My Own Worst Enemy: How to Stop Holding Yourself Back [Paperback]

Janet Davis (Author), Anita Lustrea (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2012

Helps Women Overcome the Limitations They Place on Themselves

Women often find that the biggest obstacle to being all they were created to be is themselves. Though they long to succeed, they can't silence the voice inside whispering, "Just who do you think you are?" Through stories of modern and biblical women, My Own Worst Enemy explores both the calling of women to shine and the complex dynamic of self-sabotage that often keeps them from daring to obey. Janet Davis shows women how to break the cycle of shame and self-doubt to achieve their full potential.

Perfect for individuals or small groups, My Own Worst Enemy will encourage any woman who wants to stop holding herself back and begin living out her purpose in the kingdom.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Sometimes Your Biggest Obstacle Is Yourself

You know you could do great things if you just stopped getting in your own way. But most days, self-doubt, fear, and the seductive whispers of insecurity have you second-guessing yourself--before you've even started.

Writer and speaker Janet Davis shows you how to break the destructive cycle of shame and self-doubt to achieve your full potential. Through lessons from her own life and examples of modern and biblical women, she reveals that every woman is called to shine, and you are no exception.
Learn how to break destructive patterns in order to live out your purpose in God's kingdom, bringing the sense of fulfillment you've been longing for.

Study questions also make this a great book for women's small groups.

About the Author

Janet Davis has a master's degree in spiritual nurture (Western Seminary-Seattle) and works as a spiritual director, writer, and speaker after many years in hospital chaplaincy. She has published two books: The Feminine Soul: Surprising Ways the Bible Speaks to Women and Sacred Healing: MRIs, Marigolds, and Miracles. Janet and Bob, her husband of more than thirty years, live in Austin, Texas. She enjoys their four adult children, gardening, and good food.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (March 15, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209507
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209505
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Janet Davis refers to herself as "one who gathers stories." She has an MA in Spiritual Nurture (Western Seminary-Seattle) and works as a spiritual director, writer, and speaker after many years in hospital chaplaincy. She has published three books: The Feminine Soul: Surprising Ways the Bible Speaks to Women , originally published by Navpress in 2006. Her second book, Sacred Healing: MRIs, marigolds, and miracles (Twenty-third Publications, 2010), is a collection of vignettes chronicling her experience of her son's diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from a brain tumor. My Own Worst Enemy is Janet's latest release and features the stories of women an Scripture alongside the stories of modern women. Janet is passionate about women and Scripture. She offers spiritual direction in Beaumont and Austin and is a member of Spiritual Directors International and Austin Area Spiritual Director's Association. Janet and Bob, her husband of more than thirty years, live in Austin, Texas. She enjoys their four adult children, gardening, and good food, and maintains a website at www.janetdavisonline.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Woman, Where are your accusers? March 19, 2012

By Gail Showalter

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My Own Worst Enemy is a book for women that tells scriptural stories in a new way while addressing the age old dilemma women face about their own place in the world. It is a valuable read for women who have lived long enough to have faced serious challenges, suffered injustice, and many times have stifled their God-given dreams. It is also a book for women who want to be the complete person God designed them to be in order to bring him glory.

When I read an author that has done the research, historical and Biblical, it opens spiritual pathways for me and I want to read more. Janet's uncovers facets of ancient stories and gives them new life. This book gives me permission to be me and to allow Christ's design to be displayed in me.

Janet's exceptional ability to reveal Biblical truths, with her understanding of the cultural morays of the time, gives depth to many of the messages we were taught as children.

This book is not only deep, it is broad.

It is a book for:
* Women who have been mistreated and misjudged,
* Women who have been led to believe they are `less-than,'
* Women struggling to overcome oppressive religious indoctrination.
* Many of us who were taught not to `shine' too brightly
And it is a book for Christian women in the church who need to better understand and comfort the women in the above list.

The thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter make it a book worthy of study for women who yearn to be the best woman of God thy can be as they partner with him on the journey.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Do You Sell Yourself Short? June 5, 2012

By jlsnydee

Format:Paperback

My Own Worst Enemy, How To Stop Holding Yourself Back by Janet Davis helps we, as women, to embrace ourselves wholeheartedly. We truly can be our own worst enemies in our lives and we often hold ourselves back from receiving God's best for our lives. We sell ourselves short. One example the author used in the book was of a woman searching the wanted ads in the newspaper hoping to find a job. As she looked over the different job postings, she would talk herself out of every single one of them by telling herself she wasn't good enough, qualified enough, ______ enough. But she truly was. Why do we hold ourselves back? We are afraid of failure. We are afraid to get uncomfortable. And in the process we miss out on success.

This book is filled with real-life stories of women who had to come to the realization that she wasn't living to her full potential and was a victim of self-sabotage. Some of the stories are from the author's own life. Each chapter focuses on one story and a similar story from women of the Bible.

I have mixed feelings about this book. At first I loved it and couldn't put it down. The introduction really hit home to me about how we need to shine as a child of God with the skills and abilities He has blessed us with. Then the first chapter was so profound to me and made me realize that, in my own life, I have been holding myself back. It was my "Aha!" moment that some people talk about. I was so excited to keep reading! And I even told my friends about how good it was! Then as I kept reading, my opinion of the book changed. I'm not really sure why, though. Or maybe the first chapter was so life-changing for me that the other chapter just couldn't compare.

Despite my opinion of the book, I think it is a good read for women.... We all sell ourselves short in one way or another and this book would be a great tool to help bring those areas to the surface through self-reflection.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Need it for waiting room reading March 25, 2012

By aggiewriter70

Format:Paperback

Janet Davis is a spiritual director, writer and speaker in Austin, Texas. Before this, she was a hospital chaplain for many years, and now, she has published a book that probably could be an answer to many readers' own personal journal questions about life and goals. In "My Own Worst Enemy," Davis points out a common factor to many people's problems in life - we are our own worst enemies. She writes, "You know you could do great things if you stopped getting in your own way."

Davis offers life lessons and answers of how to overcome the challenges that we put in our own ways - self-doubt, insecurity and self negative talk - through sharing illustrations from her own life, and of modern and Biblical women.
She shows her readers just how to walk through those "brick walls" so that each one can live out their purposes in God's kingdom, and offers many questions that get the creative juices flowing. As she said, "Every woman is called to shine, and there are no exceptions."

Chapters range from "The Unimagined Life" to "Choosing to tell Your Story," and each one is a pure treasure. There are so many self-help books that inspire, teach and reach and motivate, but Janet Davis' "My Own Worst Enemy," takes the walk with you, holds your hand, pushes you through the doors, and even gives you a kick in the back end when you start stalling.

Find a copy of Janet Davis' book today - it is compact to fit in that brand new totebag and easy to read while you are waiting in the doctor's office or for the kids at band practice or while walking on the treadmill.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning that your biggest obstacle is often yourself April 19, 2012

By Liz

Format:Paperback

The main point of Janet Davis' book is how sometimes your biggest obstacle is yourself. I believe that this is true for many people and I think that this would be a helpful thought-provoking read for almost all woman.

I really enjoyed the layout of the book. Each chapter started off with a real-life story from either Janet's life or another relate-able woman. Then a Bible character or story that had to do with the topic would be introduced. At the end of the chapter there was a section titled "Your Story" which included questions for the reader to answer about themselves. I believe the questions would make it a good book to read in a group because it would lead to great group discussions, but they are also helpful just to answer on your own.

I believe that this book will help many women realize that they are holding themselves back and how to let God work through them. I believe it will help many re-evaluate their lives and learn how to break destructive patterns.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.