April blogging #A-Z 2018- J

This post is written for the April blogging #A-Z 2018.
I have chosen the theme Books and Authors for this year.

J– John Powell SJ

“We must be trying to learn who we really are rather than trying to tell ourselves who we should be” John Powell

I am so glad to talk about Fr John Powell who is Jesuit Priest and very popular for in his writings, which are mostly a self help kind of books. As a youth I have read a lot of books and I must confess that I was very influenced by his writings. In fact I borrowed these books as it was very expensive and sold in dollars; and those days I couldn’t afford to pick up expensive books.

I searched for them in the library and would take it from the religious priests/sisters who were my friends (either I would meet them in the church, and at other times in some seminars or conferences in the church circle). A few good friends of mine used to share as they knew I was passionate about reading. I would talk about his books, discuss and enjoyed all the conversations related to his book. His books were mostly on self development, self growth. I have enjoyed read the following:

·         Fully Human Fully Alive

·         Why am I afraid to Love

·         Staying in Love

·         Christian Vision

"The real gift of love is self disclosure” John Powell

I don’t remember the details of the above mentioned book, except that it challenged my perceptions, and influenced my belief system in a powerful way. I remember purchasing one book from St Paul’s publications called the “Happiness is an Inside Job” It was an Indian print and of a lesser price. This book talks about Happiness as an Inside Job. Fr John Powell gives a lot of examples to illustrate characteristics of happy people, and how the formula H=IJ can be practiced in day to day life.

“You have a unique message to deliver, a unique song to sing, a unique act of love to bestow. This message, this song, and this act of love have been entrusted exclusively to the one and only you.” John Powell

Fr Powell clearly speaks about happiness is a decision, a choice an individual makes to himself/herself. He further speaks about happy people and how they accept, love themselves and do not allow anyone else to determine their own happiness, but they take control of themselves, to pursue happiness in moving out of their comfort zones.

I remember lending this personal copy of mine to one of a distant friend who was interested in reading H=IJ and after reading he never gave back. I got so upset and  angry that I regretted lending my book to him.  I gave up that book after repeated attempts. Today I just pray that whoever is having my book  be happy and at peace.

“It is essential that our love be liberating, not possessive. We must at all times give those we love the freedom to be themselves. Love affirms the other as other. It does not possess and manipulate another as mine” John Powell

Thank you for reading this post, appreciate you:)
Be Blessed & Be Happy !