Worry Less So You Can Live More: Surprising, Simple Ways To Feel More Peace, Joy, And Energy

by Jane Rubietta

A refreshing invitation to leave behind your heavy heart and experience both delight and rest in the moment-by-moment pleasure of the God who delights in you.

Genres: Faith

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2015

Reviews

[Mary Kenyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a warm, comforting hug, for anyone who deals with anxiety and worry. I met the author in the hallway of a writer's conference in 2012, just a few weeks after I'd lost my husband. I'd bolted from the room where they were playing inspirational music, wondering how I could bear to live without my beloved husband. This author, Jane Rubietta, spotted me huddled in a corner near a bathroom. She could have easily passed by me as many other people had, not wanting to intrude on what might have been a private anguish. Instead, she stopped in her tracks and approached me, gently asking if I was okay. That moment will forever be etched in my heart, because this beautiful woman didn't hesitate at all when I shook my head no and began crying. She sat down next to me, took my hand in hers and listened as I attempted to speak through sobs. And then she prayed out loud for me, ministering to a stranger in a hallway. That is what this book feels like; a hug and prayer from a stranger who intimately knows what it is to worry and fret. I ended up taking a workshop on public speaking with Rubietta later, learning the technique of pinching the bridge of the nose to stem tears that threaten to surface during a presentation. I have used this technique on occasion in my own public speaking since then. But the real lesson I learned from this author is to never turn away from a hurting person, and to reach out in compassion and love. Thank you, Jane Rubietta. Buy the red shoes. You deserve them.

[Claudia {SparrowHawk} · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPARROW'S THOUGHTS:
I admittedly selected this book in light of the New Year and figured it would be something that would shed light in some of the personal areas of my life in which I find I worry a lot (i.e. motherhood, loving my husband well, my home, my friends, my family, the foundations of my faith, etc.), and to my surprise, Worry Less So You Can Live More was better than what I anticipated. It strikes a perfect balance between the reality that while yes, it may be difficult to overcome your fears and worries, life is supposed to be a: “lifelong journey of learning, forgiving, growing, back tracking, trying again.”

WHAT I LIKED:
+ There is a lot of valuable information that will make this read well worth your while. I often found myself underlining and highlighting important elements to consider and research on my own

+ At the end of each chapter, you will find these beautiful votum’s and benedictus ― which Jane Rubietta has written herself. Most, if not all, moved me to tears and softened my incorrigible heart. They are written in the format of a dialogue between you and God

+ Along with the votum’s and benedictus, Rubietta poses a set of questions which help to enrich the focus of each chapter. These set of questions, in my opinion, would work wonderfully in a small group setting

+ The word “worry” can be defined variously; however I felt Rubietta captured the concept well, and presented it clearly in this narrative. More than anything though, I appreciated her candor; especially in her introduction to the reader:

“Worry Less So You Can Live More is not intended to solve the problems of the world or represent an argument for any particular camp; it is not an exegesis of a particular book in the Bible.

. . .So please don’t send me angry letters arguing about my priorities in a world that is dying. I’m afraid that we are dying, as well. If we are dead, we are useless to this world. And God calls us to do more than just stay alive until Jesus returns for us. God wants us to live more, and worry less, and along the way, to live in his delight.”

+ I like Rubietta’s approach on the topic; she doesn’t coddle or help make excuses. On the contrary, she lovingly encourages the reader to take initiative with a clear purpose

+ Jane Rubietta’s personal struggles and trials make the book an entertaining and informative read, and her style of writing made it all the more easier to see my personal conflicts in a new light


WHAT I DIDN’T LIKED:
- I don’t appreciate the criticism the book is getting in that the narrative reads like a journal entry and feels like, “it rambles.” I feel Rubietta made this following point quite clear in her introduction of the book:

“Worry Less So You Can Live More is my attempt to relinquish my worry-wrinkled soul, to encounter the delight of God and the God of delight, and to share my findings with others.

So yeah, it’s suppose to carry a personal tone, and for the record, I don’t believe the book reads as a journal entry at all. It reads very much as though you are having a delicious cup of coffee with a friend who is simply opening up their heart on heavily weighted issues that most people don’t like to venture into; thus, I appreciate your every word Jane Rubietta

All in all, I found this to be an extremely well structured book, even to the end notes. At times it is thought-provoking, and at other times, it is wonderfully uplifting. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a breath of fresh air in the muddle of their day -to-day worries.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of this review, it was not required of me to give a positive review, but to solely express my honest thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.


