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and yet remain joyful. While happiness is an So what do counselors do when those they
emotion, joy is a state of being that is grounded counsel sabotage their own happiness? They
in a soul at peace. A joyful person allows himself challenge their clients’ worldviews and help
to feel great happiness, to deeply grieve a loss, to them gain insight into their histories and belief
suffer greatly, and to be at complete peace. Such systems. Christian clinicians explore their cli-
an individual is able to look at the realities of life ents’ choices and introduce them to something
and not be overwhelmed. Why? Because joy is that is much more lasting than happiness. When
authored in the person of Jesus Christ. It is His possible, Christian mental health workers in-
reality to which Christians cling. Their focus is troduce their clients to the joy that is found in a
not where the world looks but on God. Scriptu- relationship with Christ.
re instructs Christians to think on that which is
lovely, pure, and of good character. They stri-
ve to spend their energy on actively loving one
another, not keeping a record of wrongs, not
being rude but wanting what is best for others.
This type of life encourages joy.

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