Replenish: Experience Radiant Calm and True Vitality In Your Everyday Life

by Lisa Grace Byrne

HOW WOULD LIFE BE DIFFERENT if you could live, love, and mother with a full tank of energy and deep reserves of calm?

Most moms are brought to their knees in gratitude for the gift of motherhood. We wouldn't trade this role for the world, and yet, many of us are not experiencing it the way we want to be. We don't have the reserves of inner calm, we don't feel ready for our days with energy and vitality, and we don't know how to keep ourselves replenished while we're pouring out our lives for those we love the most. It's a paradox that leaves us feeling like we're wasting the most precious and amazing years of our motherhood journeys feeling depleted, scattered and flat.

Whether you feel like you're drowning, or like you're treading water day after day and getting more exhausted by the minute, the first step is to take care of the core essentials of your well-being. Replenish explores the seven core essentials that get us out of the water and able to catch our breath again so we can live, love and mother with greater calm, clarity and vitality in the world.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Parenting, Audiobook

175 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2013

About the author

Lisa Grace Byrne is a mother to three and founder of WellGroundedLife, an exceptional online community where she connects with women all over the world, supporting them to live vibrant, fulfilling and prosperous lives.

Through multimedia courses and programs she teaches tools and strategies to moms who want to experience deep reserves of calm and abundant energy as they navigate the journey of motherhood.

She is a speaker, teacher and author with a degree from Cal Poly State University in Biochemistry with an emphasis in Nutrition and Metabolism. She holds a Masters in Public Health from Boston University and is certified through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Columbia University.

Lisa is the author of the bestselling book, Replenish: Experience Radiant Calm and True Vitality in Your Everyday Life and lives in New Jersey with her family and 100 pound yellow lab.

Reviews

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you feel like most of your days are spent running on empty? Do you get stressed out or anxious and have trouble focusing on what you need to get done? Are you looking for a way to bring calm into your life?

REPLENISH will give you the steps you need to bring control and calm back into your life. By mastering the seven core essentials explained in this book, you will be able to be a mother, a wife, or an employee with greater calm and clarity than before.

I have read a lot of books over the years about being a better mom, loving yourself, getting control over your life, etc. I just wish I would have read this book when I was in the early stages of motherhood with a 1 year old and a newborn. I wish I would have had her suggestions, calming words, and insight twelve years ago. But, I have them now and even in this stage of my life, these were just the words I needed to hear.

I am completely out of the diaper, night-time feeding stage of motherhood but I am smack dab in the middle of crazy schedules, teenage angst, and sibling squabbles. I am a "Yes" person who has over-committed herself and most days I can't see the end of the tunnel. No matter what stage your life is in, this book can help you. I remember being so worn out and sleep deprived and frustrated that it overshadowed the fun times we had. My husband told me a story just the other day from when the boys were little and I was shocked because I didn't remember a second of it. I didn't even remember the situation taking place. Then after reading this book, I realize my brain was so overwhelmed that it has shut out those memories and that makes me sad. What else have I forgotten?

For new moms and those in the toddler stages of motherhood now, there are so many ways to connect and get ideas as to how to mother. Some of those are great and I wish I had been exposed to them, but others can force us to live up to unreachable standards or ones that don't apply to us. Pinterest, Facebook, and Blogs can be a great source for ideas, but comparison and one-upping will only send you drowning in a sea of media imposed expectations. This book does none of that. Lisa Grace Byrne has been there. She's been depressed, has not showered for days, yelled at her kids, lived off sugar and caffeine and has come through the other side and you can too. If you can relate, keep reading.

Lately, I have been feeling more and more overwhelmed and anxious over the things I am committed to, our schedule, and the numerous tasks I need to get done around here. I have actually felt my chest tighten and a headache growing as the anxiety inside was brewing. I knew that I needed to find a way to handle those internal feelings, but I didn't know how....until now.

As I read, REPLENISH, I felt like the author was taking the words right out of my mouth. Things like, "I love being a mother. I just hate living the life of a mother sometimes." Or, "Most days I'm just putting out the fires as they ignite." I knew she was going to understand my struggles and get me on the right path.

Lisa Grace Byrne covers Seven Core Essentials that you need for your well-being. They include a calm mind, controlled thoughts, healthy nourishment, restorative rest, joyful movement, quiet, and true connections. By filling your tank with these seven core essentials, you will be able to give more of your true self and have a higher capacity to get things done with more concentration and energy.

The tips and directions in this book at the time can seem like such a simple idea, but the impact of truly implementing them into your routine can be life-changing. Just reading this book, I felt like someone understood me and could truly grasp the scattered and at times, frazzled life that I lead.

If you are connecting at all with what I am saying, I have absolutely no doubt that you will benefit from parts, if not all, of this book. Every core essential is broken down with the "Why You Need It" to the "How to Get it and Keep It" as part of your daily routine. It couldn't be more simple and refreshing to implement these into your life. You can start receiving the benefits immediately.

