What does loneliness tell us?"Be it chronic or acute, slight or significant, loneliness is proof of our relational design. At the core of our being is this truthwe are designed for and defined by our relationships," former pastors Plass and Cofield write. "We were born with a relentless longing to participate in the lives of others. Fundamentally, we are relational souls."Our ability to make deep and emotionally satisfying connections rests on the capacity to trust, and we all know trust can be difficult. Early-life relational "programming" and patterns of attachment can serve as blueprints for relationships later in life, whether good or bad. But no matter our conditioning, God is out to reclaim and restructure the deepest terrain of the human soul by helping us shed our reactive "False Self" and put on our receptive "True Self." Through spiritual disciplines and a conscious participation in the love of the Father, Son and Spirit, we transform our self-awareness and our connection with other people.Authored by counselor Dr. Richard Plass and spiritual director James Cofield, The Relational Soul brings together concepts from psychology and spiritual formation. Each chapter includes introductory stories and practical "If this is true, what about you?" questions to help readers engage in relationships in more life-giving ways. When the presence of Christ and community connects with a soul that is open, we witness the miracle of transformation.

Dr. Richard Plass is president of CrossPoint Ministry in Jeffersonville, Indiana. After serving in pastoral ministry for twenty-five years, he earned a PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in counseling. In his current work at CrossPoint he cultivates spiritual formation in the lives of leaders.James Cofield is codirector of CrossPoint Ministry. He holds a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary. Jim served as a pastor and church planter for over fifteen years before joining CrossPoint, where he offers spiritual direction and retreat leadership.

1. Our Relational Reality 2. Learning to Relate Starts Early in Life 3. Memory: Our Relational Control Center 4. The Reactive False Self: A Mistrusting Soul 5. God?s Particular Presence 6. The Receptive True Self: A Trusting Soul Interlude: Before We Move Forward 7. Self-Understanding: Connecting Head and Heart 8. Community: Fostering Soulful Relationships 9. Relational Engagement with God 10. Does Anyone Really Change? Appendix 1: Additional Reading Appendix 2: Making a Life Map Appendix 3: An Overview of the Enneagram Appendix 4: A Guide for Group Discussion