How Much Joy Can You Stand?: A Creative Guide to Facing Your Fears and Making Your Dreams Come True

The Joy Series #3

by Suzanne Falter-Barns

If you're an entrepreneur holding tight to that big idea, a writer with writer's block, or anyone afraid to "go for it!" this is the book for you. In fresh, funny language amply laced with wisdom, How Much Joy Can You Stand? gives you a wealth of ways to break through those walls to creative expression--and provides the inspirational kick in the pants you've been waiting for.

Inside is all the reassurance and encouragement you need to get going and keep going. Stories, anecdotes, and the author's own hard-won wisdom tell the simple truth about creating your dream--it's not as hard as you think.

Discover how to ignite the fire in your belly and get your creative juices flowing; when to run from helpful advice; whether talent really matters; and how to stick with your work even in the face of couch-potato attacks and complete creative meltdown. Hands-on exercises follow each short, pungent chapter to put you back on track toward achieving your goals--and realizing your dreams!

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Growth, Business, Spirituality

208 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1991

Reviews

[Fonda Rush]

I feel like I came in in the middle of things. In order to enjoy this book, I feel I should have read her other books and developed my following. As a stand-alone book, I couldn't glean much from it. It's like I was late to the party without any way to catch up. Would reading those other books have brought me up to speed? I don't know. This book felt like a pep talk, but I had no background to start with.

What I thought this book was about: Perhaps there may be a way to find a spark and get beyond my depression that I have been under for all/most of my life to one degree or another. It is from this angle that I read this book, and it wasn't about that at all. Better living through chemistry is probably the route to go.

A few minor details: God and Jesus were mentioned a bit too much, and that was a turn-off for me. Also, there were some typos that shouldn't exist if the book were edited properly.

This book was wordy. It could probably be done as a pamphlet, but instead, it was repetitive to drive the ideas home and beyond, I guess. Different analogies and metaphors were used within lines of each other which left me confused. This was annoying.

I felt I should walk away from this book several times, but I didn't because a) I was reviewing it because I received a copy through GoodReads, and b)I'm behind on my reading, and this was a short book.

[Claudia]

This little peach of a book is a wonderful motivator, whether for creative projects, or just everyday life. After reading it, I ended up scrubbing floors... along with painting a couple of pictures. It's an introspective, inspirational book that will challenge the reader into thinking: so...why am I not doing that?

[Erin Book Nerd]

I have owned this book for a lonnnng time. I have a small, hard-bound, colorful copy that is yellow with green trim. Very attractive cover!

I can’t remember why I bought it years ago but my guess is that I wanted to bring more joy into my life. I don’t think that’s what this book is about. I don’t think this book is poorly written but I do think it is poorly titled. I tried and tried but ultimately could not (would not) finish it because the style of relentless enthusiasm was too much. Also, the topic of not pursuing a dream because I might be too perfectionistic or too fearful is not something with which I struggle. I don’t need motivation. I’m looking for insights to take inventory of my life and find ideas for finding joy, joy such as happiness, not becoming a singer, a writer or an entrepreneur.

[JasmineB]

Handy little book that encourages and uplifts. I like how it’s grounded in reality but at the same time, uplifting.

[Teri Kron]

This has been one of my all time favorite books since I first read it more than a decade ago, and it takes its place on the most prominent shelf in my private library--which is on my list to make sure and take with me in case of a fire or other disaster which would make it imperative to leave the house. Written in a calmly joyful voice, Suzanne effectively keeps me reading and hungering for the wisdom that she shares with those of us who long to express our own joy on the written page. Granted, much of the things I've experienced in my life are not exactly what one would consider "joyful", there is beauty in the sharing of the pain I've felt in that others can identify with it and perhaps heal a bit in similar ways that I have.

I lost my husband in 2012 when he was killed in a car accident. I had read Suzanne's book not too long before this happened and came across it one day several months later while dusting my bookshelves. The title jumped out at me, specifically the question about how much could I stand? How much what? JOY?? Surely it was asking me how much PAIN could I stand because I had been asking myself that for several months. When was the pain going to stop? When would I be happy again? The answer swooped down upon me and carried me off to sit with my journal and pen and spend the next two hours exploring BOTH those questions. And I was able to work through the horror of the accident and the fog of the days and weeks that followed. And I was able to transport myself into the present moment where I could feel my arms and my legs and I was aware of my breathing in and out, and I realized that I was still ALIVE! I still had things to do, life to experience and writing to pursue! I STILL HAD SOME JOY LEFT INSIDE OF ME AND IT WAS TIME TO SHARE IT!

Please excuse my exhuberance in that last excerpt. It has been nearly eight years since my husband died and I have chalked up more life-experiences since. Good and bad. Ugly and beautiful. And I still trudge on.

This isn't about me... I am here to tell you that "How Much Joy Can You Stand?" is an awesome book that was life changing for me and could be for you, too. I am a fan of Suzanne Falter's for life.

[LemontreeLime]

Well written and thought out. Thank you for the 'to hell with that, blanketyblank them!' stance in the chapter 'The benefits of wishing for too much', Madame Falter-Barns. You said in a concrete way what i always suspected, and i am grateful for that solidarity. This one is a keeper.

[Casey Emerson]

Small book - powerful words. If you are looking for some easy to read inspiration - this is a great book.

[Rosie]

A sweet little book in short chapters of how to make yourself happier. Some really great exercises are at the end of each chapter.

[Tristy]

This is one of my go-to books, when I am feeling creatively stuck. It really has held up over the years! Suzanne Falter-Barns has a joyful way of writing that is totally infectious.

[Claudia]

Horrible.