Introduction
INTRODUCTION
From the first moment of consciousness, human beings have asked the question “Why do Bad Things happen?” The answer that the universe is random and things “just happen” has never been satisfactory or fulfilling. And calling it the “wrath of God” has the tendency to destroy faith, not grow it.
Five Reasons Why Bad Things Happen: How to Diagnose, Resolve and Prevent Tragedies answers that universal question, proclaiming that all Bad Things can be understood and explained by five distinct Reasons.
This book covers all kinds of problems and crises, from major catastrophes (terminal illnesses, natural disasters, being a victim of a crime) to more common troubles (having your car stolen, job loss, etc.).
I wrote this book while my life was crashing around me, forcing me to not only dig deep, but to go “higher” to gain understanding and meaning. I wrote it because I couldn’t find the complete answers written anywhere (although I owe a lot of great authors and philosophers for their insight and wisdom which helped to support the messages in this book). And I wrote it so that it might help people of all faiths, backgrounds and experiences reach the deep sense of peace that can only be attained through the level of awareness and acceptance that comes from knowing the Five Reasons Why.
To get to this place of peaceful happiness requires effort from you, the reader. You’ll be required to keep an open mind, be totally honest with yourself, complete some exercises and, believe it or not, have fun. But your commitment will be rewarded in ways you can’t yet imagine.
Before you move forward, however, please review the Basic Assumptions and register how they mirror – or compete – with your belief system. The purpose of this book isn’t to convince you of the existence of a Higher Power or life after death; it’s to assure you that if these – and the other eight assumptions – are in alignment with your faith, then you now have answers to the “why” of every kind of life tragedy.
But Five Reasons Why Bad Things Happen doesn’t end there. You are taken through the next level – diagnosing which of the Reasons Why explain your problem – and then resolving the Reasons Why to enable long-term healing.
And, finally, the part many people will want to read first: the chapter on preventing tragedies. Although this chapter is the icing on the proverbial cake, it’s only a dessert that can be appreciated after the nourishing meal of the rest of the book has been consumed.
Questions that are addressed include:
- Why doesn’t “The Power of Positive Thinking” always work?
- Why does prayer sometimes work and sometimes not?
- Why do some people have the same problems over and over again?
- Why do some people seem to lead lives of ease, while others struggle so much?
- Why does a crisis turn some people into victims and others into not only survivors but thrivers?
- What is evil?
- Do things happen for a reason? For the best?
This book makes a bold claim:
Everything happens for one of Five Reasons.
And an even bolder claim:
You can prevent Bad Things from affecting you.
Live, Learn and Love!
