Review: Guilt Free: Using Remorse to Escape the Adversary's Tool by Karen John

Published: May 2014 by Cedar Fort Inc., 176 pages
Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review

Description: “Men are that they might have joy—not guilt trips” (Elder Russell M. Nelson). Guilt is a debilitating, forceful emotion with power to slow or stop our progression. We all feel guilt at some level, but Karen John, LCSW, explains how you can use remorse to access the Atonement and heal from unresolved guilt and pain.

My Review: I'm guilty of feeling guilty about a lot of things in my life. I loved what the author said, "Too often we allow Lucifer to use our strength against us because we don't recognize how strong we are through God and how weak Satan truly is." I believe that every single person has a lot of good about them, but when we compare ourselves to others or make mistakes, we often believe we are less than we really are. 

There was section of the book that focused on the effective half-truths that we are constantly fed and led to believe are full truths. Some of them are:
*You need to be perfect and you're not.
*You're not good enough and you never will be.
*You're thinking it, so it must be true; you are what you think.
*Other people are better than you (or you are better than other people).
Each of these (and more) are talked about more. There are stories and scriptures that go along with them and ways that we can give ourselves hope and encouragement in overcoming these feelings and thoughts. 

Forgiveness is talked about--it's not easy and immediate, but a process and "the hardest person to forgive, more often than not, is yourself."

I didn't feel there was a lot of new information, but it was presented in a way that really clicked with me and gave me a lot of "a-ha" moments. There are a lot of encouraging words found in this book and I think it's a great resource for anyone who is struggling.

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About the Author:

Karen W. John earned a Masters Degree in Social Work at Walla Walla College and is currently a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has years of counseling experience including, but not limited to, individuals, marriage and family, and all forms of addiction. She has taught Social Work classes part-time at BYU-I and speaks often at the university and at ward and stake functions. She currently resides in the Rexburg, Idaho area.