This book is exactly as advertised. Joel Stepanek gives practical, biblical guidance on how to begin well. Whether it is a new move, a new job, a new marriage, a new addition to the family, or... whatever, there are some great universal principles he gives here to make sure that whatever it is you are beginning, you are doing it right. Those principles are:

Let go of what you have left - One of the biggest mistakes many people make is to constantly compare the new with the old that it replaced. They might have entered a new job or moved to a new location, but in their heart and mind, they are still back in the old place.

Use what you have learned - Although we don't want to live in the past, we do want to use it. The skills and experience we have gained can be invaluable if we know how to leverage them.

Find a mentor - Find someone who has done the job (or knows the city), and done it well for a long time. Learn from them. Be humble enough to be teachable.

Find an anchor - Create new rituals and favorite spots in your new situation. We need places and new habits that can both keep us grounded and be a refuge during difficult or frustrating moments.

Pause and Assess - It is very possible that in the newness of the moment, you might not have picked the best mentor or found the best spot. Once you have had a few months to get a better "lay of the land" be willing to switch it up if necessary.

Live joyfully - Often it is easy to be whole-hearted about our new situation in the first moments. But that won't last. Find ways to focus on the good and reflect with gratitude. "Don't lose your joy" is a conscious, consistent choice we must make.

Embrace the adventure - Lean into the new. Sometimes the beginning we are entering is a result of our own choice. Other times it is thrust on us. Either way, it is what it is, and our best option is to make the most of it.

I can never resist a "do something for a year" book and this one is a refreshing take on that theme—and a way better idea than making recipes from the same cookbook every day for a year (yeah, I read that one, AND saw the movie; bet you did too). In this new book from Ave Maria Press, Joel Stepanek offers seven spiritual practices to get you through times of transition. It's a small book, and the author writes in a very down-to-earth, uncomplicated, conversational style. I recommend this easy, encouraging read, no matter what kind of transition you find yourself in.

I loved how easy to read this book was. The tips and the feedback from the author's children was a very nice touch which i loved

Beginning Well


The first thing that impressed me about “Beginning Well” is how well thought out this book is making it a joy to read. The ideas and concepts flow effortlessly from one to the other giving the reader both a pleasant experience and a solid understanding of the material being presented.

In our culture of change the ability to celebrate each ending and prepare for every new beginning is essential for positive growth and development. Being able to align the world within our mind to the reality we share with others is a crucial skill. Joel provides a number of clearly defined steps to focus our efforts to harmonize our lives. His book includes many relatable personal experiences that illustrate his points wonderfully.

“Beginning Well” is a book that knows what it wants to say and delivers its message with spiritual eloquence that translates powerfully into our everyday lives.

Simple and Brilliant or Simply Brilliant! … My reaction to Joel Stepanek’s new book “Beginning Well”.
The 7 Spiritual Practices for new beginnings, map out how to forge ahead when your life is experiencing changes, and encourages us to cherish our past, to learn from it, and embrace the future. When we face new beginnings with a positive attitude we grow more healthy mentally and physically. But most importantly, Joel reminds us that when we invite Jesus into our new beginnings, our joy is enhanced and we can be transformed spiritually as well.
I would recommend this book to everyone of any age or situation! I appreciated that Joel interwove parts of his own journey in the book, sharing his own insights which illustrated that it is possible to Begin Well. Our old habits can be changed, our life renewed, and our relationship with God deepened with every opportunity we have to start over. Wisdom, fun, and a bit of real life permeates the pages of this book! I am sure I will read it again and again. Highly recommended!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! The author guides you through the steps to take for any new beginning. I appreciate the way he breaks it down, including practical advice, charming antidotes, and scripture references, helping you to feel confident in whatever new beginning you might face!

I liked this book.
I was interested to read it because I finished college and I'm going to search a job. I was kind a lost. It's a new beginning for me.
And this book helped me. Well done, Joel!
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for free ARC in exchange of honest review. All thoughs are my own.
4.5/5

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first time I had read anything by Joel Stepanek, and I will definitely find another of his books to read. I really liked the way he wrote from his own experiences in an entertaining and engaging way. His 7 points were very clear, with a chapter of the book for each one, and he is great communicator. Each chapter included a short example from the Bible, and he explained these in a really effective way. I particularly appreciated his thoughts about how beginnings can be for a good reason or a bad reason (eg starting again after someone has died or you've lost your job). This book is full of accessible wisdom and is very easy to read - I finished it in two days.

This was a very useful book for anyone who is starting something new. It was a great first read of 2022. As someone who is about to graduate from college in the spring and move to an entirely new state after graduating, it was a helpful read. I appreciated the big topics of each chapter, like grieving what you have lost or are saying goodbye to. I also enjoyed the smaller subjects within each chapter such as having a gratitude journal in the chapter on embracing joy. I found the chapter on mentors to be enlightening because I haven't read on the indirect mentorship found through social media, books, and other sources. Overall, this was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone!


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

When I downloaded this book, the title was correct but the content consisted of the Lou Holtz book. If you could replace the file with the correct one for Kindle, I would appreciate it. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.