Craig T. Owens

John Opalewski’s short book is highly readable and easily applicable. I recommend this book to both help you get emotionally healthier and then to maintain that emotional health. You can check out my full book review here. 

Here are a few quotes that especially caught my attention—

“Maybe you are reading this book and have no issues currently with depression. Be thankful to God for your health. But understand depression is easier to prevent than it is to cure. Educating yourself while healthy minimizes your future risk.” 

“Emotional health is a choice. If you choose to ignore your emotional health, no one else will pay attention to it for you.” 

“God used words to create the universe. They have the power to create or destroy, heal or wound. … Nobody talks to you more than you talk to yourself. Verbally assaulting yourself damages your emotional health—every time. Being kind to yourself with words enhances your emotional health—every time. … Loving yourself means you gain increasing control of your self-talk.” 

“Learn to be assertive rather than aggressive or passive. Aggression includes foul language, yelling, or getting physical with people. Passivity is another word for repression. Here we stuff our anger and let it boil on the inside. An example of passivity is giving someone the silent treatment. Assertiveness, on the other hand, means standing up for yourself by expressing your needs to others with love and respect.” 

“A depressed person often complains of having no energy to deal with people. Therefore, they tend to isolate themselves, which usually compounds a person’s distress. Depression thrives in isolation. Consequently, it is critical to surround yourself with the right kind of people during your battle with this affliction.” 

I have shared another half-dozen quotes from this book with my Patreon supporters. Please become a supporter and get access to lots of exclusive content—videos, early-releases, study aids, and so much more!