, evolutionary biologists, and a whole range of scholars and scientists within the emerging field of consciousness studies. Teresa Jordan offers a wry and intimate journey into a year in midlife devoted to the challenge of trying to live authentically.

It can be challenging to feel like you don't belong, like you're on the outside looking in. That feeling of exclusion and loneliness can be so painful. But there is hope, that's what this book is all about. Nine incredible women have come together to share their stories of struggle and triumph. Each story is a pearl in a beautiful string, connected by the thread of belonging. As you read these stories, you'll feel the expanse of human emotion - the expectation, excitement, and joyfulness that comes from finding your place in the world. Through the common humanity that connects us, we see ourselves in others. A reminder we're all in this together. This book is a gift, created with love by women for women. It's written to uplift and inspire, to bring you a sense of hope and joy. Dive in, be entertained, delighted, and share in the personal victories of these amazing women. As you read, may you find your own path to belonging, and know that you are loved and valued just as you are.

Designed to encourage readers to spend time reading and meditating on the truth of God's Word, these brief devotions, based solidly in Scripture, are ideal for reading over morning coffee, waiting in the car for children after school, or anytime people “on the go” want to make the most of just a few minutes. These devotions will encourage men and women to meditate on God's Word daily, even in the midst of a busy, active schedule.

Introduction for the book "The power of Letting Go" Does your past continue to haunt you? Do you struggle with forgiving others—or even yourself? Do regrets, worries and anger weigh you down? If so, you're not alone. Most people have experienced deep wounds, resentment and fear that won't seem to loosen their grip. Holding onto our hurts and mistakes is a heavy burden that robs us of joy, ruins relationships, and causes chronic stress. Yet letting go seems difficult, if not Impossible for most of us. We tell ourselves that forgetting the past means we've somehow accepted or excused injustice. Or we worry that releasing anxieties will leave us unprepared and vulnerable. However, emerging research shows the opposite Is true. There is a real art to letting go that brings profound healing, empowerment and inner peace. In The Art of Letting Go, you'll learn research-backed and scientifically proven techniques to embrace forgiveness, live fully in the present, and build emotional resilience. With clear, practical guidance, letting go will become easy—even natural—by following the five-step journey in this book: Understand Why You Must Let Go Too often we underestimate the toll of clinging to emotional wounds and the past. Part One covers eye-opening studies on how dwelling on hurts, mistakes and anger literally shortens lives while contributing to ulcers, hypertension and lowered immunity. You'll discover astounding facts on why those who forgive enjoy better quality relationships, less anxiety and depression, improved sleep health, and live as much as 10 years longer! Cultivate Acceptance and Forgiveness Forgiving others is one of the greatest struggles in the human experience. The same goes for self-forgiveness too. Building acceptance and offering forgiveness will be your focus In Part Two. You'll find scripts and step-by-step advice on having courageous conversations and making amends. Plus, an entire chapter covers potent self-forgiveness mantras and techniques endorsed by top therapists when shame and regret are holding you back. Live in the Now We human beings sure love living in the past and worrying about the future! Part Three offers you the keys to residing fully in the present moment—which is the only real way to properly live. The book introduces handy mindfulness tricks you can do anytime, anywhere to halt destructive thoughts about what might have been or what could go wrong next. You'll learn how to tune into your senses, appreciate every experience, and see past and future thinking for what they really are: distractions robbing you of the here and now. Let Go of Future Fears You may have heard that worry helps us prepare and plan ahead. However, science shows that excessive worrying actually backfires! In Part Four, discover how to discern helpful vs unhelpful fears about tomorrow. You'll be equipped with techniques derived from exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral approaches to nip anxious thoughts in the bud and build your tolerance to uncertainty. Maintain Peace After Letting Go Alas, letting go Is not a one-and-done process. Life Inevitably brings new hurts and worries over time. In Part Five, you'll focus on setting healthy boundaries with people, finding self-validation so that you don't regress back to seeking external approval, and responding thoughtfully (not reacting) when life gets rocky. The book's final chapter is filled with joyful guided meditations, self-care rituals, and celebrating how magnificent life feels with Inner peace and emotional freedom! By the journey's end, you'll feel a weight lifted after releasing years of unnecessary burdens. Letting go liberates you to live each moment to the fullest with optimism, wisdom and wonder like you did as a child. Turn the page to begin

Bill and Pam Farrel, bestselling authors of Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti (more than 260,000 copies sold) and The 10 Best Decisions a Couple Can Make, now lead single men and women through the ten most influential decisions they can make to embrace faith, fulfillment, and purpose. With candor and humor, the Farrels present ten decisions that will help singles live a full life instead of a “life on hold” choose celibacy for the purpose of ultimate fulfillment choose community and activity over isolation or self-focus wake up to the significance of their life and the opportunities ahead give their dreams, relationships, careers, and decisions to God Biblical insights and life examples offer spiritual encouragement and practical guidance for those desiring a complete life as a single and as a person who is open to God’s plan for their future.

In 2006, U.S. News and World Report listed coaching as one of the 10 top growing professions. The first edition of Therapist as Life Coach, published in 2002, anticipated this trend, and since its publication it has become a standard for therapists who wish to transition or expand their practices into life coaching. Pat Williams and Deborah C. Davis have finally revised their classic practice-building book for today's therapists and future coaches. Every chapter in this second edition has been updated and rewritten, reflecting the growth of the coaching field and its increasing appeal to not only therapists, but all helping professionals. The book begins by exploring the history of the coaching movement and shows how society is hungry for life coaches. The second part of the book explains in detail the differences and similarities between coaching and therapy, discusses the coaching relationship, and considers some of the skills therapists will need to learn and unlearn in order to reclaim their joyfulness about their work. Professional transition tools such as developing and marketing your practice and honing your coaching skills are discussed at length in Part Three. The final section moves beyond basic life coaching to introduce coaching specialties such as corporate coaching, offers self-care strategies for life coaches, and peeks into the future of life coaching. There is new material throughout, including an overview of recent coaching developments, updated liability concerns, new business opportunities, and a new section on the research about coaching. Coaching gives practitioners the opportunity to break free of managed care and excessive reliance on the insurance industry and to work with a wide range of clients—specifically, those who are not suffering from mental illness but, rather, seeking to maximize their life potential. This book will help you enter this lucrative and personally enriching world with the skills and knowledge you need to build a successful coaching practice.