CBB Review – Resisting Happiness

Matthew Kelly seems to churn books out at will. The key is each of these books is good…very good and carry their own unique message. In his latest, Resisting Happiness, Matthew Kelly once more opens our minds and our hearts and causes readers to reassess where they are at in their faith journey.

In the first chapter he says: “The hardest war to win is one you don’t even realize you are fighting. And the hardest enemy to defeat is the one you don’t even know exists. Every day you are at war with resistance.” What builds from that statement is a deep dive look at our relationship with God. Are you happy? What makes you happy? Important questions but with a definite answer that takes one out of their comfort zone.

How often do we turn to things to make us happy? If we reflect and honestly answer that question the answer is too often it seems. Matthew makes some keen observations about that in this book. While we are busy chasing careers and material things in the vain hope that some glimmer of happiness is buried within their folds, we are missing the big picture. That big picture and answer to our longing is God. Our true happiness is not of this earth and when we come to realize that and stop resisting God then and only then, will we find true happiness.

As in other books, Matthew Kelly uses his own life’s journey and stories from it to show how he himself reconciled this issue. He does so not to brag but to teach. He lays bare his own faults and shortcomings to help each of us reach the full potential of our own. We do that by turning to God and following his will. “When I did something that I knew was God’s will, something that would clearly help me become a-better-version-of-myself, I was filled with joy. When I did something that I knew was wrong or was clearly not good for me, that joy began to evaporate.”

What we learn from this book is that the choice is ours. To attain happiness we should look inward and not outward. We should forge a relationship with God and live in His love. “These realizations about denying ourselves, self-control, delayed gratification, and fasting are not new. They are wrapped up in two thousand years of Catholic genius.”

The book itself is divided into thirty-seven bite sized chapters, each a few pages in length. Each concludes with a Key Point and an Action Step for attaining the teaching within the chapter. I found the setup to be a perfect layout for a chapter per day reflection that ultimately helps the reader find their relationship with God and discover the true happiness awaiting them. Resisting Happiness is yet another great title from Matthew Kelly. The theme is one of value and in our day and age, where we find ourselves living in an extremely self-centered society, its purpose is greatly needed.

________________________________________________________________________________

To get your own copy of Resisting Happiness visit Dynamic Catholic.