The Uncomfortable Truth: Change Your Life By Taming 10 of Your Mind's Greatest Fears

by Anna Mathur

Brought to you by Penguin.

‘Some people don’t like me”

“Bad things will happen to people I love”

“I’m going to fail”

… these words underpinned my anxieties and nightmares. I bet they feature in yours too.

Our fears are anchored in the unavoidable truths of life; all things reach an end, bad things happen, and we lack the control we crave.

As an experienced psychotherapist, who’s had years of therapy, I realised that ploughing endless energy into trying to control the uncontrollable is keeping us all tired, wired, and worried. Ignoring fears doesn’t make them less true, it makes them more powerful. I decided to try a different tact and it changed my world.

Instead of doing everything I could to ease and avoid life’s uncomfortable truths, I sought a deeper acceptance of them. Through using this approach, my clients and I discovered that fear began to loosen its grip. We were living more intentionally and peacefully.

So, face your fears one a chapter at a time, and discover who you are without worry, doubt and people-pleasing holding you back.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help

Audible Audio

Published August 8, 2024

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go through the ten chapters throughout the year and you will accept most things which you weren’t able to despite knowing that you must have.

This book brought me so much comfort. At the same time, it made me realise some bitter truths to swallow I wasn’t ready for.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

My advice to someone suffering with anxiety? Simply stop being anxious.

[Magdalena Morris]

This is a very interesting read and - as most books, but this one especially - it will make a completely different impact on each reader. I really enjoy Anna Mathur's writing, it's just so smart, kind and empathetic. Some of the 'truths' were relevant, other not quite, but it was still interesting to read. Towards the end it gets a bit philosophical and spiritual, but that's what I mean when I say it will resonate differently depending on a reader. There are plenty of good reminders, things you kind of know but might have forgotten and not thought about in a while. It's also a very accessible and quick read.

[Uzoamaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right. So this isn’t one of those books you’ll read and that’s it because it includes some ways to handle dealing with 10 uncomfortable truths.

Anna guides you through ten uncomfortable truths including death, loss, failure, people pleasing, guilt etc. Each chapter tackles these truths, diving headfirst then sharing a personal story from her life, includes some mention why you might deny these truths, the benefits of embracing these truths, five ways to live with this truth, conclusion, some journal points and a mantra for each chapter.

It is well written but I took the journal points to mean this may work better as a workbook.

[Adam Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is real value to some of the truths discussed here.

The entire book feels anecdotal, but is written without the advantages of real warmth or humour that being anecdotal might afford. It’s full of phrases that sound like “owning your personal truth” and “acknowledging your authentic emotions” which I’m sure resonate for a certain type of person, not me though.

Reading it felt like being hugged by someone I don’t like.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book about common uncomfortable themes in people life: fearing being disliked, fearing losing people you love, fearing your own death, life’s unfairness etc. The message I got was to embrace the reality of all these things so you no longer fear them and they lose the power over you.

[readingmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of the book a lot. And some sections definitely did resonate. It felt a bit rushed though - not enough depth and attention in each section.