Brené Brown is an American author who will make you feel empowered and inspired. Her warm books, such as the famous The Gifts of Imperfection, will resonate with each of you through examples.
But what makes Brene Brown special among thousands of female psychologists? Her gentleness and tenderness are also based on science. She will give you the opportunity to observe the experiences of others, find yourself in them, and then give you practical advice on how to cope with the situation. Each of the following female authors will also help you find an answer to a question that may have been bothering you for years.
Cheryl Strayed, a woman who advises you to move on with your life
This writer is primarily known for her memoir Wild about her 1,100-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 as a journey of self-discovery. Why did she make this incredibly long journey? The purpose of her hike was to move on from the loss of her mother as well as other difficult trials of life, such as being estranged from her siblings, divorce, and drug use, through love and grief.
If you want to learn more about the incredible Cheryl Strayed and her work, check out the book based on her advice column collection called Tiny Beautiful Things. She offers readers real-life advice on how to cope with their horrible lives and move on with their lives no matter what. Cheryl once said: "There is no cure except to live the hell out of our lives, to take it apart, to put it back together, to dig it all up, and then fill the hole. To help ourselves and each other to the best of our abilities. To believe everything entirely, while also calling bullshit for what it is."
She invites you to move on and become stronger than your fears, demons, and past that pull you back.
Kristin Neff, a woman who will teach you to love yourself
Mindful self-compassion is a new concept introduced by Kristin Neff in her book Self-Compassion. Neff is a true professional who has been studying this concept in depth for many years, writing numerous scientific articles. Neff understands that self-acceptance is a long and difficult journey that requires your participation and the help of others: relatives, friends, and the environment in general.
Her books will give you the real answer to the question: “How do I feel better about myself?”. In fact, she answers this question almost at the very beginning of Self-Compassion:
"So what's the answer? To stop judging and evaluating ourselves altogether. To stop trying to label ourselves as "good" or "bad" and simply accept ourselves with an open heart. To treat ourselves with the same kindness, care, and compassion we would show to a good friend, or even a stranger for that matter. Sadly, however, there's almost no one whom we treat as badly as ourselves."
Harriet Lerner, a woman who will tell you how to control your anger
Have you ever felt like your anger is out of control and messing up absolutely everything? If so, read Harriet Lerner's book The Dance of Anger. She talks about the impact of rage on women's relationships and how to transform this often damaging emotion into a positive one. Here you will learn how your family and childhood upbringing may affect your relationship with yourself and your partner today. And it doesn't matter what kind of family you come from or what kind of background you have: this book can resonate with everyone.
Harriet Lerner is known for her contributions to psychoanalytic concepts in family and feminist theory and therapy. Most importantly, she positions herself as a woman who writes for women. She raises the issues of stereotypes and not wanting to be seen as a “bitch” or vice versa, wanting to be seen as a “good lady” and how this can affect us. She says that anger is normal, but sometimes we have to think about where it really comes from (“Only when we take responsibility for our own role in a problem are we able to make significant changes”).
Mel Robbins, a woman who wants you to do it right now
Mel's book The 5 Second Rule is about neuroscience and habit change that will help you find a way to stop procrastination in a different way from the authors above. Mel Robbins' book doesn’t put you in a soft blanket or explain to you in scientific terms – she will push you and make you take action right here and now. Be ready to make some silly, from the first glance, rituals that will indeed boost your motivation and will to take risks in the future. For instance, she encourages readers to literally give their own reflection a high five every morning in her other book, The High 5 Habit. Isn’t it kinda crazy but awesome at the same time?
The 5 Second Rule also teaches us: “Hesitation is the kiss of death. You might hesitate for a nanosecond, but that’s all it takes. That one small hesitation triggers a mental system that’s designed to stop you”. That’s why you should be confident and do what you've got to do. Don’t let yourself just sit and wait. Ready, steady, go!
Elizabeth Gilbert, a woman who recommends you to travel
Eat, Pray, Love is an extremely satisfying book that tells you a true story that happened to author Elizabeth Gilbert herself. When she understood that something was going completely wrong in her life, Gilbert decided to quit everything and travel across the world. She visited Rome, where she ate the most delicious food, gaining weight without any guilt. After, she went to India, embracing religion and spiritual exploration. Then, she visited Bali, where she learnt how to combine the divine transcendence and the world's pleasure by falling in love.
This book is sweet and romantic, filled with self-love and acceptance. At the same time, it teaches you that sometimes you just need to choose to be happy. “To lose balance sometimes for love is part of living a balanced life”, says Gilbert. That’s why, maybe quitting your awful job, leaving those gray city and finally going to Italy is actually a fun idea… Don’t you want to try to take such a risk yourself?
Tara Brach, a woman who shows you how to grow
Buddhism is not only a religion but rather a way of life that offers you peace of mind and meditative self-acceptance. At least, that’s what Tara Brach, who’d worked with this teaching for quite some time, believes in. In her workRadical Acceptance, Brach will lead you to your spiritual journey, where you accept your self-worth and stop thinking that something is utterly wrong with you.
“There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.” That’s the whole point of living a happy life – you just accept your life without complaining and drowning in negative thoughts because of it. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you stop taking action. Instead, you just embrace mindfulness and take care of your emotions. You will not reach this without practice, and that’s where meditations come in handy.
Glennon Doyle, a woman who teaches you how to respect your boundaries
Glennon Doyle’s book popular book Untamed shows you a story of a mother who is trying her best. Just like every other mother, she is struggling. Like every other mother, she thinks that she’s not doing enough. And just like every other mother, she thinks she must give up her life for her child. But wait… Doyle understands that the old belief about giving every part of yourself to your children is not working. Instead, you should focus on showing them how to live fully.
“This life is mine alone. So I have stopped asking people for directions to places they’ve never been”. As you can see, this book is not only about motherhood – it delves into the depths of being a woman in general. We are taught to please; we are taught to help others rather than ourselves. Doyle is encouraging you to transform with her gentle but firm writing. Be ready to respect yourself even if you need to do something utterly insane in others’ opinion.
Every author here has a unique writing style. Mel Robbins and Tara Brach will provide tools to care about your mind while still taking action and fighting for better with less stress. Elizabeth Gilbert, Cheryl Strayed, and Glennon Doyle will share their own stories of falling and rising from aches. Others, like Kristin Neff and Harriet Lerner, offer a clinical perspective that someone may find more appealing for themselves. But no matter what you choose for yourself, it provides insight, encouragement, and a reminder that you are not alone, regardless of where you are in your personal development process. These writers are here to help you navigate the vast and friendly realm of self-discovery.