I highly recommend REPLENISH for anyone who is overwhelmed, exhausted, frazzled, or just simply needing support. This book will fill your heart and your mind with a peace that will allow you to move forward, feeling nourished and nurtured.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are a new mama or you’ve been a mama for a decade, this book is for you.

With a warm and conversational tone, Lisa Grace Byrne shares intimately about the inexpressible joy and gut-wrenching struggles she has experienced in her mothering journey in a way we can all relate to. She writes with complete authenticity about the depression, sickness, and isolation she felt in her early days of having children, and how she discovered the seven core essentials to mama wellness. Then she goes deeper into each of the core essentials, sharing her experiences in each area and offering accessible and actionable suggestions we busy mamas can implement right away.

Each core essential has its own chapter, and chapters are broken into small sections - perfect if you are frequently interrupted or only have a few minutes to read at one time. One of my favorite parts about the book is how each chapter ends with a summary of her practical suggestions.

Lisa Grace Byrne completely understands the challenges we mamas face today- the stresses in our lives, and the Super Mom myth we are up against daily. She reminds us that in order to be the woman, mother, and wife we want/need to be, we have got to give from a place of replenished fullness. My favorite quote from the book: “Your ultimate priority as a mother is wholeness, not perfection. Your job is not to complete your children. Your job is to complete yourself and then take that woman who’s healthy, whole, and alive and show up as the mother of your children.”


Even though I am pretty familiar with many of the 7 core essentials Lisa describes in her book, I found new and exciting tools here that I could start incorporating into my life right away. Reading this book feels like sitting down for a chat with a dear friend who can offer understanding, empathy, and new ideas. Just think how much radiant love we mothers could pour out to our families and to the world if we were all more rested, healthy, and vibrant. Buy a copy for yourself & one as a gift for your mama friends.

[Kasie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could wave a magic wand and grant a wish for women, it would be that Lisa Byrne's new book "Replenish" would appear by their bedside table on the day they become a mother. In 2009 after the birth of my second child I found myself in the worst shape of my life, both physically and emotionally. I had the great fortune of stumbling upon Lisa's work through her online community and courses at wellgroundedlife.com. It was through Lisa’s amazingly insightful guidance and highly practical, manageable strategies that I began to make the incremental changes that nurtured me back to health. Lisa holds and inspires the vision for us of that greater version of ourselves. I often find myself returning to her lessons as I navigate the busy and demanding schedule of a modern day working mom.
Lisa has clearly found her great life’s work in being that north star we moms so desperately need to guide us back to health and equilibrium, while also reminding us of our greater potential. Replenish brilliantly captures nine essential elements where we can systematically place our focus and make small manageable step by step changes that bring the sparkle back. Replenish is both a joy to read for the moments where we can all nod our heads together at the common experiences mothers share, as well as it’s amazingly effective toolkit of simple practices to incorporate into daily life. Replenish will resonate deeply with you because of it’s true wisdom and it’s inspiring and motivating call to action.

[Kristin M · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a LOT of books out there on Being a Mother. And as a mom of 4, I've read a bunch of them over the years. But this is the first book I've read that showed me how to TAKE CARE OF MYSELF as a mother. And I quickly began to see that my kids and husband were going to benefit in ways I couldn't have imagined by my taking better care of me.

The author's intelligent approach is gentle, authentic and open as she allows you to follow her own journey of self-care. She has walked the rough path. She's been down low in the trenches. But make no mistake: this book isn't really about HER. In the end, this is about YOU.

One thing I loved is that Lisa's suggestions/recommendations/guidance are easily integrated into a busy mom's lifestyle. So many times I've read tips that are too complicated or lengthy or time-consuming or expensive to implement. But this book is different. It's not about "doing more" or "buying these 5 things." Its about subtle and easy shifts that slowly and steadily change the landscape of your care for yourself. You can implement all or some of Lisa's ideas and each one will leave you feeling more supported and uplifted - more able to be your full SELF.

I felt replenished just by reading it, but it's not too strong a statement to say that my life and my family's life were transformed when I began to implement, one-by-one, Lisa's pieces of wisdom. Reading this book may be the best thing you've ever done for yourself.

I plan on supplying myself with a stash of copies and giving them to all of the special mothers in my life.

[Vered · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all those mothers out there, you will relate to this: you love your child(ren) with a passion, and yet you’re tired of being tired, of feeling like you lost a bit (or a lot!) of yourself somewhere along the way. Is it possible to replenish your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy in the midst of child rearing? The resounding answer is yes! And in her book, Lisa Byrnes lays out a blueprint to do just that.

Replenish is a very concise and readable book, written with the busy mother in mind. In a warm and compassionate style, Lisa lays out several elements that mothers (and in fact, all of us) need to gradually incorporate or strengthen in our lives, and how to do that in the most practical ways. Each chapter leads the reader through the What, Why and How of one of these elements, with a summary of main points at the end for easy reference.