Originally posted @ Sparrow's Reading Corner

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read because it was on the UMW list, so it's not really something I would have chosen on my own.

There's definitely a peace/meditation vibe to the book that I think would be helpful for those who do worry excessively.

The book has 14 chapters, so it's quite long for a short term study.

There were quite a few good points and she had good stories and quotes, but I didn't feel like there were 14 unique ideas (or even 12 ideas with an intro and a conclusion). It all sort of ran together by the end.

[Tima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worries bother a lot of people. So the author has taken this part of her life and broken down how she overcame her worry and became more at peace with herself and God. She gives ideas and tools for banishing the worry and replacing it with more positive thoughts.

I tend to be a worrier. So I was really looking forward to this book. The cover is gorgeous and the concept is so needed in today's world. But the execution just wasn't there for me. The author gave some very detailed stories and references to showcase worry. But a lot of them tended to border neurosis (the author's words). She talked a lot about bringing out the inner child that is being smothered by the outer adult so that you can let go of your worries. There weren't as many scripture references to back everything up as I'd expected. So much of it just didn't apply to my situations in life. While it was an entertaining read, I just couldn't find anything that was helpful.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi, my name is Laura and I'm a worrier. I don't mean to be. I know I'm not supposed to be. I know the Bible says do not worry over and over, but it's my default. It's Jane Rubietta's default, too. This book is her journey from over serious chronic worrier to living a more peaceful, joyful life.


This is a book to savor, to read slowly, to drink in. There is some very good advice in this little volume. Changing focus is key. Remembering child like joy and play is encouraged. Noticing the little things. Delight, hope, anticipation of good all play a part.


Mrs. Rubietta's style of writing reminded me a bit of Anne Voskamp's writing style. It's written in a friendly, poetic, personal narrative. She inspires deep thinking and offers creative ideas and prompts. She tells numerous stories of her journey.


To be honest, it took me a long time to read this book. I kept laying it aside. Perhaps I was hoping for something less prosy and more solid. Maybe I wanted the five steps and you're over it kind of thing. If that's what you're looking for, you won't find it here. Maybe it was the pressure of knowing I had to write a review. Maybe it's just the major stress overload I've been under for the last two months. If you're looking for a narrative of how one woman has found her way through, this book will be just what you're looking for. I guess, I'm just so busy, it didn't move quickly enough for me. I suggest you read the Excerpt below to get a feeling for her style.


Have I stopped worrying? No, not yet, but I've taken a step on my journey.

Do I recommend it? Maybe. It may depend on whether you're want and need a gourmet meal in a fine restaurant or you need a drive-through fast food meal.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Laura Brinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished another book (reviewing for the Nuts About Books program put out by Graf-Hill Communications). It’s called “Worry Less So You Can Live More.”

I’ll be honest, when I said I’d read the book I expected it to be just like every other book on worry I’ve ever read. I’m a worrier myself, so this is not the first Christian self-help book on worry I’ve cracked open. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was not a word-for-word reiteration of what scriptures say about worry, but was instead a beautiful journey with author Jane Rubietta through what it looks like to live a life of worry, and what the alternative of living life leaning into God can look like. Not that there’s anything wrong with a word-for-word exposé on what God has to say through Scripture about worry, but I was glad to find that this book was more than that. It’s a beautifully written anecdotal toolbox for how to replace worry with things like hope, praise, anticipation, and joy ~ because worry is the antithesis and thief to all of those things. Jane Rubietta has a wonderful writing style which kept me engaged all the way through.

If I had to choose a favourite chapter (without spoiling anything), it would definitely be the one on fireflies. And I’ll let you read the rest for yourself. Each chapter was accompanied by deep, thought-provoking questions which made me reflect deeply on some of my own worry-filled and worrisome tendencies, but what I appreciated the most about each chapter were the quotes, votums, and benedictions that Rubietta put at the end. Quotes, both from Scripture and elsewhere, served to reinforce everything Rubietta had said in the chapter, and served as a clear reminder that if sometimes you feel that you’re the only one who struggles with this ~ you’re not. Votums were like a prayer prayed right from my heart, even though I’ve never met the author. Benedictions were like an answer to those prayers, each of which hit me with strength.

