The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life

This is a great book. I'm already on my second read, taking my time and making lots of notes. I believe Tommy Newberry has really nailed it. I'm a firm believer in the Law of Attraction, and that what you think on the inside is revealed on the outside. However, this book takes me way beyond that, because the guidance provided by the 48 principle makes it clear that I need to choose the right things to think about. Just this morning I wrote out these affirmations based on the 4:8 principle: ** I am living the life God intended for me ** I have a clear compelling vision of the future ** I am meditating and investing time alone with God each day ** I have people who hold me accountable to my best ** I consistently make choices for health producing foods and drink ** I exercise in some way every day ** I get sufficient sleep most nights ** I have 3 close personal encounters each day ** I have 'extra time' built into my schedule to have a margin of safety ** I am focused on progress rather than perfection One of the things that I particularly enjoy is that the strategies Tommy recommends are practical. Although I know that following them will take some discipline, I believe they are already paying off. I interviewed Tommy on Inside Success Radio for three reasons: 1) I believe that speaking with an author is the best way to know a book is genuine, 2) it gives the author an opportunity to summarize the main points, which creates a type of "Readers Digest" version of the book, and 3) during an interview you often get additional "golden nuggets" that aren't found in the book. During the radio interview I asked Tommy about what he calls RATs, (Really Awful Thoughts) and I'd like to share a little of his response. "Really awful thoughts, or RATs, take you down a path you don't want to go. Yet for most of us, heading down the wrong path doesn't happen dramatically. It happens subtly and as a result, we don't do anything about it. Thankfully, getting rid of your RATs is made easier by using the 4:8 principle. By choosing to ask yourself the right questions, you can choose to think on what is lovely, pure, gracious, and worthy of being called excellent to judge what is best for you to think and say" ### end quote ### I usually try to identify the type person who might NOT enjoy reading this book. This book is probably not for people who are offended by talking about God (yes, believe it or not, there are some out there.) Since you're reading this review, that probably isn't you. The rating I give books is based on a combination of how much I believe a proactive person might enjoy reading them and how much they might help you to be a more proactive person. This book easily earns 5 stars...and I recommend it to you with no reservation. DrProactive Randy Gilbert, producer of "Inside Success Radio"

The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry is a must read for everyone who is interested in living a joy filled life. The author takes the most basic principles of the powers of positive thinking to new levels as he challenges readers to examine on a daily, or even hourly basis, the blessings that are present in all our lives. By concentrating on what is good, we can live a life rich with spiritual rewards and good mental health.

The 4:8 Principle is an interesting mix of spiritual truth and practical wisdom. I've never read a book that has so many ideas that you can really use and would want to use. It's easy to read and you even feel better as you are turning the pages. The best part of the book is probably the two chapters on managing negative emotions. Newberry identifies what he calls really awful thoughts (RATs) and how you can eliminate them by changing your perspective about them. Almost anyone could relate to this material and it is very helpful for anyone, but especially for couples. The other thing that I liked is the end of chapter prayers which summarize the main ideas from each chapter. Overall, it is a book to use with a highlighter. Given all the negativity in the world, this book comes at a great time.

In a VERY negative world, I found this book to be just what I needed to focus on the positive. One really can live a more enjoyable and fulfilled life if you will simply be intentional about your thoughts. Tommy Newberry has done a masterful job in creating a very worthwhile but fun book. This is a great book to give to anyone struggling in life, or those just beginning (college graduates for example). It's a quick read and well worth your time.

Every so often a fresh, truly useful book appears on the self-help scene. This is one of those books. I picked up this book thinking it would be full of recycled inspiration and maybe a few nuggets worth remembering. What I found was a deep, well presented argument for thinking not just positively but also productively, regardless of what life throws at you. The book doesn't just tell you what to do, it shows you how in more detail than any other book I've read. This is like a modern version of As A Man Thinketh by James Allen, but with a lot more meat. The interesting part of this book is that the whole thing is based on a single bible verse that doesn't get mentioned very often. Great read!