Why Less Means More

Cathy Madavan

Description

Leave fear and franticness behind and join Cathy Madavan in discovering why less really means more.
Do you feel frazzled? Frantic? Fearful you haven't got enough?

In a world obsessed with more, where potential is maximised, and busyness is glorified, another reality also exists: we all have limits - and many of us are living at the edge of them.

Why Less Means More shows you how saying no to one thing might mean saying yes to something far better.

What would it look like to pursue less success and more significance? To live with less complexity and more clarity? To chase less of the 'extraordinary' and celebrate more of the 'ordinary' moments that make up an extraordinary life?

Cathy Madavan, accomplished author and speaker, invites you to leave your fear and franticness behind and discover more space, simplicity and the truth that less really can lead to more.

Contents

Foreword xi

Prologue: Why less means more 1

1 Less complexity, more clarity 6

2 Less pace, more space 20

3 Less success, more significance 34

4 Less consumer, more curator 48

5 Less extraordinary, more ordinary 61

6 Less random, more rhythm 75

7 Less power, more posture 89

8 Less frontstage, more backstage 103

9 Less me, more we 117

10 Less perfect, more progress 130

Epilogue: Less default, more design 144

Thanks 150

Notes 152

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Santé et bien-être
• Développement personnel
• Christian Living
• Time Management
• Self-Management
• Personal Growth
• Philosophie et théologie
• General officer
• Self-help
• General

Informations

• Publié par: SPCK
• Date de parution: 10 avril 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780281083404
• Langue: English

