The hidden emotional cost of being too strong — and how to reclaim your body, soul and sense of self.
After six cancer diagnoses, Anette DeMattio learned something we're rarely taught: our bodies aren't betraying us - they're communicating.
The same strength that helped you survive can quietly become the thing that disconnects you from yourself.
If you're the one who holds everything together — at work, at home, in your relationships — you already know what this feels like.
You step up. You push through. You carry more than you should.
And for a while… It works. Until it doesn't.
Too Strong For Your Own Good is about what happens when survival mode quietly becomes your identity. Because it worked. And eventually, survival starts feeling like who you are.
This book names those patterns - five of them, actually:
The First Responder. The Empty Cup. The Cart Puller. The Stoic Swan. The Island.
By the time you meet them, you'll already recognize yourself in one-or all. .
And you'll begin learning how to shift it - without losing your drive, your ambition, or the parts of you that care deeply.
By coming home to yourself again.
#1 Amazon Bestseller in Health Psychology Kirkus Reviews — Our Verdict: GET IT! Independent Press Award — Distinguished Favorite Literary Titan Book Award Gold Winner International Impact Book Awards - Gold Winner
I survived cancer six times. And for most of those years, I still didn't know how to stop being the strong one.
*Too Strong For Your Own Good* grew out of that journey and my discovery of what happens when strength quietly becomes self-abandonment.
Readers often tell me the book made them feel seen. Many have shared that they finally understood why they were exhausted even when life looked successful on the outside.
I love books that explore psychology, trauma, spirituality, and the wisdom of the body. When I'm not coaching, you'll usually find me at the beach with my rescue dogs, enjoying quiet walks and practicing what it means to be Soul Strong.
I believe strength should never cost us ourselves.
In Too Strong for Your Own Good: Success With Soul, Anette DeMattio has provided a short inspiration and guidebook for people to pause, re-center and to power back up. She gives readers a concise workbook of sorts for people to reframe how they reflect, look within, Be, and to recalibrate.
"For years, I didn't realize I was proving myself-- because it looked so responsible. *It looked like achievement *It looked like people-pleasing, doing too much, chasing approval *It looked like over-delivering in every room...
The world rewarded it, and my nervous system got hooked on the proving high. But I learned that no amount of perfection can give you what presence can."
She speaks to people doing too much... being too strong.. carrying others and their struggles... pushing it all down and stepping up all the time... at our own expense.
Lots of short snippets of wisdom throughout. In bite-sized, actionable bullets and worksheet-like tools for people wanting some staying power in more than just a nice read. She frames the connections and slow-rolling build-up as making small moves every day.. .and ending up moving the mountain.
She does not waste time or pages on the underpinnings. Although apparent that she folds in pieces we might have heard, known, or read somewhere, she does not bog the narrative down with citations or pointing to the research. More in the fashion of The Secret in its crisp and brief motivation, Too Strong is built with action in mind. Teaching readers. and giving them resources-- reproduceable and downloadable... with promise of next installments coming soon. This won't be for everyone. The positive inner-power-tapping guidance will not resonate with everyone.. even though there is a whole lot here to keep going back to reflect upon.
Even with only a brief one-liner, "it's for men too" at the front, this guy found a good many reminders and reflections and some take-aways that he will be coming back to.
Her focus on being present and empowering and guarding one's self is palpable all along.
"Every time you choose joy over judgment, love over fear, and presence over performance, you're not just healing yourself. You're raising the frequency of the collective consciousness."
"Healing isn't about getting there faster. It's about arriving more whole."
The argument running through Too Strong For Your Own Good: Success With Soul is that survival, sustained long enough, calcifies into an identity, and that identity quietly disconnects a person from their body, their needs, and eventually their own sense of self. Author Anette DeMattio names five recognisable patterns through which this disconnection happens, and the recognition factor is real. Reading through them, I found myself sorting my own habits into at least two of the five before I'd finished the chapter, which speaks to how precisely observed these categories are. Six cancer diagnoses, an emotionally abusive marriage, childhood sexual abuse, infertility, divorce, single parenthood, the death of a father, thoughts of suicide — the biographical weight behind the book is substantial, and DeMattio doesn't soften it for the sake of comfort.
