Customer Reviews

The Courage to Be Yourself : A Woman's Guide to Growing Beyond Emotional Dependence

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have read this book for the first time over five years ago. It is a book that one will refer to again and again. I happened to stumble across the book while I was shopping with a friend who was in need of some self-confidence and esteem. I thought I did pretty well at being myself but after reading the book discovered that I wasn't! The book was filled with so many lessons. After finishing the book I felt like my life was filled with so many unexpected & exciting blessings. You must be responsible to make yourself happy. Others can't do it for you. You are not responsible to make others happy. Give it a try! I wrote to Sue Patton Thoele and thanked her for permanently changing my life after I read this book!

This book was extremely helpful to me in a difficult time in my life. I highly recommend it to anyone who is living under the terrible dark cloud of low self esteem, whether brought on by divorce or other major events, or by harms suffered in childhood from unfeeling parents or others. The author really appears to understand, and offers a kind and loving help for getting out from under that cloud and into the sunshine. It is filled with kindness and compassion, and will help you on your way to finding happiness again.

This book is worth reading, but it contains no real helpful information except to "go get help". The author is a trained professional, and you do feel like you are sitting on a sofa but she is doing all the talking and not saying much. Perhaps my reaction to this book is because I had already read other books that went indepth on these subjects and she merely touches them. Sorry Sue.

I was very skeptical when I picked up this book but despite the inevitable self-help jargon, I have found it profoundly helpful. In fact, I am giving copies to all of my friends as gifts. The basic concepts are laid out in an easy to understand manner and the tone is kind and understanding. Lest it be too philosophical, there are activities to help the reader identify her own issues and success stories supporting each topic as it is discussed. I highly recommend it to any woman even slightly interested in building her self-esteem.

This is simply a great book! I have read any number of books on women's psychology, spirituality, and health. This book continued to engage me chapter after chapter; rather than requiring a specific set of religious beliefs or adherence to the author's pet expressions, this book simply presents ideas and reasons behind behavior and emotions, along with examples of people (including the author) who have suffered periodically from lack of self-esteem and emotional strength. While a lot of the text relates to mothers and wives, there is enough that is relevant for women who are neither. I am recommending this to all of my female friends, regardless of how strong and confident they are - reading this is not and admission of weakness, but rather an understanding of where our weaknesses may come from and how to prevent them from impacting our lives in a very negative way.

My mother gave me this book back when my relationship with my fiance was failing and told me to read it. At the time I didn't get the message, that I was co-dependant and needed to work to be strong myself. I picked it up two days after my fiance finally broke things off with me and read it cover to cover. It has been three days since I read it and already I can credit a remarkable change in my demeanor, attitude and thought processes thanks to the various anecdotes and exercises in this book. This book alone jump-started me on the road to recovery from co-dependancy such that I swear it gave me rockets for my feet. Many thanks to Ms. Thoele for writing this book and having it done in such a thoughtful, knowledgeable and easily-accessible manner. This will definitely be on my "To recommend to Friends" list. Simply wonderful...

A friend gave this to me 8 years ago. I was in a troubled relationship, employed in a job that was below my capabilities and suffering from very low self-esteem. I saw myself mirrored in the passages in the book and I realized that I could change my life. With the knowledge I gained from this book, I sought counseling and turned my life around. Now, I take care of myself, have a very successful career and feel very self-confident. This book is a life saver. Thanks Sue!

Years ago I opened this book and recognized myself in too many ways. Through gentle nudging and no nonsence from Sue, I was encouraged to admit "Hey, that's me!", followed by understanding, then action to change. This book changed my life, and continues to do so, as every so often when I can feel myself slipping into self doubt &/or martrydom I pick it up again. I can't lend it out because I have highlighter all through it! But I have sincerely recommended it dozens of times, & will continue to do so.

When I separated from my husband with much self doubt about where I was going to turn for strength, I found this book. Along with the co-dependence of alcoholism, I realized my emotional co-dependence. Through the tools that this book has taught me such as setting my limits on my emotional well-being, I have discovered another way to communicate that makes me feel good about me.
The examples in this book from the author's clients are very valuable, and something that I really related to. I highly recommend this for anyone that wants to feel good about themselves.

This book reveals how to grow and become emotionally secure. I love the defination for courage-'It is the ability to do what needs to be done, or feel what needs to be felt, inspite of fear. It is the willingness to risk or act even when we are frightened or in pain.' Invaluable book for anyone who has misgivings about themselves...