Courage to Thrive: Finding Joy and Hope in the Midst of Mental Health Struggles
About The Book
When wrestling with depression and anxiety, getting out of bed is a courageous move. When panic attacks and suicidal thoughts strike, finding victories in the small things of life and reframing feelings can help a person flourish even in the midst of mental health struggles. Rev. Dr. Bob Flanagan knows all about that—he’s spent two decades combatting mental illness head on.
In his first-person spiritual journal Courage to Thrive, Flanagan takes the reader with him as he traverses the dark and scary landscape of his mind and then the paths of faith that lead him to the Source of light and hope. Through a vulnerable look at the realities of a priest battling mental illness and still thriving, readers—whether dealing with similar mental health challenges or the stressors of everyday life—are left with a quiet confidence that assures them they too can thrive and enjoy the gifts God has given them.
Each of the forty reflections concludes with a heartfelt prayer that revels in God’s healing mercies. Join Flanagan on a journey to joy, peace, and hope.
About The Author
Robert D. Flanagan
The Rev. Dr. Bob Flanagan has struggled with mental illness and managed to thrive for over twenty years. He holds a doctorate of ministry degree in Christian Spirituality and is an adjunct faculty member at General Theological Seminary in New York City, teaching on Christian spirituality. He has served for over ten years as a state and federal advocate for and board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
His previous book, Growing a Sustainable Soul, won a bronze medal in the Reader’s Favorite International Book Contest. Bob lives with his wife, Lanie, in Bridgewater, Connecticut. They have two grown children.
Rave Reviews for... Courage to Thrive: Finding Joy and Hope in the Midst of Mental Health Struggles
“These meditations plant a seed of peace in the heart of the reader. And don’t we all need an extra dose of peace these days? Without shying away from the depth of human suffering, Bob Flanagan offers wise and gentle words of hope.”
—Donyelle McCray, Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Yale Divinity School
“Courage to Thrive: Finding Joy and Hope in the Midst of Mental Heath Struggles by Robert D. Flanagan is a profound and thought-provoking book with engaging stories that delve into the life of the mind as well as the soul, living with the highs and lows of anxiety and depression, and helps readers understand the correlation between the mind, body, and soul.”
“Reading this book is itself a healing experience. With great personal vulnerability, Bob Flanagan invites us onto a journey into spiritually illuminated psychological health. With lucidity, warmth, and gentleness, we are shown that God loves us in our struggles and can transform them into fulness of life.”