Make A Choice: When You Are at the Intersection of Happiness and Despair

by Jeff Benedict

Jeff Benedict has seen both good and bad in his career as a journalist. Some of the best are the extraordinary people he has met who have made deliberate choices to live happier lives despite the extreme hardship that each of them have faced. Although life will knock us down from time to time, this book is an important reminder that we all can make a choice to get back up, brush ourselves off, and keep pressing forward.

Replace anger with forgiveness through studying the real-life examples of seven inspiring mentors.

Avoid discouragement by purposefully recognizing God's hand in your life.

Diminish the heartache from tragedy through the concentrated act of serving others.

Gain insights from parents who were deliberate in safeguarding their children against harmful influences.

Stand strong through life's adversity through the examples of powerful prayer.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Church, Religion, Health

144 pages, Hardcover

Published June 7, 2016

About the author

Jeff Benedict conducted the first national study on sexual assault and athletes. He has published three books on athletes and crime, including a blistering exposé on the NFL, Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL, and Public Heroes, Private Felons: Athletes and Crimes Against Women. He is a lawyer and an investigative journalist who has written five books.

Reviews

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

We do not get to choose most of the circumstances of our lives but we always get to choose how we respond to those situations. I know this on an intellectual level but I love being reminded because I forget it so often and I become a "poor me, pity me" victim. These are powerful stories that not only remind you that your problems could be so much worse but also remind you that if your problems do get so much worse, you can choose to bring God into the equation or try and manage it all on your own. All of the folks in these stories have an open and ongoing relationship with some sort of God. I came away with a deeper appreciation of how blessed I am to have all that I have and to have God in my life.

"What is the use in living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? How else can we put ourselves in harmonious relation with the great verities and consolations of the infinite and the eternal? And I avow my faith that we are marching towards better days. Humanity will not be cast down. We are going on swinging bravely forward along the grand high road and already behind the distant mountains is the promise of the sun." -Winston Churchill)

"The important thing is to teach a child that good can always triumph over evil." -Walt Disney

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Nonfiction and it is very "churchy". I say that not as a bad thing. I liked this book. It was so incredibly positive. The message was a great reminder on how not to blame God for the trials we might face, living your religion even in the hard times, and being faithful to the very end.

I'm not sure I could show the strength of some who were noted in this book, especially when it came to forgiveness and enduring to the end. I'd like to hope that I could, but I'm not entirely sure. This contained stories of some very strong people who not only went through hell, but came out the other end as a better person. Very inspirational. 4 stars.

[Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What is the use in living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? How else can we put ourselves in harmonious relation with the great verities and consolations of the infinite and the eternal? And I avow my faith that we are marching towards better days. Humanity will not be cast down. We are going on swinging bravely forward along the grand high road and already behind the distant mountains is the promise of the sun" (qtd. 29). (Winston Churchill)

Imagine that. A book about people overcoming horrific tragedies that drops right into my hands as the USA mourns its largest mass shooting ever. I'd say it was a coincidence but I don't know if I believe in those anymore. Christian writer/journalist Jeff Benedict (author of My Name Used to Be Muhammad a fantastic read) has written down seven stories about people who have chosen their happiness when greeted by despair. I really liked the stories and I really loved the quotes strewn throughout the book. A good read and reminder that we can get bitter or better when faced with adversity.

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies" (qtd. 7). (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Erika's Amazon Link

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short collection of stories about real people who have faced huge obstacles and challenges and yet chose to remain positive and happy. It is inspiring to read of such extreme challenges and realize that these are people who just keep plugging along and never give up. One of my favorite passages is when someone quotes Dr. Seuss, “I have learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from the head, others come from behind. But I’ve brought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me”!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

What inspires you? Is it music, friends, or even reading? I find the example of others who either defy the odds or find the peace amid the turbulence inspire me. We can all feel inspired from any number of sources, but when we see real life examples of individuals who choose happiness over despair how can we not feel encouraged.

As Benedict demonstrates over and over, no matter our make-up it only takes one life-changing choice to live happier, more abundant life. One of which will alter our course and perspective. This book inspired me to look for the joy in any circumstance, to find the strength to be happier, and to realize despite my challenges I always have a choice.

Full Review at https://www.choosingwisdom.org/2017/0...

[Jessica Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are incredible! This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting- instead of spelling out exactly HOW to choose happiness, Jeff Benedict tells inspirational, true stories of real people who did. It definitely gives you hope that no matter what happens, God is in control and our trials can be for our good. There are stories from people of multiple different faiths, too, which I found refreshing.

I do wish he'd addressed the issue of depression/anxiety a little more, since the concept of just "choosing happiness" and thinking positively isn't quite enough in those cases. But I love the reminder that we're in control of how we respond to hard things, even if the circumstances are out of our control.

