The Woman's Book of Courage: Meditations for Empowerment & Peace of Mind

by Sue Patton Thoele

In this revised collection, loving reflections provide wisdom and encouragement to help overcome anxiety, gain self-esteem, and improve relationships. They may be used over and over for women in transition or recovery and those wishing to enhance personal power.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality, Poetry, Inspirational

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as insightful and inspiring as The Woman's Book of Confidence. It's formatted in the same manner, with each entry offer wisdom, affirmations, and meditations on different angles of inner strength, conquering fears, self-love and love for others, and peace of mind. What I'll remember most about Courage, though, is how certain topics were incredibly relevant at different times while I was reading it. I'd come away from the book feeling as though I'd read the right advice for me at that moment, and could put it to use immediately. That's powerful.

Some of the entries that resonated most with me include:
- Answering Our Silent Pleas
- Putting Superwoman Out to Pasture
- Accepting Our Credibility
- Transforming and Transmuting Circumstances

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Woman's Book of Courage from cover to cover and loved it. Since most of the entries are just a little over a page in length, I plan to reread it one story and affirmation at a time. I think this will provide a motivating start to each day.

Two of my favorites were "Nestling in the Arms of Nature"(p. 244) and "Detaching Compassionately through Play". (Page 242)

"Most of us have others in our lives . . . whom we allow to emotionally sabotage us. After encountering them, we either seethe with frustration or are saturated with guilt. Learning to compassionately detach from such people is one of the most courageous and empowering things we can do for ourselves." (Page 244)

"Nature is pure, patient, and nonjudgmental; she accepts us all, and we all need her acceptance. The love of Mother Nature can help us all when we have the courage to open to it."(Page 245)

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good thoughts that are not necessarily new. Too much visualization and inner-child babble for me to take too seriously. I'm sure it's helpful to many, however, and it certainly has it's place.

[Kari Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very empowering to read.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outside has minor scuff marks, pages clean and crisp.

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This type of book is a good pick me up for the down days. It serves to remind you of tried and true skills for coping with life's trials, and to help to keep your perspective upbeat. I don't recommend reading this book all in one sitting: I think it would work better as something to dip into every once in awhile when you need something to perk you up.
I enjoyed the last section which deals with trusting your intuition and keeping in touch with your inner voice. We all get so busy, and life gets so noisy, that it's easy to lose track of how you feel and what your gut instinct tells you.
I thought some of her suggested meditations were pretty basic, and the stuff about paying attention to the inner child was a bit silly for grown up women. But overall, I think it served its purpose to help me to centre myself on a very bad week.
One question that I do have is this: Why don't MEN need all these self-help books about self-esteem and listening to your inner voice? If we can identify why they are brimming with confidence regardless of the facts, perhaps we can raise our girls differently and put the self-help industry out of business...

[AshleyYvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag. Some of the sentiments are lovely, but I feel they're geared to an older generation that is apt to struggle with individuality and assertiveness, especially as it relates to male spouses. I take issue with a lot of passages, notably the ones that imply happy endings are guaranteed in the event of: falling down a furnace vent (time to knit until help arrives!), staging an intervention and magically having a loved one who is an addict suddenly come clean out of love (so naive), and staying with an abusive partner by confronting their behaviour and expecting them to change (really dangerous and unacceptable).

So in effect, a lot of the meditations are negated for me because all of them contained happy endings, even in situations where hurtful and insulting behaviour was perpetrated upon the women providing examples of shortcomings in their lives. Some things shouldn't be put up with, and I find this book sends the message that women are the ones who need to change their perspective when others are acting in a manner that is entirely inappropriate and unacceptable.

[D.a.b. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m putting a start and end date on this book, but I’ll never finish it. It’s best read in snippets - and especially as the title implies: for times when one needs a dose of courage. It’s organized into 12 sections, all beginning with “A woman has the courage to...” I’ll pick it up and thumb through the contents, then turn to the applicable section. Through this book, I’ve found the means to identify and end destructive relationships, face fear straight on, and embrace life at my age. I highly recommend this for women of all ages.

The twelve sections: A woman has the courage to:
Acknowledge her strength and set limits
Love and be loved
Create peace of mind
Tame and transform her dragons
Be her own good friend
Make her own choices
Care for her body
Communicate lovingly
Develop healthy relationships
Take risks and change
Recognize rainbows
Claim the goddess within

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is aimed for the feminist. It's all about self and how to please the "goddess" within.
I'm glad I put my trust in what God says in the Bible. That's where I find my worth, my role as a woman, wife and mother.
Thoele says God could either be a him, her or it. That's not biblical. I'm glad to get rid of this book.

[Rogue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it has nice lines but it's definitely not my type of book.

[Violet Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was nice to read, one passage a day is all you need! thanks mom for the book recommendation 🩷

[Chelsea Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me through some of the most challenging days of my adult life. I am SO grateful to this author and her work. Can't even express in words what it means to me.

I found myself, years ago, testifying against a man, who had not only sexually assaulted me, but was facing 8 counts of sexual assault and 4 counts of kidnapping. It was a terrifying day and as I approached each step, getting in the car to head to the courthouse, walking into the courthouse, waiting to testify, I studied the pages of this book -- repeating the affirmations within it's pages.

He was convicted of all counts and is facing four consecutive life sentences.

[Charmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Feminism called upon me to have the courage to grow up, to discover and exercise my womanly strength to be unafraid of pain—and the pain is immeasurable---knowing that fully experienced, makes joyfully possible.

[Jama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I check this out from the library from time to time. Gentle reminders on life & love.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got halfway through and just couldn't find it of any use.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a companion book with daily words of inspiation, and a topic to ponder on I will pick this book up and fead it over and over.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Love her books/.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

good meditations

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book