It’s Your Weirdness that Makes You Wonderful

by Kate Allan

Do you know how amazing you are? Celebrate that which makes you uniquely you! According to author and artist Kate Allan, anxiety, worry, and hopelessness are simply signs of “a misbehaving brain doing misbehaving brain stuff. They’re like a bug, a glitch.” Allan, who deals with anxiety and depression, understands firsthand what it’s like to deal with challenging feelings. A few years ago, she started a radical kind of self-care—creating animal affirmations. It’s Your Weirdness That Makes You Wonderful offers encouraging words and stress-reducing affirmations paired with original illustrations and prompts to help you process your feelings.

Think of this journal as your “support animal in book form,” as it is a wild and rainbow-colored menagerie of creatures who are there for you, anytime, anywhere!

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Journal, Art, Graphic Novels, Health

160 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2019

Reviews

[Fara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jurnal yang comel. Banyak aktiviti untuk bantu kita susun idea dan kenal pasti perasaan sendiri. Sesuai untuk orang yang suka over thinking. Sesuai juga untuk dijadikan hadiah.

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this self-help and prompt journal with zero expectation. This book has a lot of positive messages. To me this book is somehow helpful in terms of self care aspect because the author shared and gave us a lot of advices towards that aspect.

This self-help book is super cute. I liked the illustrations and the interactive contents and there were lots of questions that you can answered. I thought this book really is fun if you’re honest when answering those questions.

This book might be helpful for you and might help you rethink about a lot of things. Kate Allen’s approach will work on you if you are working on things and need some encouragements.

Thank you Times Reads for sending me a copy of It’s Your Weirdness that Makes You Wonderful in return for an honest review.

[Tara Clapper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most useful self-help book I have ever read. It's both serious and whimsical. I've purchased copies of this for several friends as gifts. Now that I'm finished it, I'm tearing out some of the pages to use as decorations in my room, in journals, and to enclose with letters to friends who need encouragement in the future. It's truly a book that can help you feel like you can confront and let go, and it's very non-judgmental. I feel like the author is my friend.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly helpful. It’s a nice balance of reading, journaling, and doodling. I also really like Kate’s art with the positive messages that she’s sprinkled throughout. I bought this on a whim in an effort to improve my mental health while on vacation. It was worth it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute. A prompt journal for anxiety/ depression. I can definitely see this being helpful for some, and have already recommended it to a few clients.

[Mj Schlosser · Rating 3 out of 5]

The drawings are adorable and the colors are vibrant. This is a fun journal that can help the reader identify new self-care techniques (e.g., what brings you joy, what clothes make you feel the most comfortable). However, please do not confuse this journal for research-based psychological help.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein kleines, aber feines Buch für den Kampf gegen Depressionen oder geringes Selbstwertgefühl, aber auch für Menschen, die einfach ihre Lebensqualität verbessern möchten.

Es ist gut verständlich, auch für jemanden, dessen Muttersprache nicht Englisch ist. Das ist auch für depressive Menschen von Vorteil, da diese oft Konzentrationsprobleme haben. Zudem bekommt man die Informationen portionsweise und übersichtlich auf einen Blick serviert.

Die Autorin hat Informationen aus bekannten Therapiemethoden und eigene Erfahrungen vermischt, was meiner Meinung nach ein hilfreiches Konzept ergibt, etwa als Ergänzung zu einer Therapie oder zur Selbsthilfe.

Die Illustrationen sind sehr gut gelungen und es ist eine Freude, sie zu betrachten. 🙂
Abgerundet wird es durch die vielen Übungen und die leeren Seiten, die man zum Beispiel zur Wiederholung des Gelesenen nutzen kann.

Ein Buch, das ich nur empfehlen kann, für den Eigebgebrauch oder als Geschenk.
Ich werde mich auch mit Freude weiteren Werken von Kate Allan widmen.

[Julia Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow Kate Allan on Patreon and absolutely love her adorable artwork paired with meaningful words. I have a bunch saved on my phone for days when I need a magical cat to tell you "it's okay to be unwell today" or a raccoon to remind me that "no matter how bad today is, you get to curl up in bed at the end of the day".
To have a work book / journal filled with cute animals reminding you that "you are worth it, and tomorrow is a new day", written by someone who knows what it's like, and understands what so many people are going through, is one of the many things that makes her books amazing.

[Donna Higton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the latest Kate's drawings and encouraging messages. This journal is the perfect companion for a bad day (week, month...). Cute illustrations positive messages, kindness at its heart. Get the paperback version though so you can scribble to your hearts content.

[Coushatta LaRue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as a gift and I love it! The beautiful art work along side the positive messages is great! It's a good little book to help up lift you and teach you self compassion and love. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a little fun positivity in their life!

[Nessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was way more usefull then i expected when I started. i do recommend getting a paper copy and not an ebook though.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be recommending this journal to anyone who will listen. Love, love, love ❤

[Rachel Koh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good prompts!

Interesting prompt journal. Prompts are easy to follow, content is digestible as well. Would get this as a gift for my students! :)

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome idea! Wonderful art!

[Laura Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this. Wonderful wellbeing journal.

[Jessica Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the writing prompts in the book. It helped me yo rethink a lot of my thoughts

[Maria.J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute yet very poignant, perhaps sorely needed, book! I think everyone should get their hands on this one. It’s a confidence booster.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow The Latest Kate on Facebook and have always appreciated seeing the posts, as the encouraging phrases weren't quite so trite as others and the artwork made me smile. When I decided to try journalling to work out some issues, I reached out to get hers. I purchased it at Target and put it aside for a week. Last night, I sat up and filled out several pages, with the help of my cat, and went to bed smiling. I think Kate's approach will work with folks who find themselves jaded after too many motivational posters or 'There's no I in TEAM!' phrases. (There is no I in TEAM, but you can spell Eat Me!). I recommend this to anyone looking to work things out with gentle heartfelt encouragement.