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James Michael Castleton

Goodreads Author

Website

http://jamesmichaelcastleton.com

Genre

Christian, Spirituality, Self Help

Influences

author: A.W. Tozer, author: C.S. Lewis, author: John Piper, author: Jo ...more

Member Since

February 2017

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James Castleton was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in humble but wholesome circumstances. The beauty in those circumstances left a lifelong impression that a life rich with significance is likely to be the one lived on the simplest terms--one that contains nothing less than is required and nothing more than it ought.

Dr. Castleton received his training in medicine and behavioral science at Stanford, Harvard, Yale and Oxford University. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and National Heart Institute and a master physician and laureate of the American Board of Cardiology.

"Mending of a Broken Heart" speaks to the intersection of faith with the psychology of meaning.

James enjoys sunrise photography, poetry, hikin ...more

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

James Michael Castleton In a world that so often seems unkind, I have long contemplated how people make sense of their lives and find the wherewithal to do what needs to be d…moreIn a world that so often seems unkind, I have long contemplated how people make sense of their lives and find the wherewithal to do what needs to be done, yet with the honesty and sincerity of purpose that a meaningful life requires.

Meaning is not an optional part of existence, in the way that pleasure or power (authority, celebrity, wealth) are. If pleasure is taken away, life simply becomes less pleasant. If power is taken away, life merely becomes more challenging. Take away meaning, however, and what is taken away is nothing less than a reason for being and an important determinant of well-being.

It is my impression, from nearly thirty years of practice, that feelings of meaninglessness are the principal cause of most psychological and physical disease. Those whose lives are without meaning have difficulty coping with the realization of what is lacking in their lives. They tend, therefore, to engage in distracting pursuits, fill their time with trivial detail, or subdue their distress through various forms of self-indulgence or addiction. Moreover, because they find it difficult to live in and enjoy the present, they are drawn emotionally either to the past, becoming mired in regret, or to the future, where they are consumed with anxiety.

There came a point several years ago when life dealt me such hardship that I had to answer the question of meaning in earnest for myself. The literature is replete with discussions about how to live a meaningful life. It is virtually devoid of an explanation of what it is about meaning that makes it meaningful--or purpose, purposeful and hope, hopeful--what these emotions communicate to the spirit. Consequently, the discussions regarding "how" lack important specificity.

For me, the investigation of these issues lead to faith. Victor Frankl was once asked how he reconciled his practice with his faith. He replied that the purpose of psychiatry was to heal the soul, while that of religion was to save it. I came to the conclusion that the soul cannot be healed until it is first reformed and that the question of meaning will eventually, and necessarily, beg questions that invoke a consideration of faith.

I have been a behavioral anthropologist, cognitive psychologist and physician. Mending of a Broken Heart looks at the question of meaning from multiple perspectives including medicine, anthropology, humanism, Greek philosophy, eastern philosophy and faith. It shows where each can contribute, where some fall short, and where faith makes unique contributions.(less)

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Average rating: 4.18 · 17 ratings · 8 reviews · 2 distinct works

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37 posts
James Michael Castleton's Blog: Reflections on Meaning

What the Good Life is Not

"Too many seek the “good” life, whereas only a life of meaning will satisfy the existential ache within our breasts that begs the question of why we are here, what we are to do with this life, and according to what principles we are to live. This is a question best answered at the beginning, not at the end, of our lives, for the answer will determine not only the direction of our lives but also wh Read more of this blog post »

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Published on July 24, 2017 07:37

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James’s Quotes

“We are born with a broken heart. Born with a sorrow we can only later articulate. Born missing the most essential aspect of what we need to live a fulfilling life … born without a sense of meaning.”
― James Castleton, MD, Mending of a Broken Heart

tags: meaningful-life

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“As beings conscious of our own consciousness, we don’t want our lives defined so much as we want them explained. We want to understand why we are here, what we are to do with this life and according to what principles we are to live. We want to know whether our lives mean anything and if they do, in what that meaning consists and how we are to secure it.”
― James Castleton, MD, Mending of a Broken Heart

tags: meaningful-life

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“The question is not whether our life is purposeful, but whether that purpose leads to a hope which is proper to our nature as human beings, for only then will life be meaningful.”
― James Castleton, MD, Mending of a Broken Heart

tags: hope, meaning, purpose-driven-life

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“The measure of a man’s character may be the manner in which he treats the one who can do him no good, but the measure of his heart is the manner in which he loves the one who has hurt him. He who is unloving in his pain was never really loving in his happiness.”
― James Castleton, MD, Mending of a Broken Heart

tags: anger, character, love

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“A life rich with significance is likely to be the one lived on the simplest terms…the meaning of life will be greatest when it contains nothing less than it requires and nothing more than it ought.”
― James Castleton, MD, Mending of a Broken Heart

tags: significance, simplicity-in-life

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James’s Friend Comments

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message 2: by James

Aug 03, 2017 10:21AM

Dear Apuca,

My apologies for not responding sooner. I did not scroll all the way down to the bottom of my and missed your note!

Thank you for your well-wishes. I hope you enjoy the book. Meanwhile, visit me on Facebook for more reflections and content from the book.

With kind regards,

James

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message 1: by Apuca

Jun 05, 2017 07:29AM

Dear Dr. James Michael Castleton,

Thank you for accepting my "Friendship Request".

I am thrilled to learn about your most recent publication,

Mending of a Broken Heart: The Nature of Meaning

and the Purpose That Gives Life Hope. I am joyfully

anticipating the opportunity to read and review your book

on Goodreads!

Sincerely appreciative,

Apuca Kislanya

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