Extrait

‘Cathy Madavan is a brilliant leader and this is such a refreshingly practical, accessible book. But don’t be fooled! It is also challenging, formative and even prophetic in a culture dominated by greed, acquisition and power.’
Pete Greig , 24-7 Prayer International and Emmaus Rd Church
‘In this brilliantly engaging book, Cathy Madavan demonstrates how we are all far more able to make empowering choices about our lives than we might think. With her irrepressible warmth and authenticity, Cathy talks with honesty and realism about the challenges we face, highlighting how we can use these to shape not only our own destiny, but the destiny of those around us. In a world where the phrase “less is more” is often uttered but not always lived out, Cathy shines a light on how true happiness can be found when we take the simpler, less cluttered road. After reading Why Less Means More , you can’t fail to appreciate that, when our priorities are the right ones, they bring blessings on many different levels.’
Sam Jackson , Executive Vice-President, Global Classics and Jazz, Universal Music Group
‘Brilliantly insightful. Brutally honest. One of the finest books I’ve read on this subject.’
Professor Paul McGee , aka The Sumo Guy
‘Clear, practical and challenging in equal measure, Cathy’s writing comes from the crucible of her personal experience, helping us to make space for what really matters in life.’
Rob Parsons OBE , founder and Chairman of Care for the Family and author of The Heart of Success
‘Cathy takes us on an honest, humorous, humbling journey to rediscover the powerful simplicity of saying yes to less. This is the book we all need and the counsel we all crave.’
Amy Summerfield , CEO of Kyria Network and Head of Development at Skylark International
‘Everyone could do with reading this book – it is insightful, non-judgemental and honest.’
Patrick Regan OBE , founder and CEO, Kintsugi Hope
‘Cathy is someone who lives out her life with disarming honesty, godly integrity and inspirational strength. In the pages of this book, we get the privilege of learning from her wealth of experience and insight. Through her unique sense of humour and practical insight, Cathy both challenges and invites us all to step into a more healthy, whole and fulfilling life.’
Nicola Neal , CEO, Every Life International
‘I loved reading Why Less Means More and became engrossed in each chapter. Who doesn’t need to know how to have more of the good things in life and less of the things that sap joy? I can’t recommend this book more highly to all those who know something just isn’t working in their present way of life.’
Cris Rogers , Leader of All Hallows Bow, Chair of the Spring Harvest planning group and Director of Making Disciples
‘For all that we need less in our lives, we certainly need more of this! Cathy has a knack of getting to the heart of what matters most in ways that make you feel heard, loved and inspired with the radiant possibility of what could happen when you make space for the more you’re made for.’
Rachel Gardner , author and Director of Partnerships, Youthscape
‘Against the backdrop of our busy and relentlessly demanding lives, this book is a must read for anyone seeking to create space for what matters the most to them. Written with humour and honesty, Cathy’s wisdom and insight from her own experiences can be found within these pages, where we discover why less really does mean more.’
Shirene Agbelusi , Associate Pastor, Coventry Elim
‘Cathy is – more or less – the best person to write a book that can improve our lives. Witty, wise and intuitive, Cathy has walked the walk, learnt where the pitfalls are, and thankfully plotted them on a map for the rest of us in this brilliant book. Learn with her to live more authentically and positively.’
Paul Kerensa , writer and broadcaster
‘I challenge you to read this book and not find something that resonates. Packed with significant insights into the way we think and act in our modern age , Why Less Means More takes an honest look at the rhythms and patterns which shape how we manage our time. Cathy’s solutions and suggestions for tackling the kind of demands we all face are thought-provoking, practical and filled with hope. She invites you to see how living with less turns out to give you more – an invitation well worth accepting.’
Lou Fellingham , songwriter and worship leader
‘A brilliant and timely book if you are struggling to know what to prioritize in your life and everything is shouting “Now!” at you. Cathy writes as a friend, inviting you for a casual chat over a cuppa, only to discover that, instead, this will be a significant conversation, challenging the way you see life and the opportunity that it holds.’
Sim Dendy , Senior Leader, Freedom Church
‘Deep down, most people want to change, but find that being motivated and inspired is not quite enough! . . . What Cathy does so brilliantly in Why Less Means More is to give us systems and structures that, if employed in our lives, may just bring about the change we want. I found myself captivated, engaged, challenged and encouraged as I read this book, and so will you, whatever age and stage of life, whatever your faith journey may or may not be. Filling our lives is never the challenge, filling our lives with what matters most certainly is.’
Leon Evans , Lead Pastor, Lifecentral Church and Further Faster network
‘Such an important book for our time! Cathy’s research, wisdom, storytelling and experience offer a compelling vision for how we can live better. This book has helped me to take a step back, to evaluate what I am doing and to think through practically the changes I can make. It’s a game changer for those of us who want more of what really matters.’
Andy Frost , joint CEO of Gather Movement and author of Long Story Short
‘Cathy writes with clarity, humour and humility, challenging our cultural mindset of “more” and helping us to rediscover simplicity and, with that, a better way of living. Down to earth, practical and engaging, this book will give you strategies for building margin in your life. I urge you to read it!’
Katharine Hill , UK Director, Care for the Family
‘Writing with vulnerability, wisdom and authenticity, Cathy has navigated the liminal space of recent times and described for us a different way. As when hanging upside down, you will be given an opportunity to see things from a different perspective. Why Less Means More will be challenging and at times uncomfortable, but also releasing and life-giving.’
Justin Humphreys , CEO of thirtyone:eight and co-author of Just Leadership and Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse
‘Cathy has put her finger on exactly how the craving for more is stealing our capacity to enjoy life and live in the moment. That the drive for more stuff has the power to rob us of closer relationships, better health and the ability to live more sustainably is truly ironic. If you’ve been trying to find your way out of the maze of over-commitment, overwhelm and a pace that is outrunning you, this is the book for you. Take note: she knows what she’s talking about.’
Bev Murrill , founder of Skylark International and the Kyria Network
‘I’ve just put down the manuscript, having read cover to cover with a journal filled with notes and feel, . . . simply, relief and reassurance from the compelling roadmap contained in Why Less Means More . This book proposes a different way to approach life’s fast, frenetic, self-serving methodologies and lays out an alternative thought process with points for reflection.
‘Each chapter . . . enabled me to recognize traps I’d fallen into, as I allowed myself to sit with the proffered wisdom and embrace the challenge of recalibration. Cathy, thank you . . . You’ve given us the chance to enter into the “land of peace and quiet”, in the words of Thomas à Kempis with which you conclude the book . . . What an opportunity for us all.’
Tania Bright , CEO of Home for Good, Chair of Restored and trustee of Essential Christian
‘Cathy Madavan invites us to live creatively. We can have more by embracing less – more margin and rhythm, more relationships and joy, more significance and space. Don’t miss her authentic, compelling and freeing wisdom for winning at life. I loved it!’
Amy Boucher Pye , author and spiritual director
Cathy Madavan is a speaker, author and broadcaster. Her most recent book was Irrepressible: 12 principles for a courageous, resilient and fulfilling life (2020). She is regularly invited to speak at conferences, festivals and events, where she aims to equip others to live a life aligned with their values in both the easier and the more difficult times. Cathy lives with her husband in Bristol, UK, and they have two daughters. < www.cathymadavan.com >

Contents
Foreword
Prologue: Why less means more
1 Less complexity, more clarity
2 Less pace, more space
3 Less success, more significance
4 Less consumer, more curator
5 Less extraordinary, more ordinary
6 Less random, more rhythm
7 Less power, more posture
8 Less frontstage, more backstage
9 Less me, more we
10 Less perfect, more progress
Epilogue: Less default, more design
Thanks
Notes
To the gang. Every single one of you. You know who you are.
I am so incredibly grateful for you.
Foreword
If you’ve picked this book up, well done you. How long did it take you to open it and start reading though?? It took me eight weeks from being sent it to starting to read it. It’s a bit like going to the gym, you know it’s good for you but it’ll be hard work and push you, so you put it off and make excuses, I can be the queen of procrastination sometimes and I just knew I had to read this but kept putting it off. Life was busy! I was away working on a job that was all-consuming and the thought of bedtime reading was appealing but losing myself in a box set won my attention.
Then I started to read it. Now, I’ve known Cathy for