Elf-Help for Living with Joy

Elf-helf for Living With Joy written by

Karen Katafiasz illustrated by

R.W. Alley

PHILIPPINES

elf-help for living with joy Text Š 2015 by Karen Katafiasz Illustrations Š 2015 by Saint Meinrad Archabbey Published by One Caring Place/ Abbey Press St. Meinrad, Indiana, 47577, USA Illustrated by R.W. Alley All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Publisher and Exclusive Distributor in the Philippines: Paulines Publishing House Daughters of St. Paul 2650 F.B. Harrison Street 1302 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph 1st Printing 2017 ISBN 978-971-590-833-7 Areas of Distribution: Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore

Papua New Guinea, Thailand

at the service of the Gospel and culture

Foreword Everyone wants to be happy. But there are times in your life when happiness seems beyond your reach: when you’re struggling financially, when you’ve been broken by disappointments or devastated by loss, when a difficult relationship is tearing you apart.

And there are plenty of other moments, smaller and more commonplace, that every day take away your smile—when you’re frustrated, insecure, irritated, or worried.

There is, however, a good feeling that can remain part of you even in the worst of times.

It is true, profound joy. Joy is the conviction at the center of your soul that embraces life with acceptance, gratitude, serenity, and delight.

It is being in the now, open to the unlimited, grace-filled possibilities of each moment. It is knowing your basic goodness. Amid worries, struggles, frustrations, and uncertainty, it is the calm awareness deep within your being that knows you are a beloved child of God. As you reflect on the clear, life-affirming wisdom of this small book, you can discover for yourself the passion of being fully alive and the elation of living with joy.

4.

The source of your joy is the Source of all that is.

You are a loved and cherished child of God. Let that awareness abide at the center of your being.

7.

Affirm yourself and all that you’ve accomplished.

Even as you strive to do the best you can, rest easy with the assurance that this is where you belong at this moment.

Karen Katafiasz is a writer and editor.

In addition to Elf-help for Living With Joy, she has written Grief Therapy, Self-esteem Therapy, Teacher Therapy, Christmas Therapy, and Anger Therapy, all in the Elf-help Books series from Abbey Press. She has also written numerous CareNotes booklets. She lives in Santa Clause, Indiana.

Illustrator for the Abbey Press Elf-help Books, R. W. Alley also illustrates and writes children’s books. He lives in Barrington, Rhode Island, with his wife, daughter, and son. See a wide variety of his works at: www.rwalley.com.