Become a Better You

7 Keys to Improving Your Life

Free Press, 2007

15 min read

10 take-aways

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What's inside?

Become the best you can be with a serving of faith-based, uplifting self-help advice from popular preacher Joel Osteen.

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Editorial Rating

Qualities

Controversial
Applicable
Inspiring

Recommendation

In what amounts to a kindly, book-length sermon, Joel Osteen is “preaching to his choir” – although given his stadium-sized Texas church, his sold-out road show, and his successful TV and Internet broadcasts, Osteen’s choir is vast enough to make this another bestseller. The book reflects the content of his motivational sermons and follows their format. Osteen states a simple idea and then repeats it often with only slight variations. He supports each nugget of advice with scripture and testimony from his life, and the lives of his friends, family and congregants. Those who share his Christian-based faith are likely to find resonance here, while others may not. His faith-filled audience will see Osteen’s rhythmic preaching as affirming, uplifting and inspiring, but the more cynical or unconverted reader could perceive his “feel good” teachings as simplistic, repetitive and redundant. Still, simple advice is often very accessible. getAbstract believes most readers could find something in the “smiling preacher’s” seven key principles that they can use to improve their lives.

Summary

Your Future Is Unlimited

You have immeasurable potential. You are one of God’s children and, as such, you can achieve wonderful things. The only limits you must overcome are the limits you place on yourself. You can go as high as your dreams will take you. For guidance, heed the following seven principles.

Key One – “Keep Pressing Forward”

Don’t let yourself become stagnant and mediocre. Don’t settle for what you have, believing that there is nothing better. Instead, try to improve mentally, physically and spiritually every day. Resist life’s constraints and other people’s negativity, and strive for new heights in your abilities, monetary success, career and relationships. Learn to trust in God’s plan for you. He will always lead and guide you in the way that is best suited to you. With your belief and His help, you will reach your highest potential.

The past is gone. The only thing you have power over is your future. Don’t let past errors or failures undermine your dreams. God wants you to begin each day anew and refreshed. The first step in letting go of your past is to change your thinking. Greet each morning by telling yourself, “I am talented. I...

About the Author

Joel Osteen is pastor of the Lakewood Church in Texas. His services are broadcast in more than 100 nations. He also wrote the bestseller, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.

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R. A. 1 decade ago

I have found two other useful keys to staying happy, positive, and at peace. 1) by realizing that when you allow yourself to mix positive and negative emotions through your brain, you are a) driving yourself in both directions and therefore not going to get very far, and b) not going to ever be smart enough to control the events that occur when you mix the two (like baking soda and vinegar). 2) having studied and learned a lot about body language, keeping your chin elevated slightly above horizontal level, you will think a lot more positive thoughts, be a lot more confident, and be perceived by others as both those things, thus creating a lot more positive interactions and opportunities.
J. M. 1 decade ago

Simplistic is a nice description.

Joel Osteen