Even if you aren’t big in the personal development book scene (oh, yeah, there’s a scene), you have probably heard of the book You are a Badass by Jen Sincero. It is crazy popular and for good reason. It’s funny, relatable, and perfect for people who were once the people who were rolling their eyes at books like this and people like me that read them…maybe you’re still rolling your eyes. But if I could convince you to read one of those kinds of books it would be this one…
I love that Jen Sincero starts her Introduction with a quote and then her first line of the book, “I used to think quotes like this were a bunch of crap.” That is how the rest of the book goes, too. She is a former cynic and she is so funny. I know and love a lot of people like the author and her snarky friends. So I loved hearing how she turned her thinking around and opened up to all the personal development stuff.
Overall Rating: You must read this book. It’s that good. Even if you’re prone to eye-rolling, even if you don’t want to be a badass.
The book consists of 5 parts, so I’ll just give a little overview of each section and what struck me the most as I read it…
Part I: How You Got This Way
The first part of this book talks about all the stuff in our heads from growing up and how it can drive our thoughts and behaviors as adults. Even when we don’t know that’s where it’s coming from.
With chapters like “My Subconscious Made Me Do It,” “The Big Snooze,” and “Self-Perception is a Zoo,” Jen Sincero looks at how our thinking affects who we are, why it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and not see any way out of it, and how much our perception affects our lives.
I love the self-perception stuff. You really can choose your perception. Focus on the good, see yourself through the eyes of someone who loves you. It takes the same amount of energy to focus on the good as it does the bad.
Part 2: How to Embrace Your Inner Badass
Here are some of my takeaways from this chapter…
- it is so important to really love yourself
- live with joy, do fun stuff
- replace negative self-thoughts
- don’t compare yourself to others
- don’t waste your time caring what anybody thinks of you
- get clear on why you’re here, what is your calling
- love yourself for who you really are- be comfortable being yourself
Part 3: How to Tap Into the Motherlode
Two of my favorite chapter titles in this section are, “Your Brain Is Your Bitch,” and, “Lead with Your Crotch.” And some of the things I took away from this…
- Do things to set yourself up for success; put yourself in a ready state
- Do things that make you lose track of time
- Write down things you’re grateful for each day
- Enjoy the unexpected
- Allow yourself to go with the flow
Part 4: How to Get Over Your B.S. Already
We all have things we tell ourselves about ourselves, life, other people. What are the things you repeatedly tell yourself? What you should do, shouldn’t do, can’t do, should want, shouldn’t want. Get over your expectations.
Get over blocks in your life like fear, procrastination, perfectionism, feeling overwhelmed. Here’s a kick in the pants to get over it and go do what it is you want to do. And, if you read the book you’ll remember from Part 3, you don’t need to know the how before you go for it. You just need to know what you want, get over your stories, and do it.
Part 5: How to Kick Some Ass
This section is all about:
- being decisive
- making peace with money
- giving up control
- doing rather than just thinking about it
- having faith
If you want to make a change (in any area of your life) you need to want it. Be decisive about it and stick to it.
Get rid of bad habits. Hang out with positive people, read and watch positive things, work to improve yourself. And, most importantly, love yourself.
You are a Badass is a great read. It can help you make changes in your life. It’s a little bit tough love, a little bit wake-up call, and a whole lot confidence-boosting. Jen Sincero is genuine and funny. She is honest and down-to-earth; you will smile and laugh to yourself often. I seriously feel like I have hung out with her. (Except maybe she’s kinda sorta much cooler than I’ve ever been)
Whether you want to lose weight, find a new job, pursue a lifelong dream, or just feel like you’re getting more out of your day-to-day life this book is for you. Or even if you just want to read something different and leave your life just as it is, thank you very much.
It also makes a great gift- because let’s face it, the title is awesome. One of my best friends bought this book for me not knowing I had bought it for her! We were both just sharing the awesomeness…I hope you will too!
So, how serious are you
about not settling?
You can make a quantum leap
in your life right now.
You can change
your entire reality on a dime
if you want to badly enough
or massively increase
your income level
or drop ten pounds
or begin waking up
excited to be who you are
instead of merely putting up with your day until it’s cocktail hour.
Whatever level of upgrade you want, it’s available to you, right now.
-Jen Sincero
If you are ready to dive in, you can find it here on Amazon. Happy Reading! Please tell me what you think of it…
P.S. Be a badass and sign up for my newsletter! You’ll get recipes, healthy living inspiration, and more…
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