The Courage to Be Yourself: A Woman's Guide to Emotional Strength and Self-Esteem [Paperback]

Sue Patton Thoele (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 2001

Sue Patton Thoele continues her quest to help readers enhance their self-esteem and tap into their core emotional strength. Geared to women who too often find themselves meeting the wants of others at the expense of their own needs, the book provides necessary tools to help readers transform their fears into the courage to express their own authentic selves. By sharing her own journey and the journey of other women, Thoele helps readers learn to set boundaries, change self-defeating behavior patterns, communicate effectively, and become a loving and tolerant friend to themselves. This tenth-anniversary edition contains 30 percent new material, including a new introduction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a minister, I counsel as many women as I do men. More than any other author, Sue Patton Thoele has helped me understand what it is like to be a woman in today's culture. She writes like an angel yet somehow transcends words and communicates directly to the reader's heart. The Courage to Be Yourself is a classic, a masterpiece, yet it is so honest that each time you read it, it speaks with a fresh, new voice." -- Hugh Prather, author of The Little Book of Letting Go and Spiritual Notes to Myself.

"There is nothing more difficult than living an inauthentic life in which our deepest beliefs and dreams lay dormant. In this wonderfully inspiring and wise book, Sue Patton Thoele will guide you to discover and celebrate your deepest hopes, desires, and gloriously authentic self." -- Susan Skog, author of Radical Acts of Love.

From the Back Cover

"As a minister, I counsel as many women as I do men. More than any other author, Sue Patton Thoele has helped me understand what it is like to be a woman in today's culture. She writes like an angel yet somehow transcends words and communicates directly to the reader's heart. The Courage to Be Yourself is a classic, a masterpiece, yet it is so honest that each time you read it, it speaks with a fresh, new voice." -- Hugh Prather, author of The Little Book of Letting Go and Spiritual Notes to Myself.

"There is nothing more difficult than living an inauthentic life in which our deepest beliefs and dreams lay dormant. In this wonderfully inspiring and wise book, Sue Patton Thoele will guide you to discover and celebrate your deepest hopes, desires, and gloriously authentic self." -- Susan Skog, author of Radical Acts of Love.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Conari Press; 3 Original edition (May 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573245690
• ISBN-13: 978-1573245692
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Although I'd always been an on-again, off-again journal writer, I never envisioned actually writing a book. However, when I was forty-five, a Writing Muse grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and would not let me go no matter how much I resisted. And resist I did! To no avail... My first book, The Courage To Be Yourself, seemed to have a mind of its own and would not let me rest until I had completely committed to writing it. By the time the original book was published, a passion for writing had taken root in my heart. Having had a private psychotherapy practice for many years, writing about issues similar to those with which my clients and I grappled felt natural.

With the invaluable help of my husband, Gene, I've been incredibly blessed by writing and the relationships and experiences that have come from it.

Each of us plays many roles, and works in different arenas, during a lifetime. Below are a few roles I've played and some of the work I've done.

ROLES I'VE HAD:
Wife, divorcee, wife again ... still "wife again"
Mom, single mom, stepmom ... once a mom of any kind, always a mom
Grandmother, mentor ... love these roles
Myriad acting roles in community theater

WORK I'VE DONE:
Author
Psychotherapist
Public/keynote speaker
Seminar/group/retreat Leader
Hospice chaplain, trainer and counselor
Director of a counseling center
High school and adult education teacher

Please see: www.suepattonthoele.com for more information.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any woman who wants to enrich their life. June 15, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

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!

70 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! February 8, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

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.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book! May 9, 2001

By HW

Format:Paperback

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.

48 of 54 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading November 6, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

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.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A most awe-inspiring book to say the least... January 24, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

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...

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! March 9, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

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.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars empowering July 25, 2000

By LG

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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...

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars When I needed to feel good about me, this was the best February 13, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

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.