Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days

by Aundi Kolber

A collection of quotes from the writings of critically acclaimed and beloved author Aundi Kolber for encouragement on your journey toward healing

For when the day is long. When you are afraid. When you don’t know what to say to someone you love. When you feel alone. When you’re questioning everything. When you wonder if God is with you. When the bottom falls out. When you don’t know what’s next. When you do something courageous. When you don’t know how to have hope. When you need to know you can try softer. When you’re learning to show up for yourself.

May this collection of quotes from therapist and author of Try Softer Aundi Kolber be a balm to your most tender places. A beautiful gift for the hardest days, each page will remind you that no matter where you are on your journey to healing, you are not alone. And while there may not be answers, you will find compassion. You will find reminders of who God created you to be, the belovedness within. You'll come away feeling a little more empowered to take one more step.

This book exercises for getting in tune with your body and feelings,Scriptures to remind you of God’s truth for your life and meet you in your need,Timely and supportive prayers.Come and take what you need from these pages. A gentler way is open to you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Mental Health

240 pages, Hardcover

Published February 18, 2025

About the author

Hi there, I’m Aundi.

Here are some things that might be helpful for you to know about me:

I am a deep thinker and deep feeler. Sometimes I get bored with small talk. I love stories, people, counseling, theology and my precious family. I find myself constantly amazed by God’s faithfulness in my life. I write, think, and chew on this often. I believe that Jesus is my ultimate hope and healer.

I am a licensed professional counselor in Castle Rock, CO and attended Denver Seminary for my graduate education. I am married to the love of my life and have a daughter and son who are the joy of my heart.

My work has been featured on Relevant, CT Women, The Huffington Post, The Mudroom, Happy Sonship and Circling the Story.

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. ❤️ I started reading this on a day that was in fact hard for me, and I knew right away that it was exactly what I needed to be reading. The words are gentle and refreshing. They brought tears to my eyes and soothed my weary soul. The format makes it so easy to read just a few pages at a time (it's divided into sections based on what kind of hard day you may be having), and it includes lovely flower artwork alongside the readings. I highly recommend this to anyone who is on a healing journey, recovering from trauma or anxiety, or who is learning to listen to their body. These beautiful words are definitely something I will be returning to. (Also I want to note that this is the first book I have ever pre-ordered and it was so worth it!)

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, which is so beautifully designed inside and out in a way that really enhances the reading experience. Aundi Kolber is a big proponent of the concept of self-compassion and this book has helped me give myself some self-compassion. I bought four of these for family and friends! Makes a beautiful gift.

[Nadiya Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve read Strong Like Water and Try Softer, you’ve read this book. It is excerpts from both of those books with beautiful artwork.

Probably one of the most beautiful books I’ve owned! Encouraging and simple! If you’ve never read any of her other works this would be a tender approach to healing and trauma. If you have read her other works, it’ll all seem familiar, but still sweet to read through!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of quotes from Aundi’s transformational work, coupled with soothing artwork, offers bite-sized pieces of encouragement, insight, comfort, and affirmation, or “soft words for hard days.” This book is for anyone who is doing the deep work of healing and would like little reminders for the journey. During a time when many of us are struggling to keep our nervous systems regulated, Take What You Need is a breath of fresh air.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daily reminders of inspirations

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful, gentle, timely affirmations on the process of healing.

took many screenshots of pages from this one.

[Elena L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

TAKE WHAT YOU NEED is a collection of quotes with words of hope, strength, encouragement - it is a great reminder of healthy boundaries, of embracing our entire selves, of practicing mindfulness and cultivating self-awareness. Navigating between fierceness and softness (more the latter), this book is a helpful emotional support for our and other people's (emotional) needs. Just the kind of book that I didn't know I needed.

"There are truly times when the best, healthiest, most productive thing we can do is not to try harder, but rather to try softer: to compassionately listen to our needs so we can move through pain - and ultimately life."

"What if emotional health doesn't always look like being 'the strong one'? .. What if it's not just facing hard things - though that matters - but also knowing our limits?"

"Our capacity to be alive grows as we learn to process and move though hard things."

"Whether the trauma is big or little, people find great relief when they receive validation that their wounds need care."

"... As we honor our experiences, we gain more freedom to move through our emotions rather than become stuck in them."

[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Tyndale books . All opinions are my own ]

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slim volume of encouragement, Take What You Need, combines some of the concepts in Kolber’s other works (Try Softer and Strong Like Water) into a short, poetic, and reflective read. I borrowed this in digital format from my local library, and with every page I wished I had the print in front of me. The ideas inside are not as practical or psychological as her full-length books, but the sentiment is there. She asks good questions, provides quick exhortations to speak over oneself, and provides space for healing and reflection. I liked this and think it could make a great gift or be a starting point. Personally, I prefer her longer, in-depth work, but think this snack-size combination of those ideas is probably a beautiful thing (in print because I could tell I was missing out on the illustrations and design aspect; at some point I’ll look at it in person or order it for myself!).

[Victoria Gehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of book you keep on a coffee table or beside your bed and refer to regularly. The index makes it easy to find which section you need on a particular day, and each section includes a handful of short paragraphs or sentences reminding us of our worth and reminding us of truths we need to hear during our hardest days. Also, the illustration and layout of the book is just as beautiful as the words.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and comforting book. The illustrations are rich and the use of color very attractive. This has made an excellent daily devotional and one that I will return to again. I’ve found great comfort and encouragement through this author’s writing and this book is an excellent continuation of that. This would also make a wonderful gift item.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this compilation of the author’s work; easily read in a single sitting. It would be a perfect gift for a friend going through hard times. It was the perfect gift to myself during a a stretch of self doubt and exhaustion. Reading it on my kindle app on my phone allowed me to take screenshots of some particularly poignant passages and save for encouragement.

[Bethany Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve read her other books this provides great snippets and reminders of what’s in those books.
It’s beautiful in design and thoughtfully laid out.

I will be gifting this book to several people. Aundi Kobler does it again 🌿

[Cassie Elston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will forever preorder anything of Aundi Kolber’s

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful thoughts. I was only disappointed because I didn’t realize it was a collection of quotes. I thought it was another book like her first two, which were very helpful to me.

[Kristina Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little book to pick up and receive truth and encouragement - especially when walking the roads of trauma recovery and healing.

[Valarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on a hard day but it was what I needed

[Julie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of quotes from her other writing

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not a book that you typically read from cover to cover. It’s quotes & stories that are comforting.

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and gentle reminders from Kolber. This book seems to be a collection of quotes from her other books, nothing original or new in here, but it's nice to flip through.