Much of the popular literature about depression, anxiety and stress says that these conditions are so complicated that we need experts to explain them to us. Some writers say they are diseases; we need medical experts to understand them. Some say they are “disorders” so that, in addition to medical experts we need behavioral experts to tell us how our brain works. Others say we need master teachers to explain the universal truths of Eastern religion before we can fully understand our troubling feelings. Is it really true that our feelings are so complicated that we must rely on scientists and philosophers to explain them to us? This workbook gives a clear answer: NO. “The Thinking, Doing and Believing Workbook” views depression, anxiety and stress as normal human feelings. The problem is not that we have these feelings, it is that we neglect the messages they convey. When we neglect them they disrupt our daily functioning and, if we persist in neglecting them, they can ruin the quality of our lives. The Developmental Approach presented in this workbook notes the many ways we actively contribute to our depressive, anxious and stressful feelings. This is important because if we participate in becoming distressed then we have the option of changing our behavior and replacing dysfunctional habits with more functional ones. This workbook is a map. If you use it, it may: • Help you understand what you have experienced and prepare you for what to expect. • Suggest skills you might want to use as you travel through strange terrain. • Find more creative ways to describe your emotional surroundings. • Orient you to the present moment. • Provide glimpses of recovery so that you will recognize it when you make progress along your way.

Join Mary Jo in a practical 7-session study and gain understanding and skill to share Jesus effectively with others, and you'll better understand your own faith. Answer your doubts, build your confidence, and start changing lives.

Find lasting freedom from difficult emotions with skills grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and emotional schema therapy. If you struggle with difficult emotions, you should know that you aren’t alone. Many people feel sad, worried, or stressed out—whether as a result of depression, anxiety, or simply dealing with the common struggles of daily life. Emotions are a natural and healthy part of being human. It’s how we cope with these difficult emotions that reveal our true capacity for happiness, love, and joy. Don’t Believe Everything You Feel offers a groundbreaking approach blending CBT and emotional schema therapy to help you explore your own deeply held personal beliefs about emotions, determine if these beliefs are helpful or harmful, and find the motivation to adopt alternative, healthier coping strategies. Each chapter contains exercises such as self-assessment, expressive writing, or guided questioning to help you manage your emotions more productively. There’s no such thing as a “bad,” emotion. But if you’re experiencing sadness, anger, or anxiety most of the time, you need to find balance. This book will show you how to better cope with your emotions and live a full, meaningful life.

A guide to stopping the lies and renewing your mind. Psychologist Dr. Chris Thurman tells us the unvarnished truth about the most common lies we tell ourselves, how they damage our emotional and spiritual health, and what we can do to overcome them in this 25-lesson workbook based on the classic bestseller, The Lies We Believe. The Lies We Believe Workbook is designed to help us recognize our faulty beliefs, internalize the truth that can set us free, and grow into more mature and passionate followers of Christ. As we work diligently on developing a more biblically accurate view of reality, we are transformed in the process. To put it differently, when we learn to think more like Christ we can be more like Christ. On your own or with some friends, take the challenge to work out your mental salvation by pulling down toxic mental strongholds, building truthful strongholds in their place, and being transformed by the renewing of your mind. When we do this, we can experience the abundant life God intended for us to live. Each lesson includes: A self-assessment questionnaire to rate your faulty beliefs Study of the biblical truth that leads to freedom Key memory and meditation verses for renewing your mind Prayer for contemplation and reflection

For anyone who feels caught in the tension between the beauty of God's story and the ugliness of human hypocrisy, Why I Still Believe offers a stirring story of hope. Why would anyone be a Christian when there is so much hypocrisy in the church? Mary Jo Sharp shares her journey as a skeptical believer who still holds to a beautiful faith despite wounding experiences in the Christian community. At a time when de-conversion stories have become all too common, this is an earnest response - the compelling conversion of an unlikely believer whose questions ultimately led her to irresistible hope. Sharp addresses her own struggle with the reality that God's people repeatedly give God's story a bad name and takes a careful look at how the current church often inadvertently produces atheists despite its life-giving message. For those who feel the ever-present tension between the beauty of salvation and the dark side of human nature, Why I Still Believe is a candid and approachable case for believing in God when you really want to walk away. With fresh and thoughtful insights, this spiritual narrative presents relevant answers to haunting questions like: Isn't there too much pain and suffering to believe? Is it okay to have doubt? What if Jesus' story is a copy of another story? Is there any evidence for Jesus' resurrection? Does atheism explain the human experience better than Christianity can? How can the truth of Christianity matter when the behaviors of Christians are reprehensible? At once logical and loving, Sharp reframes the gospel as it truly is: the good news of redemption. With firmly grounded truths, Why I Still Believe is an affirming reminder that the hypocrisy of Christians can never negate the transforming grace and truth of Christ.

