Ordinary Goodness: The Surprisingly Effortless Path to Creating a Life of Meaning and Beauty

Ordinary Goodness: The Surprisingly Effortless Path to Creating a Life of Meaning and Beauty

by Edward Viljoen
Ordinary Goodness: The Surprisingly Effortless Path to Creating a Life of Meaning and Beauty

Ordinary Goodness: The Surprisingly Effortless Path to Creating a Life of Meaning and Beauty

by Edward Viljoen

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Overview

A call to action to live a life full of goodness and purpose

People often struggle to find a life filled with passion, happiness—and just plain goodness. This struggle drives many to depression and addictive tendencies. Author and New Thought minister Edward Viljoen argues that the struggle need not be an arduous or painful one—that through everyday acts of kindness, faith, and compassion we can create peaceful and contented lives. Using personal stories, practical tips, and exercises, this book shows us that regardless of our circumstances, we can create meaning and beauty in our lives and in the world. Viljoen offers deep insights, showing:

- How caring about ordinary things leads to meaningful and extraordinary life experiences
- How society's messages about perfection distract us from our ordinary goodness
- How faith is a muscle that must be exercised
 
People are always striving to live happy and fulfilled lives. This book reassures us that this is attainable—nothing extraordinary is required.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780399183911
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date: 01/03/2017
Pages: 240
Sales rank: 1,128,221
Product dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Edward Viljoen is the author of The Power of Meditation, and coauthor of Seeing Good at Work (with Joyce Duffala), and Spirit is Calling and Practice the Presence (with Chris Michaels). He is the senior minister at the Center for Spiritual Living in Santa Rosa, California.

Read an Excerpt

The Paradox of Being
(Continues…)



Excerpted from "Ordinary Goodness"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Edward Viljoen.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

A Role Model for Ordinary Goodness xi

Author's Note: About Meister Eckhart xvii

Part 1 Ordinary Goodness

The Paradox of Being 3

Goodness as Awe 8

I Didn't Know What to Do 14

What Would Goodness Do? 19

Goodness as Altruism 32

When Goodness Is Not Enough 40

Goodness as Love and Devotion 47

Part 2 Ordinary Kindness

Kindness as Guidance 53

Kindness Isn't Weakness 61

Goodness as Kindness 65

Kindness as Attitude 75

Kindness as a Habit 78

Kindness as Listening Generously 85

Part 3 Ordinary Compassion

The Compassion, of Wanting to Understand 91

The Compassion of Being There 102

The Compassion of Caring About Others' Suffering 115

The Compassion of Self-Kindness 120

The Compassion of Seeing People as They Are 124

Part 4 Ordinary Faith

Faith as an Expectation of Good 133

Faith as Something Borrowed 143

Finding Faith When There's Nothing Left Inside 148

Faith as Something Earned 156

Faith as Something Given 166

Faith as Something Shared 169

Faith as Intuition 173

Part 5 Finding Faith

Co-Existence 181

Mystery 184

Polarities 193

Divinity 199

What Do You Believe? 202

Postlude; Be Calm and Carry On 207

Appendix 209

Acknowledgments 215

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