Top Five Books to Change Your Thinking While In a Crisis
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though it's good to be educated on addiction, worrying about how to help our loved ones all the time leaves us ignoring ourselves. So, these books are all about you. They're to help you change the way you think while you deal with your crisis situation and take the focus off your loved one and to yourself and the love God has for you. Read more or PIN for later!
When you have a loved one struggling with an addiction it can be really tough to find the right resources. There's a lot out there! Over the years, I've received both good and bad advice but every time I looked for help, the best advice usually found in books. That could be because I'm more comfortable reading a book than talking to a human being but with young kids, it can tough to find time to read!
If you're like me and you find it tough to reach out and talk to others when you're having a tough time, a book can be a great place to turn to. Our time is essential so I narrowed it down to my top five books I read this year I think will help you (This year and tiny bit into the winter before, I read a lot of books and have young kids!).
For the record, most of these are not about addiction. In fact, all but one are not. We're not the ones with the addiction and though it's good to be educated on addiction, worrying about how to help our loved ones all the time leaves us ignoring ourselves. So, these books are all about you. They're to help you change the way you think while you deal with your crisis situation. To help you take the focus off your loved one and onto yourself and the love God has for you.
Without further ado! My, Top Five Books to Change Your Thinking While in a Crisis:
1. "When the Light at the End of the Tunnel is Another Train" by Judy Tomczak.
Last week I had author, Judy Tomczak share on the blog about her daughter's addiction in her post, "You Can Love Your Child and Hate Their Substance Abuse". Her daughter battled an addiction for ten years, it was very tough! I know Judy in person, she's a beautiful human being and I know you'll love her book. Whether you're the mother, sister, daughter, wife, etc. the lessons Judy shares are really, truly life changing. With her motto, "What I cannot control will not control me!" she speaks on emotional freedom and forgiveness.
Click here to read, 'When the Light at the End of the Tunnel is Another Train", how one woman came to emotional freedom from her daughter's addiction.
2. "You Are a Prize to be Won!: Don't Settle for Less Than God's Best" by Wendy Griffith
I'm not lying when I say this book changed how I thought about my life. I wish I had read it when I was a preteen, I feel like it would of changed the course I took (Maybe not, but if anything would have, it'd be the lessons in this book!). One of the things that really stuck with me is how simple it was. This book was so easy to read, it felt more like talking to a friend than it did someone giving me advice. If you have a daughter, if you have low self-esteem, if you feel like you're waiting around for the right guy to treat you right (Or your husband to treat you better) I highly recommend reading this book!
Click here to read, "You Are a Prize to be Won!", how one woman came to a stunning realization about her self-worth.
3. "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young
This isn't really a "book" but it's an excellent devotional! I started reading it when my husband went into treatment and I felt like every day the devotion was speaking exactly to my situation. I'm not very "good" at doing morning devotionals, my brain stays sleeping, I'm more of a, "Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee" kind of person so reading in the morning never works for me BUT because the devotional was so short, I was able to read it with my coffee and go about my day, without losing precious morning time. It's by far one of the most spirit-filled devotionals I've ever done, which is pretty amazing since each lesson only takes about five to ten minutes.
Click here to read, "Jesus Calling", one woman's personal journals she kept to maintain a connection with God.
4. "The Best Yes" by Lysa TerKeurst
You may have heard of Lysa TerKeurst as she's built quite a large women's ministry called, Proverbs 31 Ministries (They have a great app by the way called, "The First Five"!). Anyways, this book was all about managing time. I know that doesn't really sound like something that's going to help you with your loved ones addiction (Shouldn't I be suggesting books about codependency?!) except, it will help you in every way you can't imagine. Having a loved one with an addiction is overwhelming. We're tired. We bear the load of the family responsibility. We also get really used to being self-sacrificing and putting our own needs aside. This is where this book will help you. Though it's called, "The Best Yes" the book is actually about learning how to say, "No" and how to prioritize your life, which includes taking care of yourself. If you're a self-sacrificer, this is the book for you!
Click here to read, "The Best Yes", how one woman learned the power of being able to say, "No".
5. "(Un)Qualified: How God Uses Broken People to Do Big Things" by Steven Furtick
From the very first page, this book had me hooked. Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to have time to pick it up again (Like that night my children actually went to bed on time or possibly got abducted by alien life forms). You can tell by the title why I bought it, I'm a broken person trying to do a big thing. But if there's anything I've learned from all of you it's that broken people do big things every day. Maybe you're not starting a ministry but you're walking in crazy BIG faith every day, looking darkness in the eye saying, "God's got this". This book is funny, it's encouraging, it'll open your eyes about the labels you give yourself. If you're wondering what in the world God's doing with your life and you're wishing you had another one, this book is for you!
Click here to read, "(Un)Qualified", how one man came to know who he was as Christ's son.
So there you have it! My top five books I read this year that helped me grow, blessed my life and changed my heart. I'd love to know if you've read these books, if you order one and love it, if helps you, feedback is important to help me, help you (Now I sound like Jerry Maguire)!
Pop in the, "Colour Me Happy" Community or leave a comment below and let me know if you read a great book this year!