The voice carries most of the book's persuasive force. DeMattio writes without the polish that would sand down the rawer edges of her material, and the directness occasionally tips into repetition, ideas circling back across chapters in ways that feel deliberate rather than careless. The language leans into spiritual register at points, the call to retrieve scattered pieces of one's own light woven back like golden thread, and readers allergic to that vocabulary will need to push through it to reach the more grounded insistence underneath: exhaustion is not failure, and the nervous system's strategies for staying safe are not the same as actual safety. The structural laxity and the shifting between registers occasionally make the book feel diffuse rather than cumulative, though the sincerity behind it never wavers.
TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD is written for the exhausted, and DeMattio's own history gives her enough credibility to be trusted with that audience. It reads less like a moralistic sermon and more like an invitation to put something down.
I read Too Strong For Your Own Good by Anette DeMattio straight through with very few pauses. The book is about what happens when strength turns into self-erasure. DeMattio shares her personal story of illness, burnout, trauma, and recovery while guiding the reader toward a softer and more embodied way of living and leading. The core idea is straightforward. Being strong for too long can disconnect you from your body, your needs, and your joy. The book blends memoir, reflection, and gentle exercises meant to help readers come back to themselves.
What struck me most was the voice. It feels intimate and unfiltered, like someone sitting across from you telling the truth without cleaning it up first. I felt seen more than once, and that surprised me. Some moments made my chest tighten. Others made me laugh in that tired recognition kind of way. The writing is emotional and direct. It repeats ideas on purpose, which at times felt comforting and at other times felt heavy. Still, I never doubted the author’s sincerity. Her lived experience gives the book weight, and I trusted her because she never pretended to have an easy fix.
The focus on listening to the body felt grounded and human, not preachy. I appreciated how often she reminded the reader that exhaustion is not failure. The spiritual language is rich and expressive, and the extended metaphors show how deeply the author wants the reader to fully feel and absorb the message. The heart of the message kept pulling me back. I felt encouraged, challenged, and oddly calmer by the end. It felt less like being taught and more like being invited.
I would recommend this book to people who are tired in a way sleep does not fix. It is especially good for caregivers, leaders, high achievers, and anyone who has built a life around holding it all together. If you are open to reflection, emotion, and slowing down, this book can feel like a deep exhale and a quiet companion when you need one most. Too Strong For Your Own Good: Success With Soul reminds you that real strength isn’t pushing harder. It’s finally listening to yourself.
I picked up TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD expecting another productivity-adjacent self-help book with a softer cover. What I got instead was something that landed a lot closer to home than I expected. Anette DeMattio writes from inside six cancer diagnoses and a life spent holding everything together, and that lived weight shows up on every page. I've spent most of my adult life as the one who doesn't fall apart, the one everyone calls when something's wrong because I'll handle it, so reading her break down what that actually costs felt less like reading a book and more like being quietly called out.
The five patterns she names, the First Responder, the Empty Cup, the Cart Puller, the Stoic Swan, the Island, aren't gimmicky labels. They're specific enough that I found myself nodding at one chapter and wincing at the next because I recognized pieces of myself scattered across more than one. DeMattio doesn't frame this strength as a flaw to be ashamed of. She's careful to say the ambition and the drive don't have to go, which I appreciated, because most books in this space either ask you to dial down your whole personality or ignore the cost of overfunctioning entirely. This one sits in the middle and asks a harder question: what are you actually running from when you keep saying yes.
It's not a fast read in the plot sense, there isn't a plot, but it's not meant to be skimmed either. Some sections go a little heavier into the spiritual and energetic side of things than I personally needed, and I'll admit I read lighter through those parts. But the core argument, that survival mode can quietly become an identity you don't realize you're stuck in, stuck with me well after I put the book down. If you've ever been the dependable one and wondered why you feel so disconnected from yourself despite holding everything up, this book will probably get under your skin the way it got under mine.
Too Strong For Your Own Good is a compassionate and thought-provoking book for anyone who has spent their life being the strong one for everyone else. Anette DeMattio explores the trials of being constantly resilient and makes us wonder, as we read, if it’s truly worth it to turn our strength into a mask rather than a source of well-being.
