4 out of 4 stars
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Living with Uncertainty and Still Enjoying Life: A Family Survival Guide for Lives Interrupted by a Crisis is a hopeful, inspiring and encouraging book by Karen Kay Dunn, MA.
Karen Kay Dunn is a mental health therapist who counsels individuals battling various forms of trauma. When the spot on her leg was classified as an invasive melanoma, it marked her and her family’s first day of living with uncertainty. Instead of feeling defeated and depressed by her life-changing diagnosis, Karen chose to continue to live her life to the fullest for whatever amount of time she had left.
The book is divided into seven inspiring chapters with an appendix that features excerpts from the author’s My CaringBridge site. It is written to provide encouragement as well as a process that helps conquer fear and improve quality of life while walking through a challenging journey.
The author offers advice on what to do when faced with a crisis like identifying problems and brainstorming solutions. Moreover, she discusses the five stages of adjustment by Elizabeth Kubler Ross: denial, bargaining, depression, anger and adjustment; eight steps for seeking the best outcome of a crisis situation; and eight traits exhibited by people whose happiness is reflected in peace of mind. Furthermore, the book explains the difference between happiness and joy, the importance of forgiveness, and the importance of keeping your sense of humor. In addition, the author shares not only her personal experiences and inspiring stories of other people but also studies that show how prayer improves physical and mental health.
This is a truly inspiring book that encourages anybody facing crisis. The author offers sensible, practical and practicable advice on how to enjoy a life clouded with uncertainty. The book shares beautiful food for thought like ‘stop allowing fear to control you’ and ‘you may not be able to solve your problem but you can stop the problem from destroying your peace and joy.’ Moreover, since the book is presented with a Christian perspective, it is filled with hopeful and carefully chosen Bible verses.
What I like most about the book is the sincerity of the author to provide encouragement and inspiration. She doesn’t sound pushy or judgmental. She doesn’t impose her beliefs on anyone. She simply shares her life experience and the experiences of other people to encourage and make those who are facing uncertainties in life feel they are not alone and that there is another way, a better way, to handle whatever crisis they are facing right now.
The most important part of the book, for me, is the message of hope. Sometimes, when all else fails, a glimmer of hope serves as a beacon that guides a person through the darkness that makes up his life. This may not mean much to some people but I strongly believe it means so much to others.
Aside from a few errors, I didn’t find anything to dislike about this book. I, therefore, rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It is hopeful, inspiring and encouraging. I recommend it to everyone as I believe anybody will face a crisis at some point in his or her life.
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Living with Uncertainty and Still Enjoying Life
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