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Never Be Yourself: You're Better Than That. Kick Anxiety And That Inner Voice To Be What You Really Want.
Are you 100% dazzled by who and what you are right now? How about 90%? How about being a little more YOU? If you want to have a fabulous life, and be the best version of yourself, you’re going to need a plan. You’ll have to do a little work. Stand up, start now. Be more than a beige, autopilot adaptation. Learn how to change, lie to your brain, and rewire your personality to become a more authentic, real you. You can be more outgoing and confident in this awkward, panic inducing world. You can kick that low level anxiety holding you back. You just have to think about it, work at it, and have a plan. The two secret tools are sheer bloody-mindedness and a notebook. Only you know what your goals are. Who do you want to be, and what do you want to do? Whether you want to be a completely different person, get promoted, find new friends, or just upgrade your life in general, this book can help you get started. There are many Action Items (aka “Homework”) to set you on the path to find the best you, and a simple formula to follow to get it done. Even if you have never read a self-help book in your life, why not give it a shot? Trying new things keeps us interesting… if you’re into that sort of thing. Contains salty language, science, psychology, snarky humour, and Canadian spellings. Click LOOK INSIDE to see the Table of Contents. Cynthia Gould went through a phase where she was so shy and anxious she literally could not speak unless spoken to. She was terrified of speaking front of groups, singing, being in cars or planes ‒ she was scared of life. That wasn't the sort of person she wanted to be. Years later, she has travelled to perform on spoken word tours, flown to speak at a web conference, hosted poetry and arts events, and sings in a sleazy rock band. Oh ‒ and she held a boa constrictor for several minutes without squealing. Neat.
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Published January 29, 2018
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August 20, 2021
4 1/2 Stars!
"Be kind to strangers, offer elderly people a seat, hold the door for someone with their hands full. We live in a society, let’s be nice. But if someone is a jerk to you, shake it right off. They don’t count. They aren’t real."
"At the very moment you were conceived, you were a winner. Half of you made a journey down a tube, and made a graceful landing in the perfect spot to grow. The other half made a very rapid journey, and had to outswim millions of your kin to win a race to that egg. Sorry if it is a bit icky to think about, but you started out your life as a savage sprinter who gave it absolutely everything to win that race."
"Happiness comes through the accomplishment of goals. It doesn't matter whether the goal is creating a multimillion-dollar company, or baking an apple pie. Creating and completing things releases chemicals in our brains that makes us incredibly happy."
These are just a few of the gems Gould (who I pictured as my BFF across the café table dishing on life) sprinkles throughout her book "Never Be Yourself: You're Better Than That." There were lots of parts I highlighted but these quotes are just the top three I want to hold close and make into my daily mantra.
Who hasn't thought about how incredible it is that any one of us became a person in this world? In my case, I think: "what are the chances? what if my mom and dad divorced before I was born rather than after?" But never have I looked at the anomaly through Gould's lens: the mere fact we won out over all the other eggs and sperm makes every one of us a winner. We were fighters at the start and we have a fighter in each of us still. No point in comparing ourselves to others. Each of us is uniquely capable of pretty much anything we set our minds to.
Next time someone is a jerk to me, I hope I hear my subconscious say "they don't count, they're not real" and continue on my happy little way.
And the happiness hormones we get from completing goals I know is true. What fun, to have this knowledge validated by my BFF from across the table...(oh, that's right, I mean Gould, whom I've never actually met, let alone sat across the table from) put into words so many thoughts that bounce around in my own head. "I know, right?" I heard myself saying, BFFs-in-café-style. "It's so true!"
My point is that something (if not all) in this book will speak to every reader. Not only does she share these truisms, but she does it in a friendly and witty manner. For those who want to create a different version of themselves than the one they are currently living, Gould provides "action items." Let me save you some time -- Grab a notebook before you settle in to read her book. You'll want to do some brainstorming while you read.
I'm so grateful I happened upon "Never Be Yourself." It is a self help book in many ways, but Gould's spin on the genre is unique and entertaining.
Be kind. We live in a society, after all. And read Gould's book!
"Be kind to strangers, offer elderly people a seat, hold the door for someone with their hands full. We live in a society, let’s be nice. But if someone is a jerk to you, shake it right off. They don’t count. They aren’t real."
"At the very moment you were conceived, you were a winner. Half of you made a journey down a tube, and made a graceful landing in the perfect spot to grow. The other half made a very rapid journey, and had to outswim millions of your kin to win a race to that egg. Sorry if it is a bit icky to think about, but you started out your life as a savage sprinter who gave it absolutely everything to win that race."
"Happiness comes through the accomplishment of goals. It doesn't matter whether the goal is creating a multimillion-dollar company, or baking an apple pie. Creating and completing things releases chemicals in our brains that makes us incredibly happy."
These are just a few of the gems Gould (who I pictured as my BFF across the café table dishing on life) sprinkles throughout her book "Never Be Yourself: You're Better Than That." There were lots of parts I highlighted but these quotes are just the top three I want to hold close and make into my daily mantra.
Who hasn't thought about how incredible it is that any one of us became a person in this world? In my case, I think: "what are the chances? what if my mom and dad divorced before I was born rather than after?" But never have I looked at the anomaly through Gould's lens: the mere fact we won out over all the other eggs and sperm makes every one of us a winner. We were fighters at the start and we have a fighter in each of us still. No point in comparing ourselves to others. Each of us is uniquely capable of pretty much anything we set our minds to.
Next time someone is a jerk to me, I hope I hear my subconscious say "they don't count, they're not real" and continue on my happy little way.
And the happiness hormones we get from completing goals I know is true. What fun, to have this knowledge validated by my BFF from across the table...(oh, that's right, I mean Gould, whom I've never actually met, let alone sat across the table from) put into words so many thoughts that bounce around in my own head. "I know, right?" I heard myself saying, BFFs-in-café-style. "It's so true!"
My point is that something (if not all) in this book will speak to every reader. Not only does she share these truisms, but she does it in a friendly and witty manner. For those who want to create a different version of themselves than the one they are currently living, Gould provides "action items." Let me save you some time -- Grab a notebook before you settle in to read her book. You'll want to do some brainstorming while you read.
I'm so grateful I happened upon "Never Be Yourself." It is a self help book in many ways, but Gould's spin on the genre is unique and entertaining.
Be kind. We live in a society, after all. And read Gould's book!
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