Book Review: Life is Messy
Mental Health Series Part 2
Disclaimer: I borrowed a promo copy of this book from my parish’s lending library. I received no compensation for this review.
If you have been around a Catholic Church in the last few years, you have probably seen a Matthew Kelly book tucked in the pamphlets and devotionals. He is the founder of the publishing company Dynamic Catholic and Floyd Consulting. He is an international speaker who churns out book after book while encouraging us in his Australian accent to be the Best Version of Ourselves. Every year, parishes receive copies of his latest book to participate in the Best Lent Ever program. If you have read one Matthew Kelly book, you recognize themes and stories interspersed across his books. His familiar tone and easy writing style makes the lesson easily accessible, especially when compared to some of the more dense theological writings of the church.
Life is Messy is a break from the pattern.
Before I review the book, I want to share a clip that I have used many times to motivate myself when I feel frustrated with a project or when I am interviewing. Matthew Kelly is also a motivational speaker and shares his beliefs that we are never too old nor never too young. You are exactly where you need to be and it will all work out. Check out the link here.
Be the Best Version of yourself. You are never too old. You are never too young. These quotes give us confidence and inspire us to rise above what we think we are capable of in any given situation.
Life is Messy is, well, messy. It does not follow the standard chapters of previous books. Matthew repeats some familiar stories, but this time digs deeper into some of the mental pain he has suffered from over the years. Instead of positive adjectives and the “Go get ‘em” attitude of most of his speaking engagements, Life is Messy contains section titles “The worst year of my life” and “What did I do wrong?” The tone is much more subdued and muted. In this latest book, Matthew reminds us that we are all human. The stories and thoughts twist and turn, much like the chaotic thoughts of our own minds during difficult times. Draw from journal entries over several years, it is much choppier book and a little more challenging to read. However, the message is clear. Though he spends time discussing despair and how he felt in that time, Matthew gives us hope at the end that through our perseverance and faith we can still have a good life and get past the hard times.