Inspirational well-being author Jim Murphy’s latest listen, The Best Possible Life, is a faith-based motivational audiobook that challenges listeners to pursue an extraordinary existence through surrender, service, and sacrifice. In this conversation, Murphy shares how sudden fame has deepened his faith, why true fulfillment requires daily sacrifice, and how serving others unlocks life's greatest power and peace.
Rachael Xerri: You became somewhat of a household name when Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown was spotted reading your book Inner Excellence on the field in 2025, and have since inspired hundreds of thousands of listeners and readers. How has your life changed since then?
Jim Murphy: I’ve learned to trust God more. I have to be much more in the moment because of the increased attention and requests. There’s so much need in the world, and when I’m focused on myself, it can get overwhelming, but when I focus on my purpose, God takes care of the rest. Most of all, I’m so grateful that I can be a small part of people’s lives around the world, and I pray that I can continue to help as much as possible.
Now let’s talk about your new book, The Best Possible Life. What message do you hope listeners take away from your latest listen?
There’s hope! God didn’t give you a life you don’t have time for, nor did he allow too much chaos or problems for any listener to not believe they can do great things. God created you for an extraordinary purpose, and you alone are the only one in the world who can fulfill that purpose. There’s not another person alive who has your experiences, your relationships, your understanding, and your heart.
What stood out to you while you were recording The Best Possible Life?
It’s so easy to get absorbed into our own lives, to focus on ourselves and our own families so that our own lives are a little better and more comfortable, and then we can help others. But it’s an illusion; that time rarely comes. Instead, love God and others first, and then absolute fullness of life follows.
"...the power is when you devote your whole life serving the underprivileged, the imprisoned, the orphan, and immigrant."
Also, if you surrender your heart to God, it’s the greatest thing you can ever do. Now you have the power of the universe within you. But it’s also the hardest thing you can ever do: Surrender your will and your desires and focus on obedience to his commands instead. The more I’m self-reliant, the more anxiety and stress and limited power, and the more surrender to the creator of the universe, the more peace and power.
Finally, the command to serve the poor. In Western culture, it’s more like a nice thing to do. If I donate 10 percent of my income, that’s such a good thing, if I volunteer once a week, that’s huge. But, and I need to hear this more than anyone, the power is when you devote your whole life serving the underprivileged, the imprisoned, the orphan, and immigrant. It doesn’t mean we all have to work in orphanages or nonprofits, it just means to treat the inmate as if it was my brother or mother in prison, treat the homeless as if it was the most important person in the world that needs your help, and you’re the only one who can do it.
Is there anything else you would like to share with listeners today?
The Best Possible Life is a book about how to live with absolute fullness of life, to be filled with love, joy, and peace. But it requires total surrender and huge daily sacrifices—just like an elite athlete or musician would do. The best possible life has one foot in joy and one foot in suffering. It’s an extraordinary step to take—to pursue this life, but it’s also the most extraordinary, life-giving, tears-of-joy-streaming-down-your-face life you can imagine.
