Q&A: Author Kristi Watts

After you’ve been beaten down personally, professionally, and emotionally, how do you bounce back? That’s the question Kristi Watts asked herself after her marriage dissolved, she left her high-profile position as a cohost of The 700 Club, and she fell into several emotional pitfalls that left her feeling discouraged, disappointed, and distant from God. In her quest to find an answer, though, Kristi discovered one simple thing that had incredible power in determining her happiness: her words.

By remembering God’s blessings and verbally claiming His promises, she changed heart and her life. Her new book, Talk Yourself Happy, shares the Biblical promises that transformed her happiness and discusses the importance of relying on God to tame our tongues and train our minds.

Read on to find out what Kristi had to say about shifting her perspective and learning to cultivate true happiness.

What does it mean to "Talk Yourself Happy"?

To “Talk Yourself Happy” means to encourage yourself with the Word of God: to hold onto its truth while finding hope in its promises.

Words have a direct correlation to the state of our happiness because often our words reflect how we see life — how we see ourselves, how we see others, and even how we see God. The key is for our words to line up with the truth, hope, and wisdom found in the Word of God so we can “see” as God sees, “think” as God desires us to think (with the mind of Christ), and “believe” as he tells us to believe (holding onto the HOPE found only in the love of Jesus Christ).

What’s the difference between joy and happiness?

Joy and happiness are definitely interconnected. The best way to describe joy is to picture a beautiful garden with every kind of exquisite tree, bush, and flower. Think of joy as the totality of the garden and happiness as the individual variables of the garden, such as each intricately made flower, leaf, and limb. Happiness consists of those individualized God-moments when we see the handprint of God on our lives, whereas joy is the full collection of God’s presence that makes up those God-moments.

Explain what you mean when you say our Happy is found in the process of How.

The Bible gives us clear directives when it comes to what God expects of us: Trust. Forgiveness. Compassion. Praise. To name a few. The challenge many of us face in this is the question, How do we trust God when life seems so difficult? How do we forgive when repeatedly offended? How do we have compassion for another when our own pain is so great? As we ask the Lord to guide us in our relationship and growth with him, he teaches us How to do all the above. And when we do, happiness naturally follows as we experience the help, unfailing love, wisdom, freedom, and guidance from God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

What are some of the hidden traps and beliefs keeping Christians from living lives of happiness?

Some of the most common traps that have the greatest impact on our state of joy and happiness include: allowing our emotions to govern how we see, feel, and think. And second, allowing the negative and often untrue words of others, ourselves, and the Enemy play a more prominent role in our lives rather than the truth of God’s Word.

Favorite Biblical promises to speak when you’re feeling down?

God’s love for us is unfailing. God will never leave us or forsake us. God is always faithful (even when we’re not). God will never lie to us. God will always forgive us. God will never give up on us. God will never fail to fulfill his promises to us.

Advice you'd give your twenty-something self?

So many of us are searching for love: to receive love and to give love. The only love that never fails is the love of Jesus Christ. God understands you, sees you, and loves you right where you are.

You can learn more about Kristi and her book at TalkYourselfHappyBook.com.