Beginning Well

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.

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!

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.