I finished the book feeling like I knew Jane Rubietta personally ~ like I could run into her in a coffee shop, give her a great big hug, and sit down and talk to her for hours over a latte. Her writing was so deeply personal that it really connected me to the text and what she was saying. This author is not someone who has perfected the art of living worry-free and is then preaching at the reader from a high horse of having it all figured out. Instead, she crafted beautiful pieces of wonderful imagery woven together to show that we’re all in this together. I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with worrying and perfectionism like I do. It’s a good read, it’s a fairly quick read, and if I’m right about this book ~ I think it’s a read that will stick with you in the weeks to come.

This review was published first at https://thisblogisepic.wordpress.com/...

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title just leapt out at me! When scrolling through the list of books to choose for my next review, I thought, “I’ll read this and pass it on to my friends: Worrier A, Panic Attack Freak B, and Hypochondriac C”. And before you judge me, I don’t normally categorize my dear friends as such. It’s just so easy to point fingers at the people in our lives who could learn (insert goal of book fix here), isn’t it? And yet, not so surprisingly, as I began to read, I realized that I could use some focus as well. Imagine that!

Author Jane Rubietta wrote a book that not only gives practical advice on how to worry less, but she also takes instances from her own life, which gives us readers relatability and points us in the ONLY direction that can take away our worry. It was so refreshing to see a woman whose life is immersed in women’s ministry share her fears and worries amidst conferences and personal interactions. Gone was the facade that doing the Lord’s work eliminates stress and worry. Jane made it clear that it is very much a part of her life, and that she has a few ways to deal with anxiety.

Jane shares about the need to empathize with others, and how isolation takes away from our ability to heal and cope with some of life’s struggles. Now, to give away all of the details of her solutions would take away the reason to pick this book up for yourself, so I will not divulge any further. But I will share that the Lord indeed plays a huge part in recovery, and that reminding ourselves that it is okay to play, to have imagination, to go back to a time in our lives when time didn’t exist and childlike nature was acceptable…those moments can definitely relax and refresh you. So often, I was transported to Jane’s visual destinations by her ornate descriptions. I felt like I was in a field with wildflowers all around, and seeing lightning bugs at nighttime. I genuinely saw her desire to go to (and her desire to take us to) the places where we were allowed to give ourselves permission to just be still. As adults, we don’t do that. And we certainly need to.

Her book is a fast read, with wonderful questions. She also includes Votums and a Benedictus for the end of each chapter. My recommendation: Grab a cup of hot, fresh coffee, a warm blanket, and curl up in your favorite reading spot with your Bible, and begin this journey with Jane. You won’t be disappointed. And you’ll also feel as if you’ve made a new friend, one who “gets” you and will continue to pray for you. :)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I would hate this book. I thought it would be easy to disagree with, to pick apart, because so many books that claim to be about worry and anxiety offer pat answers that don't really help—and often disregard completely—the struggle of someone who deals with anxiety at the level of mental illness.

I should know better than to make my judgments based on a generic title and vague back cover copy written by the marketing department.

Right away the author addressed my biggest fear about this book: "If you feel you have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, suffer from panic attacks, or deal with other serious problems, then please seek professional hep, and take this book with you (pg. 13)." It felt like reconciliation to see a Christian author recognize that mental illness is a real thing and not brush it off with an "It's all in your head," or a quick, "You just need to trust God."

This entire book felt like a giant hug from someone who gets it—one of those hugs that comes right when you need it. Jane is specific enough to give concrete ideas for dealing with worry, but vague enough to let you fill in the blanks and apply her insights to your own situation. She shares her thoughts, but she doesn't preach. I didn't feel belittled or brushed off.

Every time I picked up this book, I knew I would feel lighter when I put it down again.

Jane wrote about how delight, physical activity, recalling God's faithfulness, shedding healing tears, understanding your identity in Christ, and anticipating Jesus can slow worry to a crawl and sometimes halt it completely. She doesn't claim to have all the answers or be able to solve all your problems, but she offers understanding and empathy that brought me more comfort than I could have imagined.

Combine the content with Jane's lovely, artistic prose and you're left with a book that needs to be read by any woman who worries about anything, whether it's panic-attack-inducing worry or the kind that hides in your check book and jumps out when it's time to pay the bills. Even if you aren't a worrier, Jane will help you recapture the delight of your childhood and harness it to make adulthood a little easier.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. My opinion is my own and was not influenced by the author or publisher.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

have been a gifted worrier for many years. As a child I would worry about little things–like the weather, school, and what friends thought of me. As I’ve gotten older, my worries have become bigger and more difficult to cope with. Having a child with special needs has taught me a lot about trusting God, but it’s also given me many things to worry about.

