40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life: Living the 4:8 Principle

by Tommy Newberry

No more waiting and hoping―Experience 4:8 thinking right now!
Drawing on the core message of the New York Times bestselling The 4:8 Principle , 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life is a fun and highly practical action plan providing readers with time-tested strategies and exercises for experiencing joy by design―God’s design. Fans of The 4:8 Principle will love the fresh format and timeless reinforcements offered in 40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life , while new readers will be introduced to the life-changing power of The 4:8 Principle for the first time! All readers will benefit from the uniquely packaged inspiration and encouragement delivered in bite-size chunks for easy consumption and in a “sticky” style custom-made for easy retention and long-lasting joy.

Genres: Christian, Personal Development, Nonfiction, Faith, Christian Living, Self Help, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2012

About the author

Tommy Newberry is the founder and head coach of The 1% Club, an organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and their families maximize their full potential. As a pioneer in the life-coaching field since 1991, he has equipped business leaders in more than thirty industries to work less, earn more, and enjoy greater satisfaction with the right accomplishments. Tommy is the author of "The 4:8 Principle," "Success Is Not an Accident," "366 Days of Wisdom and Inspiration," and numerous audio programs, including the best-selling "virtual coaching" series Success Is Not an Accident: Secrets of the Top 1%. Known for his blunt, highly practical, and no-nonsense coaching style, Tommy has earned the title of America's Success Coach. His passion for developing the whole person is clearly evident throughout his live workshops, keynote presentations, books, and audio courses. Tommy's annual Couples Planning Retreat takes world-class planning tools into the family realm, showing husbands and wives how to design a more balanced, simplified, and enriching life together. An avid goal setter, Tommy has earned certification as an emergency medical technician and PADI rescue diver. He has also earned a black belt in the Korean martial art of choi kwang do. Tommy lives in Atlanta with his wife, Kristin, and their three boys.

Reviews

[Emily Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars—nothing more, nothing less. If you know you know.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a joy-filled person, for the most part, but I still gained new insights here! I used this as my read for Lent. Great book -easy to read and find application.

[Lydia Guetzko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone best be reading this

[Morgan Levell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to be dramatic, but this 40 day devotional changed my life. I’m so much more mindful of my thought pattern / what I have control over / how I view life. I am so so sad it is over, but I plan on reading it with the start of each new year to freshen up. HIGHLY recommend 🩷

[Sherly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes going in to this book because I heard so much about it on social media. I guess that’s where I went wrong to begin with. I didn’t find the book to be “life changing” as it was marketed, but I attribute that more to the fact that I’ve read so many self help books that none of the concepts were new. At the end of the day, it’s perspective. Nail that, and you’ll have a joy filled life.

[Addie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐ This was a great book to start the year off with, and a great reminder about living in joy each day. Each chapter talks about ways we can increase our joy and ultimately connect more with Christ, through things like self discipline, writing gratitudes, setting goals, being in community, and more. It was a little cheesy sometimes but I'm really glad I read it!

[Meagan Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This daily reading book is the best I’ve ever read with the most practical applications. I will be reading this every year! Joy isn’t something I struggle with generally but even so, it was a valuable read: thought-provoking, convicting, and inspiring.

[Bethany Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great journaling book. Every day there were tasks to complete that pertained to joy. I think this would be a great book to go through with a group of people.

[Riley Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be a yearly read for me and it has changed me for the better!
I don’t remember the last time I had so much joy and contentment, and I attribute much of that to this book (and deleting tiktok lol but that was also for the lord)
Please read this you are guaranteed to learn something new about the lords character and the joy to be found in Him

[Maliza 4cambodia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional filled with small steps towards a great thought life!

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't particularly like Newberry's loose, colloquial, and conversational writing style. He also tends to blur the line between fact and opinion, making a lot of bold statements and claims without any sort of substantiation or simply stating that he has seen a certain effect in his work as a life coach; there are few direct Biblical references for his ideas. It troubled me that he puts so much focus on and faith in little strategies that we can take rather than focusing on God and allowing Him to transform us. As a Christian, I believe that there is little of lasting consequence that we can accomplish on our own.

NEVERTHELESS, I did find many of the ideas in this book to be useful. Most helpful to me were the exercises in the "Drill" and "Extra Mile" sections which follow each day's reading (although some of them were repetitive). The reader who will take the time to complete these exercises will benefit from the inner searching they require. I do believe, however, that this book would be better read over 40 weeks than 40 days, because the author frequently suggests making something a daily habit and I believe it is unrealistic to expect to be able to successfully incorporate that many new habits in 40 days. Better to try a new habit for a week, see if it adds to one's life and then decide whether to keep it or discard it before moving on to the the next idea. While each of the 40 suggestions may seem simple at first glance, incorporating everything in this book would require a substantial investment of time each day.