It goes without saying that the author lays bare some of the most tragic experiences of her life in this book, speaking of issues conceiving, blockades of the adoption system, and even being faced with the more devastating reality of being diagnosed with breast cancer. She describes how she’s forced to confront closed doors she never expected, yet rather than dwelling in despair, she uses the experiences to encourage readers to reflect on unexpected detours in their own lives. There are times when personal dreams do not unfold as planned.
The book discusses topics such as intuition, gut feelings, signs, and clairsentience, the ability to sense energies, emotions, and physical sensations that may not originate from ourselves. People who identify as highly sensitive people or empaths will likely find this section particularly meaningful. Throughout the book, DeMattio challenges the tendency to dismiss the body as merely a collection of bones and hormones, and instead presents it as something much more dynamic, a breathing energetic river that is constantly moving, responding, and communicating.
I often found myself stopping to consider how its lessons applied to my own life. The book offers both comfort and practical guidance, reminding us that we don't always have to be strong. Sometimes, indeed, we can be too strong for our own good.
Ever been called “the strong one”? The one who always has it together, never asks for help, and keeps pushing through no matter what?
Too Strong For Your Own Good flips that idea on its head.
Through her own journey of surviving cancer, heartbreak, abuse, loss, and burnout, Anette DeMattio explores how constant strength can actually be a survival response, and why true healing begins when we stop fighting ourselves.
I loved how the Anette mixes personal stories with practical advice.
Instead of just telling readers to “think positive,” she introduces simple frameworks like the AAA method (Awaken, Alchemize, Ascend), the Five Dark Superpowers, and the CLEAR process to help recognize unhealthy patterns like people-pleasing, overworking, and carrying everyone else’s problems.
Every chapter also includes exercises that encourage you to pause and reflect on your own life.
What makes this book stand out is its blend of self-help and spirituality.
Alongside topics like nervous system regulation, boundaries, and emotional healing, Anette also talks about intuition, energy healing, spirit guides, and mystical experiences that shaped her journey.
My favorite message was that being “strong” doesn’t mean suffering in silence. You don’t have to earn your worth by constantly sacrificing yourself or fixing everyone else’s problems.
Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is slow down, trust yourself, and finally put your own healing first. That reminder really stuck with me long after I finished reading.
If you’re looking for a self-help book that goes beyond productivity and focuses on healing from the inside out, this one is definitely worth checking out.
“Too Strong For Your Own Good” speaks directly to the people who are always holding everything together while quietly running on empty. Through her own experiences with illness, survival, and emotional burnout, Anette DeMattio explores the hidden cost of constantly being the dependable one. The book does not shame ambition or resilience, but instead asks what happens when strength becomes a mask instead of a healthy coping tool. I appreciated how honest and grounded the writing felt, especially when discussing the emotional exhaustion that so many people try to ignore.
The five patterns described throughout the book make it easy for readers to recognize parts of themselves in the pages. From “The Empty Cup” to “The Island,” each section feels thoughtful and deeply human rather than overly clinical. The author also includes practical reflections and gentle guidance without making the book feel preachy or overwhelming. It reads more like a compassionate conversation than a strict self-help manual.
What makes “Too Strong For Your Own Good” stand out is the balance between vulnerability and hope. DeMattio openly shares painful parts of her journey, yet the message remains empowering and encouraging throughout. I found myself stopping several times to reflect on certain passages because they hit surprisingly close to home. This is the kind of book that will especially resonate with people who are capable, caring, and exhausted from carrying too much for too long.
There is a saying that you can't pour from an empty cup. Anette DeMattio says some people spend all their time helping others and forget about themselves. This makes them sick and unhappy until they completely run out of energy. The main idea is that trying to be super strong all the time is bad for you. It hurts your body and your feelings. The author says real strength is not about carrying everything for everyone. Real strength is listening to your body and taking care of yourself, too.
The book is divided into three parts: Awaken, Alchemize, and Ascend. Awaken stands for listening to your body. While Alchemize focuses on emotional healing, the Ascend section is about leadership. In these three parts, the author shares many stories from her own life. She tells stories about her battles with cancer, having trouble having babies, and sad times with her family. These experiences helped her learn that being strong all the time can be tiring and unhealthy. One of the book's most important messages is "You're not here to prove your worth. You're here to remember it."