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely buy books to own, but this one is the exception. It is powerfully written and the audio edition is wonderfully narrated. It looks at people who face crushing adversity and details how they overcame the worst of things and became stronger and better for their efforts. I loved the way the chapters are laid out. The author encourages you to make choices on a variety of topics, including forgiveness and prayer. It's not a preachy book. It's memorable for so many reasons. It's tiny; you'll be through it in no time. I cranked the audio edition to 2.75X, and I finished in roughly an hour. But it was among the most fulfilling hours I've spent in a great while.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is FANTASTIC!!!
Sometimes I get caught up in the 'woe is me' outlook on life.
I often forget that it is totally up to me how I want to be.
This book helped me remember that I have to make the choice--
Happiness OR Despair???

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give it two and a half or three stars. It wasn't bad. It wasn't great. The book is pretty straightforward, he collects seven or eight stories of people who have gone through really hard things and how they have gracefully and happily beared their burdens. Not that these people didn't have down times, but he shows how they purposely decide to have strength, faith, happiness and how they chose not to let it drag them down to the pits of the spare. There's not much philosophy or weaving a stories. Each chapter is a different story and he just kind of tells it. I wouldn't recommend the book but I wouldn't help people to avoid it. I can barely remember most of the stories. The stories were interesting, but it was more journalistic writing of just giving facts rather than weaving a tale and pulling emotions in .

[Sherrill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an inspirational book about choices to follow the Lord or the world. One family kept their son on the straight and narrow by their faith. He was often tempted but he never gave in to that temptation. It was very inspirational how people managed to live their lives and be in the right. Then there was the man who forgave the person who took the life of his wife. She was an innocent victim but he did not want to go to his eternal reward with a stain on his conscience. Then the girl who realized she was going to die in a flood and she held on for dear life and was rewarded with a prolonged life.

[McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Bennet is truly a great author and writer and I picked up this book simply because of the others I have read of his. Many will not like it simply because he mentions Christianity and Mormonism. I feel bad for those that can’t find the good in the message even when they don’t believe in a higher power. What I do think it is…is rating it negatively despite the good message because of the religious undertones. Worth the read…especially since it is such a quick one.

[Steve H · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I work through a series of books to help with grief, there's a common theme in many, which is the basis of this book: We don't choose what happens to us, but we can choose how to react to what happens to us. This book provides several examples of people who've faced devastating circumstances but have found ways to move forward, often in exemplary fashion. There's an air of "God will provide" or "Let go, let God" faith woven throughout, which might turn off some folks who don't have that sort of belief and which runs somewhat counter to the message that you are responsible for your own happiness. However, if you can get past that, there are some inspiring tales to absorb in this collection.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Benedict is a brilliant storyteller. I really enjoyed the real life examples in each chapter of how people could turn devastating trials into faith building moments for themselves and others around them. Having it read by the author would have been fantastic.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books covered many bad circumstances in the lives of people and what they did to rise above it all. Thrush is always better than fiction, and the events in these individuals lives were insane. It was a great book to read and to make the reader consider their attitude when in rough situations.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing true episodes of difficult situations and how individuals were able to keep going with faith and endurance. This short book of 124 pages is something you could read in a day. There are seven inspiring true stories.

[Daciana Washburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of various people’s experiences when they were faced with the choice to be happy or let life drag them down. Not what I was expecting but it was Inspiring and a quick one to listen to

[Erik Britt-Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was about people facing tough challenges, making choices to be happy rather than despair. It was similar to that, but overarching theme is about embracing God, and trusting in prayer. Not what what I was looking for.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring stories, well-told. Benedict is a talented writer and provides clear, interesting, and inspiring stories of people who have overcome adversity. Amazing what people are capable of.

[Rosalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring. True stories of people who made difficult choices and the blessing that followed.

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of cute stories but nothing applicable in the book.

[Jason Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring book about real-life stories that show that no matter how hard life gets, we still have a choice in how we will face them!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this book. 7 Inspiring stories of people who CHOSE to persevere, have faith, work hard, and not place blame. Kirby Heyborn did a great job reading this book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring stories, but I want to know what happened to Ben?

[Natalie Ethington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read with well told life experiences of happy survivors

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reminders that we are in charge of our own attitude despite what happens to us. Some stories might trigger painful memories.

[Amandalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this one pretty quick. Uplifting stories about making the best of your life by choosing to be positive and seeing the bright side of things.

[Dail Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book provides seven examples of individuals that have overcome tremendous challenges in their lives. Inspiring book.

[Jimlaudie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring read, especially for me the story of focusing outward during suffering to better deal with the pain. I appreciate Benedict’s raw human observations in his writing style.

[Richard (Rick) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally really like Jeff Benedict, but this one was just ok ... the stories are inspirational, but just weren't as engaging as I hoped.