[Hannah Burge · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️I’m the worst at this app- I’ll try to do better 😭 finished this in February. Basically exactly 40 days after I started LOL but this book was more than needed at the time of reading it. It focus so much on your thoughts, brings scripture into every day, and holds you accountable with written activities throughout. I learned so much not only about myself, but about the Lord too.

Number one takeaway- my thoughts matter!

Really wish I would have rated and reviewed this right away I’d have more to say. But I absolutely will be rereading this.

[Stacey Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life is a great way to start the new year by focusing on a positive, God-centered outlook based on Philippians 4:8. Each day’s reading includes a discussion of a practical aspect of how to change your perspective in life, with parallel scriptures and personal stories. One of the most effective parts is the daily application that encourages readers to consider their own lives and what keeps them from truly living a joy-filled life.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

40 Days to a Joy Filled Life is a devotional based on Philippians 4:8, guiding you to center your thought life on whatever is pure, honorable, lovely, just, and so on. This wasn’t a bad book, I just did not enjoy reading it. It was affirming and gave good advice through the chapter titles. However I felt that the chapters and the exercises, were too long and generic. Hence it taking me way more than 40 days to read a 40 day devotional.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister put together a group of people to read this book and discuss it virtually over the last few months (meeting several times a week). The book itself was fine, some parts thought provoking and some good points, but what made it great was it made an excellent base for good conversation and sharing. I wouldn’t have gotten nearly as much out of it just reading it alone.

[Emma Jean Peralta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok guys!!!!! My fav podcasters have been talking about this book forever and finally took the plunge and read it. At first I was like is this lowkey a "health and wealth" book but realized Newberry is actually really biblical in his teaching of positive thinking and living. I think this book served a really good purpose for this phase of my life and was really helpful in admonishing me in some ruminating I was doing over some thoughts/actions. Overall some days were a lot more beneficial from others but I enjoyed the practicalness of it for sure!

[CChih · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this devotional from a good friend and am so thankful. While I am generally a positive and patient person (although impatient will my own flaws and mistakes) this book helped me to focus even more on pushing away negative thoughts and appreciate the joys of life. Will likely return to this book again in the future. This will make a great read for the 40 days of Lent.

[Abbie Whetzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this read with expectations that weren’t met, resulting in my not liking the book very much. I was expecting a theological approach to finding joy but was met with a more practical approach. While the practical insights seemed beneficial and biblical, it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. A fine read, and a good reminder than we can absolutely control our mind and thoughts.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was good to think about and somewhat practical but also I think that perhaps it was a lot of different things and maybe skimmed over a lot of different things and so some of the concepts couldn't stick as well.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. If you're a realist who tends toward the negative and struggles to find joy and positivity, this 40 day study is accessible, relatable, encouraging, and provides tangible tools to implement daily to increase our joy.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very helpful book! While it was very repetitive, I think that was necessary to really drill the 4:8 principle that he discusses into me. I truly feel like this book helped me to think more positively and exchange my negative thoughts.

[Anna Lanier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect devotional to read during the 40 days of Lent! I thought it was repetitive at times, but I think Tommy Newberry is really trying to hit his points home. I would recommend this to everyone seeking a joy-filled life!

[alyssa renn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so helpful for me in adapting positive mindset habits! I like that it was interactive with the written exercises. This is probably the first Christian centered self-help/devo that will actually stick with me and I’ll keep reaching for throughout the years.

[Meg Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not like this format, self help style. The information is good, but I would have preferred a book rather than a workbook.

Philippians 4:8 is amazing and great to dwell on, and I am thankful for the wisdom this author gave, based on scripture.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I gave it 4 stars versus 5 because there are some points that I could see being misinterpreted & require reading with discernment. Overall, I think it’s an encouraging reminder that within God’s sovereignty, we have responsibility. Joy is a gift & fruit of the Spirit but it is also a choice.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was speedy reading. Was all tied to the scripture. Was a good reminder of how to be.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I recommend picking up a copy & reading to live a Joy-filled life with God!

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of wisdom.

[Madeline Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible read filled with so much wisdom and great advice to change your life!! I cannot wait to practice everything I learned and to come back and study this book again in the future.

[Tamara McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book! It was so eye opening and inspiring!