The Believing Brain is bestselling author Michael Shermer's comprehensive and provocative theory on how beliefs are born, formed, reinforced, challenged, changed, and extinguished. In this work synthesizing thirty years of research, psychologist, historian of science, and the world's best-known skeptic Michael Shermer upends the traditional thinking about how humans form beliefs about the world. Simply put, beliefs come first and explanations for beliefs follow. The brain, Shermer argues, is a belief engine. From sensory data flowing in through the senses, the brain naturally begins to look for and find patterns, and then infuses those patterns with meaning. Our brains connect the dots of our world into meaningful patterns that explain why things happen, and these patterns become beliefs. Once beliefs are formed the brain begins to look for and find confirmatory evidence in support of those beliefs, which accelerates the process of reinforcing them, and round and round the process goes in a positive-feedback loop of belief confirmation. Shermer outlines the numerous cognitive tools our brains engage to reinforce our beliefs as truths. Interlaced with his theory of belief, Shermer provides countless real-world examples of how this process operates, from politics, economics, and religion to conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and the paranormal. Ultimately, he demonstrates why science is the best tool ever devised to determine whether or not a belief matches reality.

Does science prove God's existence or provide more reasons to doubt? Does God truly exist? That is the age-old seemingly unanswerable question. But what if there was an answer? What if the answer has been staring us right in the face for centuries, but we've been too busy missing the forest for the trees? This book invites you to take a step back and look at the broader picture. It offers anecdotes, observations and, most importantly, scientific evidence of the universal, all-encompassing, culture-transcending purpose that connects us all. In that purpose, we find many paths to a knowledge that has eluded humankind for as long as we have had the ability to wonder: proof that God does indeed exist. We find this knowledge in the stars, in the nature of time, in the laws of physics, in our own bodies, and in equations as complex as advanced calculus and unconditional love. It's just a matter of knowing where (and how) to look. In a centuries-old debate that has always placed science in an adversarial role with faith, this book brings the two camps together, using logic and reason to prove the existence of God. For the atheist, these pages eschew scriptural references in favor of evolutionary, philosophical, cultural, and natural evidence. For the believer, this book enhances your faith with affirmative arguments steeped in mathematics, particle physics, and a host of other scientific and real-world observations. And for anyone who has ever looked up at the sky and wondered what might lie beyond, this book provides a clear, compelling, life-affirming answer. "Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything." "" Napoleon Hill "As a secularist and humanist who doesn't share the same conclusions, I was surprised with what an enjoyable read this is. This is the strongest summary to date that I've seen for the Theist position." "" Jeremy Runnells, author of the CES Letter "Written through a Euro-centric philosophical and western science lens, one has the opportunity to consider not only the argument for and against the belief in a God, but to contemplate a middle ground where the dualities of such sit squarely within the most important part of the equation- the one who asks the question. This book is a worthwhile read, particularly for those seeking to dive more deeply into the self." "" Jonathan Webb, Dr. of Theology

Inspired by her popular Wild Thing podcast, journalist Laura Krantz incorporates the scientific method and her journalistic skills to determine if magic might be real in Do You Believe in Magic? Magic—spells and curses, hexes and potions, superstition, and rituals. We’ve all heard stories of alchemists attempting to turn abundant lead into precious, rare gold. Or of poor, unfortunate souls asking potion masters to brew up unappetizing concoctions that will help them find love. And of course, we’re familiar with curses—muttering magical words for the purposes of exacting revenge on an enemy, or protecting a hidden treasure. Who wouldn’t like the idea of special powers, or control over the natural world? It seems pretty fun, even if it’s just the stuff of fantasy books and movies. But a lot of what we call “magic” has grounding in real practices. In fact, magic is at the root of many scientific fields—from chemistry to botany to astronomy—and has been an important part of human culture for thousands of years. Do You Believe in Magic? takes readers through a world where magic and science collide. What do they have in common? Where do they differ? What role has magic played in our history, and the history of science? Why is magic still significant, even when it doesn’t seem to line up with reality? And is it possible to be scientifically minded and still believe in magic? Readers are encouraged to weigh the facts and go beyond their gut assumptions, to stretch their imaginations and think about why magic and science might be two sides of the same coin. Includes color illustrations, an at-home science/magic experiment, glossary, bibliography, and index A Wild Thing series: The Search for Sasquatch Is There Anybody Out There? Do You Believe in Magic?

"One of the greatest inspirational and motivational books ever written." — Norman Vincent Peale In this bestselling self-help book, a successful businessman reveals the secrets behind harnessing the unlimited energies of the subconscious. Millions of readers have benefited from these visualization techniques, which show you how to turn your thoughts and dreams into actions that can lead to enhanced income, happier relationships, increased effectiveness, heightened influence, and improved peace of mind. World War I veteran Claude M. Bristol (1891–1951) wrote The Magic of Believing to help former soldiers adjust to civilian life. A pioneer of the New Thought movement and a popular motivational speaker, Bristol addressed those in all walks of life, from politicians and leaders to performers and salespeople. His timeless message of the powers of focused thinking and self-affirmation remains a vital source of inspiration and a practical path to achievement.

A book about "religions and gods and beliefs in general, [which] also [examines] something called The Scientific Method, which is how we learn new things about the world. By the time you're done reading you will know the answers to some of life's biggest questions, but more importantly you will see why your questions, and all questions for that matter, are so important"--Amazon.com.