Chapters are long, but writing is simple and friendly. The book has a conversational tone, as if the author is having a conversation with the reader. The book mixes some science with a lot of spirituality. Most of the author's arguments come from her personal experience rather than scientific data. Believing it or not is up to you.
It is a thought-provoking book for people who feel burned out from always being the strong one. It can definitely challenge our so-called definition of strength and success.
I knew Too Strong For Your Own Good was a good fit for me when its sacred invitation described it as a love letter for caregivers, fixers, steady ones with quiet wounds and unseen weariness, and those who have held it all without falling apart.
“You’re not broken. You're breaking open.” This observation, alongside life force being the cost of too strong for too long, ushers in touching life stories that tested the author’s mental, physical, and physiological resilience.
The stories involving her father, body, doctor, and medical trauma, including the years of silence, professional negligence and infertility treatments stood out in the first chapter. I felt for her when her entire identity came crashing down and liked how she bounced back. There are actionable insights, including a soul inventory and scores relating to burnout, real truths about fortitude, disconnection and healing, and a step-by-step guide for a reactivation of your future self.
That is the drift of the book whose other notable sections include Your Body Knows, Turn Wounds into Wings and The Sacred Shift. For example, insights into your inner wisdom team, including higher self, body wisdom and personality, and both the sacred collaboration in action and check-in will make you wonder why you didn't read this book earlier.
This is an exciting, recommendable read whose REAL You Activation insights are the ultimate gateway to a higher purpose realization.
Every once in a while a book shows up exactly when you need it, and “Too Strong For Your Own Good: Success With Soul” by Anette DeMattio was that book for me. It’s not about hustling harder or chasing a bigger version of success. It’s about pausing to look at the habits we’ve carried for so long that we’ve mistaken them for who we are. That idea alone gave me a lot to sit with.
Reading it made me notice how easily I slip into always being available, always handling everything, and telling myself that asking for help means I’ve failed. The book doesn’t shame those patterns or promise a quick fix. Instead, it gives you space to understand where they come from and why it feels so hard to put them down. I loved the compassion in that approach.
What really stood out was the tone. It doesn’t claim your life will change after one chapter, and it doesn’t sell unrealistic promises. It just nudges you toward a little more self awareness, and sometimes that’s the most important first step. I closed the last page feeling calmer than when I started, which feels rare for a self help book.
If you’ve been running on autopilot, or if you’ve forgotten how to put your own well being on the list without guilt, this one is worth picking up. It’s not the loudest book in the genre, but it might be one of the most thoughtful. Sometimes growth starts with giving yourself permission to set down weight you were never meant to carry.
Too Strong for You Own Good is one of those books that made me stop and think more than once. At first glance, it seems like it's about resilience and overcoming hardship, but it's really about something many people can relate to. The habit of always being the strong one, even when it's quietly wearing you down.
Anette DeMattio is very honest about her own experiences and this meant a lot. After surviving six cancer diagnoses, she has every reason to write from a place of authority, but the book never feels like she's talking at the reader. Instead, it feels like she's sharing what she's learned and gently inviting you to reflect on your own life along the way.
I also enjoyed the way the book is organized. The five survival patterns are easy to understand, and I found myself recognizing pieces of myself in more than one of them. Rather than simply pointing out unhealthy habits, the author offers practical ways to begin changing them without making the process feel overwhelming.
I found this to be an uplifting and thoughtful read. If you've ever felt like you're the one everyone depends on or you've spent so much time taking care of others that you've forgotten to take care of yourself, I think this book is for you. It's a gentle reminder that true strength isn't just about enduring, it's also about knowing when it's time to come home to yourself.
Whether you're already successful or have just been striving for success, if you are feeling burned out or want to avoid that crushing and weighing feeling, this is the book you should be reading. This book is a bit of a memoir stashed within a self-help book. The author begins it by telling the reader about her life trauma -- and it's a big one. She's not alone -- too many of us take on the role of taking care of everyone around us instead of ourselves, only to be left with no one to help us when we're in need. (Not going any deeper into this to avoid any spoilers).
