John C. Friel > Quotes

“recovery is a process rather than an event.”
― John C. Friel, Adult Children Secrets of Dysfunctional Families

“Something happened to us a long time ago. It happened more than once. It hurt us. We protected ourselves the only way we knew how. We are still protecting ourselves. It isn’t working anymore.”
― John C. Friel, Adult Children Secrets of Dysfunctional Families: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families

“One of the major tasks of growing up is to learn how to become interdependent with others. Interdependence means being one’s own person, being able to maintain a clear and separate identity from others, while still recognizing the need for help and support from others. It also means being able to get that support in healthy rather than destructive ways.”
― John C. Friel, Adult Children Secrets of Dysfunctional Families: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families

“Really great couples are willing to end it all, and so they never have to.”
― John C. Friel, The 7 Best Things Happy Couples Do...plus one

“We must note that self-help books can become an addiction in and of themselves, and that at some point we must get on with the painful business of actually living our lives differently, rather than just thinking or learning about how that might be.”
― John C. Friel Ph.D. , Adult Children Secrets of Dysfunctional Families 1st (first) edition Text Only

“Some people struggle and fight so fiercely at one level of existence that they prevent themselves from moving to the next level of existence where the waters”
― John C. Friel, Soul of Adulthood: Opening the Doors

“Looking strong and “together” on the surface, while having unhappy relationships and low self-esteem underneath is a clear sign of unhealthy dependency.”
― John C. Friel, Adult Children Secrets of Dysfunctional Families: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families