Think about a time when you had to force yourself to get uncomfortable in order to reach your goals. Maybe you have one instance in mind, maybe it’s every day for you, or maybe nothing comes to mind at all. No matter where you are in life, there is room to grow. There is always room for growth. Interested in learning more? You may want to pick up Jen Sincero’s #1 New York Times bestseller. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life forces readers to get uncomfortable and reflect on excuses, evaluate their surroundings, and find new methods of self-development. To be quite frank, I read the title of this book and thought to myself, “I’ll see about that!” As someone who is constantly looking for a new avenue of self-growth, I figured I’d take a turn down this road. Since finishing the book and implementing (or attempting to implement!) Sincero’s suggestions into my routine, I have experienced both hardship and success- two major requirements of personal development. Let me tell you why you should pick up this book! 

What made this book so enjoyable for me was her use of witty humor. I will say that the humor is pretty corny, but not in a cringy way. For example, she will talk about a problem we create for ourselves that holds us back from our goals, then relate it to either an extremely specific situation or a universal experience. Regardless, the humor she uses is relatable and she goes about it in a way that makes me think to myself, “Wow, how ridiculous of me to fully believe such crazy ideas that my brain creates.” Her humor was effective because it provided me with a sense of humility, which allowed me to reflect on how I distribute my time and energy. 

If you’re looking for a self-help book that speaks to you in a direct way, this one’s for you. Sincero does not beat around the bush in her writing… she gets to the point quickly and clearly. Chapter organization is especially clear and visually pleasing as a reader because there are often numbered lists/bullet points that dissect the chapter’s main premise. Think of it as an outline-style book. The book is arranged in a way where you get the chapter title, followed by various subheadings digging deeper into the overall goal. Jen Sincero’s writing style is funny while still being direct and clear with each chapter’s purpose. 

My only criticism of this book is that it is aimed towards a more mature demographic who have had more experience in life’s ups and downs. Because of this, I chose to evaluate certain stories accordingly, knowing I may encounter these experiences later on in life whether it is me or someone I know.

The content of this book is relatable through a storytelling approach. The book is kind of like your grandpa telling you a story that eventually comes to a ground-breaking, wise, and compassionate piece of advice that you will never forget. The author seamlessly integrates these relatable stories into helpful advice that anyone can find applicable to their lives. Speaking of relatability, this is one of the most relatable books I have ever read. Sincero constantly references thought processes that any average human experiences. This book made me feel like I am not alone in my self-discovery journey. I didn’t feel attacked, either. Instead, I put down this book feeling motivated to change my habits. One specific part of the book that stuck out to me was her discussion on overthinking. She suggests to readers that we need to live in the present moment. However, it is challenging to do that because we get hung up on concerns for the future; things that should have no place in our brains right now. She went on to essentially tell readers that they should be asking themselves “Is anything bad actually happening right now?” As an over-thinker, this fully resonated with me and was sort of an ‘aha moment’! There are TONS of ‘aha moments’ throughout this book that will make you sit back and consider whether or not something is worth your obsession. 

I came into this book searching for suggestions that satisfy the statement proposed in the title (You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life). The author recognizes that her readers are looking for straightforward explanations of how they can implement practices in their lives that improve their well-being and lead to success. We ask, Jen Sincero delivers. She provides small suggestions, most of which can be done quickly and on a daily basis. For example, before bed, write down or mentally note ten things to be grateful for. I have been practicing the basic meditation techniques she taught me on page 94. Keep an open mind while you read this book. As Jen would say, if you want to reach your goal, you have to be willing to change your habits and even add new ones. 

By the end of this book, Jen Sincero was practically my best friend (just kidding.. I wish!). With each chapter, I found myself learning more and more about her life. From anxiously awaiting her solo trip to India to almost buying an Audi she couldn’t afford, Jen Sincero speaks on various experiences in her life that have shaped her to become the writer of this book. She references her points of struggle and how she continued to bask in her bad habits until she finally realized that changes must be made. Of course, she will tell you all about various things she did to improve her life and get to the point where she is now: an author, speaker, and success coach. She frequently references the fact that she has read an extensive amount of self-help literature and pulls pieces from readings that she finds most valuable. She basically did the work for us! If you find her book helpful and want to read up on her points of reference, there are nine pages of her all-time favorite books at the end. She even links her regularly updated website (www.JenSincero.com) for more books and resources that have changed her life. 

Be present. Take accountability. Be empathetic. Stop overthinking. Appreciate your loved ones before it’s too late. Speak your goals into existence. Love yourself. This is just a glimpse into the many lessons I took away from You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. Some may seem broad and easier said than done, which is why there are countless books about these lessons! We need people like Jen Sincero to tell us how and why we are self-sabotaging and how to start living the life we have always dreamed of. Self-growth takes time and energy, but this book may lead you in the right direction depending on how willing you are to take it seriously. Hint: I recommend you take it seriously. Give it an honest try!

Overall, I would give You Are a Badass 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was one of those books where I couldn’t put it down; I felt hungry for more funny stories and tips. It was especially helpful at night so I could reflect on my day and make decisions for a fresh start in the morning. Whether you are a night reader, morning reader, or whenever you have a moment reader, you will probably find yourself searching for more time to pick up this book and read just one more chapter (or five.. or ten..)! I am eager to know how the lessons I’ve learned will impact me long term; hopefully ‘future-me’ will be a self-help expert and badass- hoping the same for you, too! If you are feeling stuck in your current life or just want that extra push to get closer to self-actualization, read this book. Give it an honest effort. Implement, implement, implement. Remember, you must sacrifice your current self to reach your goals. How will you get uncomfortable in order to start living the best life possible? 

My Favorite Quotes

“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.” Pg. 153 

“The only failure is quitting. Everything else is just gathering information.” Pg. 195

“Take care of yourself as if you’re the most awesome person you’ve ever met.” Pg. 57

“Your job isn’t to know the how, it’s to know the what and to be open to discovering, and receiving the how.” Pg. 96

“Our greatest fears are the greatest waste of time.” Pg. 173

“On the other side of your fear is freedom.” Pg. 171

“You are perfect. To think anything less is as pointless as a river thinking that it’s got too many curves or that it moves too slowly or that its rapids are too rapid.” Pg. 50

“We only get to be in our bodies for a limited time, why not celebrate the journey instead of merely riding it out until it’s over?” Pg. 103

“If you want to live a life you’ve never lived, you have to do things you’ve never done.” Pg. 15

References

Sincero, Jen. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. Running Press, 2013.