Whether or not the quiz you'll take as you get started in this book tells you that reading this is your lifeline, you'll find benefit from it if you've always (or even sometimes) been a "yes" person. It's time to take back your strength for yourself and think about YOU first.
The rest of the book is filled with anecdotes about avoiding burnout. It has some amazing meditations to help you relax, some tips for stepping back and seeing the big picture, and lots of questions you really should be asking yourself when it comes to happiness and success in your life and work. Honestly, this book is all about taking time out to nurture your soul and your well-being, and we all should be doing more of that.
In this book, Annette DeMattio uses a warm and conversational tone and I appreciate this approachable style because it makes the material much easier to understand.
I found TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD: SUCCESS WITH SOUL to be a thoughtful self-help book with a unique perspective on success. It's an encouraging mix of personal experience and practical content.
Another interesting aspect is the framework the author introduces to describe common survival patterns. The author gives these behaviors memorable names to help identify habits that may have been developed over years of trying to be dependable, successful, or emotionally strong. I found that the practical structure makes the book actionable.
The overall tone is gentle and reflective. Readers looking for aggressive success strategies or productivity systems may find the pace slower than expected, as the emphasis is less on achieving more and more on understanding why achievement sometimes comes at the expense of well-being.
The book challenges a widely accepted definition of strength which glorifies endless perseverance and I love this notion as it gives me comfort while I relearn and redefine certain aspects.
A Roadmap Back To The Person You Were Meant To Be!
Looking for a transformational read that will inspire you, challenge you, and move you forward? Too Strong for your own good: Success With Soul delivers.
This isn’t a book filled with fluff or complicated theories. It’s packed with practical wisdom, coaching insights, and simple daily practices that help you reconnect with your authentic self. In fact, I read it twice because it’s concise, engaging, and easy to revisit whenever you need a boost.
With humor, honesty, and actionable steps, the author shares lessons from her own journey and shows readers how to release old baggage, stop being “homeless in your own body,” and reclaim who they truly are.
This book is organized into digestible sections with clear takeaways, numbered action steps, and even a self-assessment to help guide your growth. I especially loved the CLEAR framework: Connect, Listen, Embrace, Alchemize, Reclaim.
If you’re ready to come home to yourself, this book is a gift. It’s one you’ll want to keep for yourself—and share with those you care about.
In TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD: SUCCESS WITH SOUL, Anette DeMattio reminds the reader that being strong does not mean or justify carrying everyone else's burdens and forgetting about oneself. Just like in her words, "strength isn't what you carry. It is what you choose to drop." This is one of the most realistic self-help books; it feels relatable and human, and most readers will find the story resonant.
What makes this book outstanding is that the author shares her own lived experiences. It prompts the reader to pause and reflect on their own lives, especially for those who have been shouldering the biggest responsibilities for their families and at work, despite their personal struggles.
Annette DeMattio's story is touching; going through six cancer diagnoses, the first one starting when she was only 3 years old, means her life was not easy. Most importantly, the author uses her experience to help the reader understand the language of the body and not to ignore self-care. This is a must-read for everyone.
This was one of those rare self-development/exploration books that feels deeply personal in addition to truly and genuinely transformative. Anette DeMattio writes with honesty, warmth, and wisdom, creating a reading experience that encourages you to redefine what strength really means.
Instead of glorifying constant hustle, daily-grind or self-sacrifice, she reminds readers that true success comes from living in alignment with your values and caring for yourself along the way.
The mix of personal stories, practical insights, and thoughtful reflection makes the reading journey engaging from start to end. Every chapter offers a meaningful takeaway, whether it's a change in perspective or a simple reminder to live life with more intention and compassion.
What makes this book stand out is its authenticity. It doesn't promise quick fixes or overnight success; yet, it offers a sustainable and soulful approach to growth that feels both inspiring and achievable. I would highly recommended this for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to always be strong.
TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD is a thoughtful self-help book about how always trying to be the "strong one" for the world can leave you feeling tired, stressed, and disconnected from yourself. The author, Anette DeMattio, shares her own life experiences, which not only make the book feel honest and relatable but also encourage readers.
