Research has shown that we have 80,000 thoughts a day, and that 80% of these are negative.  Am I therefore just the sum of my negative thinking and if I am, how can I change?

Practising Joy is a down to earth course based on Christian values and aimed at transforming our thinking with simple skills and practises that we can use anywhere.  When applied regularly we not only change our mind set but behaviour, relationships and focus as well.  We learn to tune into our thoughts and feelings, those of our family and friends and of our God who knows us so well.  We become more attached to Him and we find we are following the example of His son, Jesus.

If you want to be part of this one day introductory course, please get in contact.

The 8 week course focuses on how we can be transformed by bringing joy into our lives, joy being the knowledge that someone, God and other people, are glad to be with us. We understand this in our heads, but do we really know the truth of this in our hearts and lives so we are transformed?

We use Romans 12:1&2 as our base, pin-pointing our thought patterns and emotions, and together we nurture our emotional capacity by creating new patterns, building up our ability to be grateful and our relational skills with God and those around us.  We combine brain science, psychology and the bible in easy to grasp steps each week and gradually find we can change, and know more joy and peace too. Anxiety etc becomes less as joy becomes greater in our lives.

Each session is approximately 1.5 hours in length, and forms a guided pattern where we learn new skills each week but also practise the skills together.  There is practical homework and follow up notes to read, plus plenty of time for interaction and sharing.

Courses run regularly so if you want to join one please let me know.

This is a great opportunity to give our brains a re-set, to see where God’s provision and joy is in our lives and the wonder of who He is and what he provides us with, not just focusing on what we don’t have which is an easy pattern to get into.  It is all part of being transformed by the renewing of our minds, and so Romans 12:1&2 is very relevant as is Philippians 4:8.  What are we actually thinking about and focusing on?  What thought patterns are we repeating?

 As we read in Psalm 23:6, Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life ... His goodness and love is following us!  What is it?  Where is it?  In our stressful and overwhelmed lives, His goodness and love is a constant, so this course will enable us to rewire our brains to see it, feel it and know it together.  

Each week we will practise prayerful rhythms and focus on one aspect of life where, even though we know real challenges, we can still know joy in His presence by practising gratitude.  And there will be plenty of time for interaction and sharing as well.

 We will be considering -

What thanksgiving and gratitude is

Where we notice it - past/present/future

In our relationships

As warfare

In suffering

What is God's response?

 … and much more as we form new practical habits together, 'entering with the password, thank you' Psalm 100:4.

Many who have taken Practising Joy have found gratitude and thanksgiving to be the most transformational element, but you do not need to have previously taken Practising Joy in order to join and to experience the benefit of this transformational rhythm.

This new course will start on Tuesday April 14th 2026. Please get in contact for more details.