I highly recommend this book. I’d taken some of Lisa’s online courses (which I also highly recommend) and while the book covered some of the material I’d already studied, it went further than that. I love the way it presents a holistic and gentle approach to making incremental changes that work together to bring about a real impact. So for all those mothers out there, treat and Replenish yourself.

[Donna Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most fantastic book for anyone who is a mother, is going to be a mother or who wants to be one. I finally feel that someone not only understands the rigours of being a mum but also offers keys to enhance and increase the enjoyment of the experience. As a mum of 6, this book has been so encouraging and has given me hope - even in the midst of my most wearisome days. Lisa has made this such an easy and understandable read and is packed full of wisdom, knowledge, encouragement and practical help. The 7 specific areas that she targets are - Mind, Thoughts, Body, Rest, Movement, Quiet and Connection. In each of these chapters, she explores the effect that these have on our lives and gives practical and life-changing tools that can be applied immediately to see positive change and healthy wellbeing. I put into effect some of the tools from the 'Restorative Rest' chapter and noticed the change almost immediately. Lisa is very talented and knowledgable in all that she puts her hands to. This book would make a most excellent gift for a mum to be as well as any other lady that has chosen the blessing of motherhood. Thank you Lisa for sharing your wisdom and care for others.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to Lisa's comfortable, put-you-at-ease style of helping and teaching mothers, this book is a gem! It's informative and insightful and real, a book that stands out from the rest, one every mother should own, read over and over and use as her motherhood manual. I'm a mother of 6 and my copy is full of dog-eared pages and highlighted parts. I plan to read it again and again.

It's not just band aid fixes to the woes of motherhood. It's a get-the-root-of-the-problem, lift you up, get you where you'll be the best you can be, in life and as a mother.

Her writing style is descriptive, full of analogies and completely feminine without being flowery, it's like chatting with a good friend. Lisa has an amazing way of explaining complex concepts so that you have a complete understanding not only of that concept, but how to apply to your own life.

I was expecting this book to be amazing, and my expectations were exceeded! I'll definitely be gifting and recommending this book.

[Lisa Bene · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Something else is needed if the wisdom is going to make any real difference in our lives. The "Warrior" needs to rise up."
I enjoyed this book. There really aren't new ideas in here but I like Lisa's voice. I also enjoyed the format - each chapter is a core essential and lists specific ideas on how to achieve that essential in your life. The end of the book emphasizes that i. Order to feel better you need to make small steps. Pick a core essential and work thru it one step at a time. I love the direction the book gives and the fact that you are given the freedom to implement it in a way that will fit your particular situation.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a book club for moms. We took it slow and tried to implement one thing from one chapter each month. Some sections were more meaningful to me than others but I am grateful for this guidance and the experience. I am hoping to use this book every month to check in on how I am doing on keeping myself as happy and healthy as I can.

[alisonwonderland (Alison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably three and a half stars.

I'm a bit beyond what I see as Lisa Grace Byrne's target audience for this book, but although my kids are nearly grown, I still found much to value in her "seven core essentials" for self care. My favorite was "Anchored Quiet."

I listened to the author read the book on a series of podcasts. More information is available at http://wglshow.com/.

[Mandi Ehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve known Lisa for probably close to a decade, and I love the grace and peace she exudes. As I struggle a bit with depression and a lack of patience, energy and motivation, I was excited to pick this up and focus on practical strategies for bringing my body and life back into balance.

Some of Lisa’s strategies feel New Age-y or woo-wooey to me, so I simply skipped over those and made notes of the ones I wanted to incorporate in my life. Although it’s not easy for a busy mama, I’m excited to have a plan for prioritizing self-care, and I love her analogy of filling a pool with water through multiple hoses. Yes, you could turn them all on high and fill it quickly, but even if you’re only able to turn one or two on at a trickle, it will make a difference. And each additional trickle will make a difference as well.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recomendable para los primeros años de maternidad. Acertado, te sientes representada.

[Megan Mueller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book after hearing the author speak as a guest on a podcast. Unfortunately, I didn't find this book to be engaging at all, and pushed myself to finish the last two chapters. It's a strange mix of Christianity and New Age spirituality sprinkled with poor grammar. There was nothing new in this book; in fact, she quotes and sources many of her points from other women bloggers and writers. This could have easily been a successful series of free blog posts rather than a $13 book.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't say enough about this book. I re-read it fairly often as a reminder and encouragement to be intentional and actively replenishing my stores so I can live MY life to the fullest and be there for my families. It is practical, inspirational and most of all real and speaks to the heart of women.

[Annie Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some parts are good, some absolutely not.

For more details see: http://anniekateshomeschoolreviews.co...

[Hollie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very practical but read with discernment.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical ideas for any woman!