The book offers the following tools:
1. Breathing exercises 2. Reflection questions 3. Reminders to slow down
These tools help readers think about their own habits and take better care of themselves.
Some readers might find this book a bit heavy because it is very focused on spiritual ideas like energy and your higher self. I also felt that it relied more on personal experiences than on scientific research. Even so, if you enjoy self-help books with a warm, encouraging tone and don't mind the spiritual focus, this is an easy and comforting read with a positive message about putting yourself first sometimes
One thing I appreciated about TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD is that it really feels like a conversation with someone who has learned the hard way that strength can come with a hidden bill.
The way the author describes the different survival patterns people fall into is brilliant and I found it memorable enough to make one immediately relate to which pattern they fall into.
The tone is warm and reflective, though it definitely leans toward the spiritual side. I also liked that the writing flowed without aggression, with a mix of personal stories, exercises, and practical advice.
The book is clearly aimed at people who are always carrying everyone else’s problems while insisting that they’re perfectly fine. It spoke to me on a personal level without condemning ambition or responsibility, but it dared me to look within and see whether those qualities have quietly crowded everything else out.
The first thing you will note about this book is the disparity in price $4.99 (£3.70) in the US and £6.99 in the UK. Therefore, in the UK, it is nearly double the price for the same book. Secondly, only the links to the author’s website work. You need to give your e-mail address to get the assessment sheets and bonus material.
Statistically, over 50% of self-help books are DNF’d and I can see why. Most make vague claims with little practical application; breathe deeply. This book seeks to identify reasons why you feel the way you do, putting them into categories such as the stoic swan. However, if you are suffering from burnout, what you need is resilience training, learning to say no and letting other people take over. To be fair, the author does ask some relevant questions, pointing to guilt and letting go, but I’m not sure breathing exercises and visualisation are the solution for deep-seated habits and negative thinking.
This novel offers a refreshing view on one of key qualities that is often seen as the ultimate of all which is being strong. As one pushes hard in life, it is easy to overstate their accomplishments and it can end up being their burden. It is because being dependable among a group of people requires a lot and reflecting on this quality is what sets the book apart.
These qualities are admirable and at the same time they can be limiting in how people view a person because they have strong ideas or issues that may seem imposing to others. For example, a strong person may tend to be more responsible for other people’s actions, try to solve all their problems, yet at the same time not accept any help. This trait of overgiving is characteristic of them and the novel stresses the importance of working on it as a strength. Success and ambition are great qualities a person can have and it still requires self reflection to project them effectively.
Anette DeMattio is an amazing woman to have survived as much as she did and then turn around and not only write about finding a way to reconnect with herself and soul, but share with others as they can do it too. Her desire to help people shines throughout the book. There is not doubt that we can all get to a place of healing and self acceptance and self awareness. I loved how she structured the book, writing it in a way that allows the reader to reflect on each chapter, try out different techniques or just sit and think about the questions she presents. This was a highly motivating read and I can see it being the kind of book I reach for again and again throughout various times in my life. It's like having a little therapist in your back pocket that you can turn to whenever you need them.
TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD will help you shed the savior mentality and allow you to focus on yourself for once in your life. The main focus is on people who are always available to help others and always end up being drained physically, emotionally and mentally. The sad thing is that such people are never willing to accept help since they are used to putting up a front of being strong and always being the problem solvers.
This book will help such individuals to focus on themselves. The change might not be well received by others but what matters most is the individual’s wellbeing. Even though the author has not guaranteed that the solutions provided in the book might work, there are some things that are definitely useful and would work.
Survivors will find comfort and guidance from reading this, they will also avoid carrying weight that is not meant for them to carry.
Reading TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD by Anette DeMattio felt less like a strict self‑help book and more like talking with a kind, understanding friend. Anette writes as if speaking directly to the reader, like clients sitting in front of her, and it’s clear her words are deeply personal and intentional. She is not telling us that being ambitious or strong is wrong. She is asking a hard but fair question: What happens when we use our strength to cover up our pain instead of dealing with it?
TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD really hits home, but it never felt like someone preaching at me. It softly encourages me to stop holding onto the heavy things that have been weighing me down for way too long. It is a great resource for people who overthink, those healing from a major health crisis, or those who always please others and need to learn to take care of themselves without guilt.
I found TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD to be a book I really identified with. As the only girl in a family of 6 kids I have always been the dependable one, the one that no one feels they have to worry about and it is an unspoken burden because you are trying to keep all those plates spinning and deal with your own stuff. I felt very seen upon reading this book and it opened me up to a lot of truths. The tone of the writing isn’t accusatory, it feels like sitting down with a really good friend and having a cup of tea, while someone is being upfront and honest with you. It challenges your thinking in a very careful way and showcases how detrimental that being the ‘strong one’ can really be while giving you ways to address it. It was truly a wonderful, insightful book and I would recommend it to anyone who has felt that they were the strong one for far too long.
If you have spent your life being the dependable, overachieving, 'always-there-for-everyone' person, you need to read this book immediately. Anette DeMattio’s writing is beautifully raw, drawing from her own staggering experiences with medical trauma and high-functioning burnout. Her breakdown of the five survival patterns—especially the 'First Responder' and 'Stoic Swan'—hit so close to home I felt completely exposed. This book isn't about telling you to just 'do less.' Instead, it introduces the incredible REAL You Activation System to help you stop overriding your body's signals and alchemize that survival energy into genuine, soul-led power. I would recommend this book to anyone who is deeply tired in a way that sleep simply cannot fix. An absolute masterpiece!
TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD is a helpful tool for remembering your inner self. The author shares her formula for healing, which she developed from her own life experiences and those of others. However, she also provides numerous references supporting what she teaches.
The book contains useful exercises to put into practice what you learn, along with helpful psychological tips.
What resonated most with me was calling on past selves from different stages in our lives to help us get through difficult times in the present.
This is a helpful book for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by life, can't turn off their thoughts, or is a people pleaser. It is a bit new agey but helpful once you get used to that.
Demattio, an award-winning author, tackles the difficult topic of those who do too much at the risk of their own health. She shares how she healed and how others can learn from it. This book is for all caregivers who need to prioritize their own physical and mental health. It's clear that you can't keep helping others if you're not taking care of yourself. Readers may see themselves at various points throughout the book. It's not just for cancer victims. It's for those who do so much they've forgotten to treat themselves with TLC. It's an insightful survival guide written in a relatable way that mental health professionals would do well to read and then recommend their clients wrestling with many of the same issues to read it as well.
In TOO STRONG FOR YOUR OWN GOOD: SUCCESS WITH SOUL, DeMattio teaches her readers the AAA (Awaken, Alchemize and Ascend) method to realise that ‘…suffering [has] meaning’. Whilst prefaced and based upon the writer’s own heavily personal and spiritual experiences, this soul awakening and strengthening manual provides a ‘…roadmap home to yourself…’, guiding the reader, who has experienced any crisis, be it personal, professional or otherwise, to both identify and shed their own ‘…beautiful [yet] exhausting armor.’; to rediscover their authentic self they had since ‘…abandoned to keep everyone else comfortable.’ As with any truly helpful self-help guide, Demattio talks directly to the reader, helping to identify and acknowledge their challenges and needs.
Too Strong For Your Own Good is a very relatable book. Alot of people put themselves in positions where they depict every bit of themselves just because they feel needed. We need to listen to out bodies and act like the CEO of it. You live in your body and you know exactly what's wrong with you even before a diagnosis, but that's if you listen to your body. From the authors perspective you can see how strong she was, battling loss, disfunction family, disease but through all these she still managed to learn something that she has passed to the audience by reading the book. I've learnt to not just cruise through life on the passenger sea but actually take charge.
Learning how much power our bodies have is very interesting. Anette Demattio shines a light on people who always want to please others at the expense of their own happiness. She gives us her personal story which makes it more relatable because they are situations most humans have been through. For someone who struggles with people pleasing and putting other people’s needs first, I have genuinely learned a lot on how to navigate those emotions. My greatest take away is we don’t grieve the person we lost, we grieve the parts of us that overrode our knowing to keep the peace, to hold the hope or stay in something we secretly sensed was breaking.