Joy-Filled Relationships

We all have friends, co-workers, significant others, and family members. Some we enjoy. Some we don’t. Also, some lift us up when they are around. Others can cause us to feel confused, hurt, angry or ashamed. In the Joy-Filled Relationships book, we take a closer look at what makes some relationships joy-filled, and others difficult.In this book you’ll find answers to questions like, “How can I keep my cool with someone else when the emotions get intense?” If you struggle with having joy-filled relationships, good news! A lot of what it takes to relate well with others you can learn through skills and exercises taught in this book. You’ll learn what it takes to have conversations and supportive relationships with others that are filled with joy instead of pain. You’ll also learn healthy ways to handle your internal battles with your emotions of anger, hurt, frustration and shame.

Chapter topics include:

• Building joy — both on your own and with others
• Calming yourself when your emotions get high
• Reconnecting with others after you have had a conflict
• Handling others’ words that cause you to feel shame
• Maturing emotionally — how it looks and how you can get there
• Relating to others as God designed our brains
• Dealing with destructive thought and behavior patterns
• Sorting through your thoughts and emotions about what others say about you
• Learning how to apply God’s truths about your identity to your life and relationships

Leader’s Guide