Reviewed by: Jessica Dundas, an English literature major at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana

Introduction

Title: Boundaries for Your Soul: How to Turn Your Overwhelming Thoughts and Feelings into Your Greatest Allies

Author: Alison Cook, PhD, and Kimberly Miller, MTh, MA

Publisher: Nelson Books

Publication Date: 2018

Format: print, paperback

Length: 240 pages

OVERVIEW

What if the enemies warring within you were actually fighting for the same cause? In this practical book, Christian counselors Cook and Miller give five steps for recognizing and befriending the parts of you that you battle against. They help you see the overwhelming emotions not as enemies but as helpers who have overstepped their bounds in trying to help you, resulting in internal wars. Limiting them to boundaries brings you to deep peace and rest in God, allowing genuine connection with others.

In part one, the authors bring you into a reimagining of the soul and the idea of the Spirit-led self, which is who you are when at peace with yourself and with God. They outline the three parts of the soul based on the Internal Family Systems model of Dr. Richard C. Schwartz and the roles these parts have in who you are. Then, in part two, Cook and Miller take you through the five steps to take a “you-turn” and bring peace to the inner turmoil. They share what it’s like to work with challenging emotions, such as anger, shame, and envy, by using those five steps in part three. Cook and Miller use anecdotes and wisdom throughout from their combined twenty-five years of study and clinical practice, as well as scriptural references, in leading readers on a journey of personal discovery.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

5 stars

Suggested Audience

This book is specifically aimed at Christian women seeking to bring peace to their overwhelming emotions.

Christian Impact

Boundaries for Your Soul challenges Christians to approach the overwhelming emotions of their inner worlds not as enemies but as allies trying to help them live a peaceful life.

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