Chapter 25 – BREAKING THE CYCLE
- Reflect on which demons you need to cast out. Which demons need to be cast out of society in America?
- Mathew Kelly asks; what are we powerless over? Do you need God to restore sanity to some area of your life?
- Did any of the addictions on Mathew's list on page 155 [food, control, taking too much, work, sex, pornography, alcohol, drugs, always being right, negative thinking, cynicism…] ring true for you? Which ones? Are we embarrassed to share some? Why? Why not?
- Did you try giving up a little thing and offering it up? How did that make you feel? Was it easier to give it up than normal?
- Do you fast on a regular basis? Why? Why not?
Chapter 26 - YOU CANNOT SUCCEED AT ANYTHING WITHOUT….
- In which ways do you "delay gratification?
2. What elements of our society keep us from delaying gratification? Why is this bad?
3. Is there anyone in our life who acts as the drill sergeant did to Mike?
4. "Resistance hate discipline. It hates self-control. Resistance abhors delayed gratification and any
type of self-denial that makes your heart, mind and soul strong." (Mathew Kelly, Resisting
Happiness) In which ways does Resistance hate you? How are you disciplined and self-controlled?
Where do you need improvement in these areas?
5. Did you try the action step to ‘Say no to yourself at least once every day’? Was it easy to say no just
once a day? Why/why not?
3. Is there anyone in our life who acts as the drill sergeant did to Mike?
4. "Resistance hate discipline. It hates self-control. Resistance abhors delayed gratification and any
type of self-denial that makes your heart, mind and soul strong." (Mathew Kelly, Resisting
Happiness) In which ways does Resistance hate you? How are you disciplined and self-controlled?
Where do you need improvement in these areas?
5. Did you try the action step to ‘Say no to yourself at least once every day’? Was it easy to say no just
once a day? Why/why not?
Chapter 27 – THE SECRET TO EXCELLENCE
- In which ways is God your "coach"?
- Mathew asks "whom do we get our spiritual coaching from?"
- Besides religion, in what other ways have you/we become mediocre?
- In what ways can you become more active in your parish? What obstacles keep you from being more active?
- If you had to choose one person to be your spiritual coach, whom would it be and why?
Chapter 28 – THE LIGHT IS ON
- "When's the last time you went to confession?" (Mathew Kelly Resisting Happiness) Was there ever a time when you did not go to confession? Why not? What drew you back into going?
- Is your car tidy? Your house?
- Do you know people who have a "glow" about them? To what did you always attribute that glow? Do you envy them?
- When have you felt most comfortable going to confession?
- "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself." St. Francis de Sales. How do you have patience with yourself? How do you not?
Chapter 29 – ARE YOU A PILGRIM OR A TOURIST?
- "Are you a pilgrim or a tourist?" (Mathew Kelly Resisting Happiness) Explain the what the difference is to you.
- What is your vision of heaven?
Chapter 30 – THE FIRST INTERVENTION
- Have you ever had an intervention?
- What impedes you from following the simply steps Mathew puts forth on pgs. 186-187?
- Let's reflect on the action step and question at the end of the chapter…’How are you going to grow spiritually over the next twelve months? Write down a plan.’