Jane Rubietta’s new book Worry Less So You Can Live More has a different perspective on worry than many other Christian Worry Books I’ve read. Jane argues that we’ve become more worried because we’ve lost our ability to find delight in life. We worried less as children because we were able to find delight in the world, play hard, and dance spontaneously, cry tears of healing without caring what other people thought, and fully trust that someone else is handling all the big things in life. As we’ve gotten older, we’ve traded in our enjoyment of life for responsibilities and the misguided thought thought that you have to be serious and burdened in order to be a “Good Christian Woman”.

The book has 13 chapters, each one focusing on a tool of learning to worry less and live more. Chapters include such tools as Play, Trust, and Breaking Free. Each chapter has a 5-10 little vignettes or stories from the author’s perspective about the importance of the chapter theme. Each chapter ends with some quotes, verses, questions to ponder, Votum (essentially our cry to God), and Benedictus (God’s response to our votum.)

The book had some interesting thoughts, and the author’s writing style is easy to read and humorous , but the stories within the chapters seemed a little disjointed and disorganized. In one particular chapter about Bread, (stories about homemade bread from the author’s bread machine, then Jesus being the Bread of life, to manna from heaven), I kind of lost sight of the main idea because of all the little stories. But on the whole, I loved the idea of remembering the simplicity of childhood faith in order to help us break free of worry and live life to the fullest.

*Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a book to review from Bethany House called, Worry Less So You Can Live More: Surprising, Simple Ways To Feel More Peace, Joy, And Energy by Jane Rubietta. In each chapter Rubietta starts out telling a story of her past of when she had trouble with worrying. I find she wrote each chapter beautifully, and has a distinct way of telling her stories. At the end of the chapters there are questions you can ask yourself or even if you used this book for a bible study group. She also ends the chapter with a votum and a benedictus she has written. Rubietta has a way of keeping you interested while reading about this worry or that worry, and also does a great job of explaining how those worries are not needed. She writes about how we need to give those worries to God and have faith. It really hits home for me because I have always worried. I just need to trust God more, and know that he is there with me and he will take care of it. Not only is the book beautifully written it has a gorgeous cover! It is worth a read if you struggle with worrying.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exchange your worries for delight in God...and God's delight in you. Worry Less So You Can Live More by Jane Rubietta shows us surprising, simple ways to feel more peace, joy, and energy. Isn't that something we all need?

While nothing struck me as life changing, due to the fact that I've studied worry and God's word before, I do feel that Rubietta gives us a glimpse into her own life worries and how she herself overcomes them. The theme of been there, done that comes across as genuine and hopeful. She shows us that life can be so much more and how to look to God's word in those times of doubt, struggle, and worries.

With discussion questions and journaling prompts this is the perfect book for a Bible Study or small group.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have anxiety about most everything it seems. I thought this book would have some good ideas on how to worry less, hence the title. I'll be honest, I didn't really get much out of this book that I haven't read previous. Jane writes in stories so the reader can better relate to certain worries and at the end of each chapter are questions and a prayer. I think this book would be best used as a devotional. The main idea that resonates with me from reading this book is you really can't live more until you focus on God. Your worries can't disappear without that focus and Jane continually proves the fact in her book and encourages the readers to dig deeper.


Four stars.

"I received this book from Bethany House for free in exchange for an honest review."

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Rubietta's writing made me realize how much worry can take over a day. How we can miss out on the joy of living, by worrying about what is going to happen in our adult lives. How not trusting God to meet all our needs (Phil. 4:19) can lead us into stressful unfulfilled lives.

She gives you all this with real life stories of her life that most everyone can relate too. They will make you think how this applies to you. Mixed in with the stories are poetry and discussion questions that will take you deeper still.

This is a book that I will read time and again to remind myself of God's great love and how he would like us to live.

[Shannon Greene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read this book because it was the one my book club chose to read. I wanted to stop reading it so many times because it was awful. It was full of trite and vapid platitudes, and the author has some terrible neuroses. Like, seriously. Just buy the freaking $20 shoes.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously this is a well written about topic with lots of books on the subject. I felt this one was mild among the pack. It didn't always hold my attention.

[Jimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed!