Personal Growth Archives - Page 2 of 3

Elyce Monet: The Me I Couldn’t See wasn’t hidden by the world—it was hidden by me. The journey to authenticity starts here.

Liz Rubico October 9, 2024 October 7, 2024Meet The Authors

In “The Me I Couldn’t See: A Journey Into Authenticity” by Elyce Monet, there’s this realization that really hits hard: the real you, the person you’ve been searching for all along, wasn’t hidden by the world. It was hidden by you. That’s a pretty big truth to swallow, right? It’s not society, or your friends, or your family that’s kept you from being your authentic self—it’s you. You’re the one who’s been hiding your true self, thinking it’s what you have to do to survive, fit in, or be accepted. Let’s be real for a second—how often do we hide parts of who we are just to feel like we belong? We craft this version of ourselves that feels “safe,” the version we think everyone will like, and over time, we get so used to wearing that mask that we convince ourselves it’s who we really are. But deep down, we know that’s not the truth. There’s this little voice inside that keeps reminding us that something is missing, that we’re not living fully as ourselves. Elyce Monet taps into this feeling so perfectly in her book. We spend so much of our lives editing ourselves, downplaying what makes us unique, and pushing down the parts we’re scared to show. Maybe we think we’re too weird, too different, or too much for people to handle. So, we hide. But the funny thing is, in hiding those parts, we’re also hiding the things that make us feel alive. We’re hiding our…

Adele Saccarelli-Cavallaro: In the search for Oz, the greatest treasures aren’t found on the road, but within ourselves.

Liz Rubico October 8, 2024 October 7, 2024Meet The Authors

In “Searching for Oz” by Adele Saccarelli-Cavallaro, we’re taken on a journey that feels familiar to all of us—the search for meaning, fulfillment, and that elusive feeling of “having made it.” For so many, the idea of Oz represents this magical place where all of life’s problems are solved. It’s a destination where everything finally falls into place. But as Adele beautifully illustrates throughout the book, the greatest treasures we seek aren’t found at the end of the yellow brick road. In fact, they aren’t found on the road at all. They’re within us. Think about how often we look for happiness outside of ourselves. We set goals, chase achievements, or seek approval, thinking, “Once I get there, I’ll be happy,” or “Once I achieve this, I’ll feel complete.” Whether it’s a better job, a relationship, or financial success, it’s easy to believe that something external will magically bring fulfillment. But Adele reminds us that the real treasure—whether it’s courage, self-love, peace, or wisdom—has always been inside us. We just forget to look there. In the book, we’re reminded of the characters from the classic tale: the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. Each of them believed they were missing something essential—a brain, a heart, or courage—and they thought Oz was the place to find it. But by the end of their journey, they discovered that everything they needed was already within them. The Scarecrow had his intelligence, the Tin Man had a heart, and the Lion had…

Scott Cramer: Life’s messes don’t stop for dads – Discover how to rebuild when everything seems to be falling apart

Liz Rubico October 5, 2024 October 4, 2024Meet The Authors

Life’s messes don’t stop for dads. Discover how to rebuild when everything seems to be falling apart. Fatherhood is an incredible journey, filled with love, joy, and, let’s be honest, a lot of responsibility. From the moment you become a dad, you’re no longer just living for yourself—you’re shaping the world for your kids. But let’s face it, life doesn’t slow down or get easier just because you’ve got little ones depending on you. Bills, work stress, relationship problems, personal struggles—life has a way of throwing chaos at you when you least expect it. And sometimes, it all feels like it’s crumbling around you. In Daily Dad: Picking Up the Pieces, author Scott Cramer dives into these moments when being a dad feels overwhelming. He reminds us that the real strength of fatherhood isn’t about never falling down. It’s about learning how to get back up and rebuild when everything seems to be falling apart. We dads often feel like we need to keep everything together, no matter what. Maybe it’s the pressure to always appear strong, or the fear of letting our families down. But the truth is, life’s messes don’t stop just because you’ve got kids. In fact, the responsibility of fatherhood can sometimes make those messes feel even bigger. You might be struggling with losing a job, dealing with relationship issues, or even just trying to manage the day-to-day stresses of life. When things get tough, it’s easy to question your ability to lead and wonder how…

Dan Clouser: The diamond is where talent meets hard work, but only a coach can unlock the full brilliance of both

Liz Rubico October 4, 2024 October 4, 2024Meet The Authors

The diamond is where talent meets hard work, but only a coach can unlock the full brilliance of both. In Dan Clouser’s The Beauty of a Diamond, Through the Eyes of a Coach, the baseball diamond is more than just a field—it’s a place where magic happens. It’s where talent and hard work meet, but without the guidance of a coach, that magic might never be fully realized. You see, a coach isn’t just there to call plays or yell from the sidelines. They’re the ones who help players see the potential within themselves, even when they don’t yet believe in it. Think about it: talent can only take an athlete so far. A gifted player might have all the skills in the world, but if they don’t have someone to guide them, they may never reach their full potential. It’s like a diamond in the rough—valuable, sure, but it needs to be polished to truly shine. That’s where hard work comes in. And that’s where the coach steps in. A coach sees things that others can’t. They see beyond the game, beyond the stats, and beyond the surface-level abilities of their players. They’re able to recognize the untapped potential that might not be obvious to anyone else, including the player themselves. But talent and hard work alone aren’t enough without direction. And that’s why coaches are so essential—they take raw talent, shape it, and guide it toward excellence. In The Beauty of a Diamond, Through the Eyes of a…

Kent Sanders: A Father’s Legacy in 18 Words: Discover the Values That Lead to a Life Well-Lived

Liz Rubico September 26, 2024 September 24, 2024Meet The Authors

It might be difficult to determine what really important in a world where noise is all around us. However, often the most valuable teachings are the most basic, handed down through the centuries. In his book 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most, Kent Sanders condenses ageless principles into just 18 words, each of which contains a nugget of knowledge that makes life more meaningful. Think of having a set of eighteen straightforward terms that could help you go through the highs and lows of life. These aren’t just any old words; they stand for principles that Kent inherited from his father, principles that are firmly based on integrity, compassion, love, and tenacity. Each word is a reminder of what’s truly important—principles that help us stay grounded, no matter how crazy life gets. What’s beautiful about these 18 words is how straightforward they are. Life often feels complicated, but Kent’s father knew that true success doesn’t come from chasing after the latest trends or stressing over things that don’t last. Instead, it comes from living with integrity, treating others with respect, and holding onto the values that never go out of style. These words encourage you to pause and reflect, to ask yourself: Am I living in a way that honors these timeless values? The real magic is that these 18 words aren’t just for fathers to pass down to their children. They’re universal. They’re for anyone who wants to find clarity, focus, and a…

Chad Hyams: Don’t Just Survive—Thrive! Here’s How to Create a Life of Predictable Success Using What You Already Have!

Liz Rubico September 25, 2024 September 24, 2024Meet The Authors

Don’t Just Survive—Thrive! Here’s How to Create a Life of Predictable Success Using What You Already Have! Let’s face it—we’re all busy just trying to keep up with life’s demands. Whether it’s balancing work, relationships, or personal growth, it can often feel like we’re just surviving, not really thriving. But what if I told you that you already have everything you need to create predictable success in your life? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, Chad Hyams, author of Achieve your Apex: How to Maximize Your Strengths, Create Predictable Results, and Thrive in Every Facet of Your Life, shows us that it’s entirely possible. The truth is, most of us spend way too much time focusing on what we can’t do—our weaknesses. We’re constantly trying to fix things we’re not good at or become someone we think we need to be. But the real magic happens when you start focusing on what you’re already great at! When you lean into your natural strengths, things begin to click. That’s when you shift from just surviving to truly thriving. Chad Hyams explains that success doesn’t have to be a mystery or something that happens by chance. By maximizing your strengths, you can actually create a life where success is predictable. Imagine that—having a system in place that consistently works because it’s built around what makes you uniquely talented. Whether it’s in your career, relationships, or your overall well-being, you can create habits and routines that align with your strengths and make success feel…

Jen Du Plessis: Success is sweeter when it’s unexpected. Tell Me I Can’t, and I’ll show you the impossible made real

Liz Rubico September 21, 2024 September 20, 2024Meet The Authors

Success is sweeter when it’s unexpected. Tell me I can’t, and I’ll show you the impossible made real. There’s something about being told, “you can’t” that just hits different, isn’t there? For some, it’s discouraging—like a weight pulling them down. But for others, it’s the spark that ignites a fire within. In Tell Me I Can’t, Jen Du Plessis talks about this exact feeling, about using that doubt as fuel to make the impossible possible. When someone tells you, “you can’t,” it’s tempting to believe them, especially if the odds seem stacked against you. But that’s where the magic happens. You get to make a choice: do you accept that as truth, or do you take it as a challenge to push harder and prove that anything is possible? For Jen, and for so many of us who’ve been counted out, the choice is simple—we prove them wrong. And here’s the thing—success is never easy. It’s messy. It’s full of long nights, quiet sacrifices, and moments of doubt. But when you achieve it, especially when no one expects you to, there’s no feeling quite like it. Jen captures this perfectly in her book. She talks about how those small, unexpected wins become personal victories. When people don’t see it coming, that success feels even sweeter, like you’ve quietly snuck in and claimed something that was meant for you all along. When people say “you can’t,” they’re not just doubting your ability—they’re trying to put limits on what you can achieve. But…

Joanna Kleinman: What if the voice in your head that says ‘you’re not good enough’ isn’t your true voice at all?

Liz Rubico September 13, 2024 September 11, 2024Meet The Authors

What if the voice in your head that constantly tells you that you’re not good enough isn’t really your own? That voice, the inner critic that doubts us all the time, challenges us, and destroys our confidence, is something that many of us are all too familiar with. It may sound so powerful, whispering things like “You’ll never succeed” or “You’re not smart enough,” but the startling fact is that this voice isn’t actually your own. This critical inner monologue isn’t a reflection of who you are, according to Joanna Kleinman’s book Dethroning Your Inner Critic: The Four-Step Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Empowerment. It’s a story you’ve been telling yourself, shaped over time by internalized pressures, traumatic events, and worries. Consider this: How often do we allow our inner critic to take charge? That voice that tells us we’re not good enough causes us to doubt ourselves, shy away from difficulties, and turn off possibilities. But according to Kleinman, this voice is nothing more than a pattern—a habit of thought that we’ve learned to believe. It doesn’t represent our authentic self. So, if it’s not who we really are, what do we do about it? Kleinman’s book offers a transformative path out of this self-doubt. She lays out a four-step process designed to help us recognize the inner critic for what it is—a false narrative that keeps us stuck. The first step is recognizing that this voice isn’t yours. It’s an old script, often influenced by past criticisms, failures, or…

Seana Zelazo: Are you ready to claim your space in the world and live fearlessly, like a modern-day goddess?

Liz Rubico September 8, 2024 September 6, 2024Meet The Authors

Are you ready to claim your space in the world and live fearlessly, like a modern-day goddess? In The Way of Inanna: A Heroine’s Guide to Living Unapologetically, Seana Zelazo takes you on an empowering journey of self-discovery inspired by the ancient Sumerian goddess, Inanna. This isn’t just about learning how to feel more confident—it’s about embracing your true self and breaking free from the expectations and limitations that hold you back. Through the myth of Inanna, Zelazo offers a fresh, relatable guide to living boldly and authentically. Inanna’s story is about courage, vulnerability, and transformation. She descends into the depths of the underworld, faces her darkest fears, and emerges more powerful than ever. This journey is symbolic of the inner work we all need to do to become unapologetically ourselves. Zelazo uses this powerful myth as a framework to help you confront your fears, shed self-doubt, and tap into your inner strength. You’ll feel like you have a mentor by your side, showing you how to honor your deepest desires and trust your intuition. It’s not about following a strict set of rules—it’s about embracing your unique path and finding the confidence to live it fully. The Way of Inanna is perfect if you’ve ever felt like you were “too much” or struggled to fit into the boxes society tries to put you in. Zelazo’s writing is warm, engaging, and full of insights that make you feel seen and empowered. She encourages you to live boldly, just like Inanna did, and…

Alicia Moore: Are you ready to crush it in college? Discover the 7 steps to turn your college years into a time of growth, learning, and fun!

Liz Rubico September 7, 2024 September 6, 2024Meet The Authors

Are you ready to make the most out of your college years? Crushing it in College: Your 7-Step Guide to an Awesome Adventure by Alicia Moore is the perfect roadmap to turn what could be a stressful time into one of the best experiences of your life. Instead of focusing on the usual “study hard and get good grades” advice, this book takes a fresh approach—college should be about more than just survival. It’s your chance to grow, learn, have fun, and create lasting memories. In this easy-to-read, relatable guide, Moore breaks down seven key steps that will help you navigate college life with confidence. Whether you’re trying to figure out how to balance your social life with your coursework or you need some tips on staying organized and motivated, this book covers it all. It’s like having a friend who’s already been through college giving you their best advice on how to succeed—without the burnout. What makes Crushing it in College different is that it doesn’t just focus on the academic side of things. Sure, getting good grades is important, but Moore goes beyond that. She talks about personal growth, mental health, self-care, and making time for fun along the way. The book is full of practical tips, from mastering time management to building meaningful relationships and making the most of every opportunity. If you’re looking to turn your college years into more than just a series of deadlines and assignments, this book will show you how to do it. It’s about thriving—not…