When your dreams get derailed, the culprit can usually be found hiding in your emotional life. It is a pattern of attitudes, habits, or relationships that won't allow you to move forward, no matter how much you tell yourself you want to. Negative felings and unhealthy beliefs may have slowed you down and locked you up for years, getting in the way of your best intentions. You may need help breaking free from: Shame- because it locks you into your past - Procrastination- because you are afraid to try - Depression- because you have not grieved your sorrows - Unhealthy Relationships- because they distract you from your unique purpose in life These restrictive emotional traps needlessly deprive you of intimacy, trust, friendships, good feelings, rest, and peace of mind. By challenging them, and the self-destructive behaviors that may accompany them, you can learn to live life in a totally new way. Stephen Arterburn is a New York Times bestselling author with more than eight million books in print. He most recently toured with Women of Faith, which he founded in 1995. Arterburn founded New Life Treatment Centers as a company providing Christian counseling and treatment in secular psychiatric hospitals. He also began “New Life Ministries”, producing the number-one Christian counseling radio talk show, New Life Live , with an audience of more than three million. He and his wife Misty live near Indianapolis. The Emotional Freedom Workbook Take Control of Your Life and Experience Emotional Strength By Stephen Arterburn Connie Neal Thomas Nelson Copyright © 1997 Stephen Arterburn and Connie Neal All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7852-7918-1 Contents Introduction.............................................................1My Commitment to Emotional Freedom.......................................3Choosing My Companion....................................................6Finding a Support Group..................................................11Healthy and Unhealthy Shame..............................................16Identifying the Symptoms of Shame........................................21Shame and Addictions.....................................................24Setting Goals for Getting Rid of Shame...................................28Clearing Away Legitimate Guilt...........................................31Finding Your Sources of Shame............................................35That's What Friends Are For..............................................40Drawing Close to Those Who Lessen Your Shame.............................46Know the Real God........................................................49Making Changes...........................................................53Finding a New Audience...................................................57Look for Seeds of Potential..............................................60Acquiring Knowledge and Skills to Help You Fit In........................62Developing Your Unique Talents and Abilities.............................66Finding Fulfillment in Your Work.........................................69Coping with Weaknesses...................................................71Adopting New Rituals and Symbols.........................................75Treating Yourself with Respect...........................................77What Is Codependency?....................................................81The Tree of Your Life....................................................84Gaining Power............................................................88Pruning Back Unhealthy Relational Patterns...............................91The Focus Is on You......................................................95Inner Versus Outward Direction...........................................99Finding the Missing Pieces...............................................102Take a Look at Your Physical Life........................................105Take a Look at Your Emotional Life.......................................110What Do You Believe About Yourself?......................................115Mental, Spiritual, and Financial Warning Signs...........................119Rediscovering Talents, Treasures, and Dreams.............................127Accepting Full Responsibility for Your Life..............................131Facing Your Fears........................................................135Establishing Relationship Boundaries.....................................138Dealing with the Past....................................................143Sorting Out Obstacles and Injuries.......................................146Using Your Strength Wisely...............................................150Finding Motivation (When You Don't Feel Like Moving).....................155Your Path Will Be Unique.................................................159Dealing with Your Addictions.............................................162The Progression Out of the Pit...........................................165T