Know Your Worth: How to build your self-esteem, grow in confidence and worry less about what people think

by Anna Mathur

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Anna's wise, uplifting and refreshingly honest words are what every woman needs to read right now' Fearne Cotton

Your worth never changed. Your awareness of it did.

A strong understanding of self-worth is crucial to living an authentic and fulfilling life, yet so many of us have lost that sense of who we truly are and what we are worthy of. On the surface, this may look like low confidence, imposter syndrome, chronic busy-ness, exhaustion, overwhelm, fear or anxiety, but at the core, it's low self-worth.

In her second book, Sunday Times bestselling author and psychotherapist Anna Mathur will set you on a journey towards greater self-worth. Anna will use her personal and professional insight to guide you to a place of balance that will allow you to recognise and appreciate your self-worth, build your self-esteem, grow in confidence and worry less about what other people think.

Using Anna's own experience of embarking on this journey herself, and spending ten years facilitating her therapy clients to do the same, Know Your Worth will help you to understand why you feel the way you do, what perpetuates it and what the cost of low self-esteem has been for you. It will provide the coping mechanisms, habits and tips that will redirect your self-esteem on a healthy and fulfilling upward spiral and help you to escape the relentless desire to 'be better' and 'do more' with the realisation that perhaps you were actually far more acceptable than you first thought.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Audiobook, Self Esteem, Personal Growth

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 13, 2021

Reviews

[Balvinder Sopal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am totally convinced I am not a fan of audiobooks because here is another one where the narrators voice is grating. The tone, the same speech pattern prevalent in every sentence, the stress on the wrong words, (IMHO) and the silly smile in the voice when saying something profound and important is irritating. It's narrated by the author herself. I find myself wincing and getting frustrated every time the author sounds like she's running a yoga class.

However, just as the author narrates;

"I can feel grateful and irritated simultaneously."

I am grateful I came across this audiobook - it gives me something to do when I'm walking. It encourages me to question behavioural patterns that are detrimental to my self growth. It asks me to challenge that negative inner voice, making me examine who that voice is, where it comes from, and why I allow it to interfere with my quest for self love, and self acceptance.

I may be irritated by the narrator, but I am grateful for the guidance she is providing into "Self." I suppose because of how I feel about audiobooks, I can thank this author for cementing in my heart that I prefer to read a book rather than listen to it. I can, however, appreciate the immense amount of work it must have taken to write and then narrate and put her voice out there.

Food for thought: I liked the tasks at the end of chapters. Something I believe is helpful with a self-help book. It gives the reader the opportunity to engage physically with creating change through daily exercises, be that journalling or understanding the difference between self care and self-respect as often the two conflate. It's worth giving it a go. However, I believe I would have gotten more out of reading the book as opposed to listening.

[Maritsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one that I will re-read over and over. It's a proverbial key; unlocking certain things to set yourself free. I really recommend this book. Anna shares her own stories and is just wonderful.

[Kayley Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, super helpful and easy to read, I just found the last couple of chapters a bit repetitive so skim read them but overall would recommend reading this to give your self esteem and confidence a bit of a boost

[Emma Marlborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so helpful especially in the wait for counselling - really helped with my self awareness and drive to improve my self belief

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book so uplifting. It was a cuddle to my heart.

Know Your Worth is a must-read for anyone who struggles with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, self-sabotaging, anxiety in social situations, perfectionism, fear of upsetting someone, and feeling bad when someone doesn't like you or thinks something bad about you. I found this book very helpful, as it breaks down a lot of common issues in a very relatable way.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style to help reframe situations and gives a better perspective to adjusting your negative thought patterns. Just because one person doesn't like green tea doesn't mean green tea is bad. Many people like green tea, and just because someone isn't a fan isn't a statement of whether it deserves to be on the shelf. If we know we're not someone's cup of tea, we shouldn't take it as a statement of truth. No one is so special that they get a right to say if we're a good person or not, worthy or not, acceptable or not.

If you tend to judge yourself harshly, it's common to assume that others judge you harshly too. Some people may do that, but most will not, and even if they do, that often says more about their level of insight and understanding than it does you.

The book had many relatable self-worth topics, and I was just what I needed. It spoke to me, and I highly recommend it for anyone's personal development journey.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that can only help you - low self esteem effects so much of your life, more than I had realised until I read this book.
Anna writes as a person who has also suffered low self esteem and being a people pleaser. There are lots of helpful tips in this book to start you off in the right direction. I read this on Kindle but I'm tempted to buy a physical copy to mark pages and to flick through.
I had lots of light bulb moments throughout the book and plenty of regrets that I hadn't know these things earlier. But also a sense of relief that it is possible to change things moving forwards.
Anna is a relatable person and I recommend reading this book and also following her on Instagram.

[Sudhakar Ramasamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exceptional. Will be picking up few times to anchor all the gems. Simple, clear to the point, no usual BS that you'll find in self help books on what you should stop doing or start doing.
Anna doesnt pretend to "know it all" or the genuius of human minds like most authors do.
She took all the basics of our internal thought process and have articulated is such simple terms.
Literally she has "kept it simple". Backs her points with a neat example that drives it home.

[Debs Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's taken me a while to read this. Not because it's hard to read but because I've wanted to savour and dig into each chapter. I love Anna's personal reflections and therapeutic approach which has made it feel more like a course or workbook than just a guide. Some content did feel obvious but it helps to have it laid out in writing. This is a book I've annotated heavily and know I'll keep referring back to in my journey of development.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.
Easy read like a friend chatting with you next to a cup of tea/coffee.
Just a warning: if one is having more serious issues (unresolved traumas), this book might be too "basic" and obvious. In this case, this book is just perfect alongside some other specific in depth ones that refer to such and such traumas.
I like her tone as it's pretty easy going. Like chatting with a good friend, as I said. 🙂

[Magdalena Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every so often I tell myself that I will not read any more 'self-help' books, but I got into Anna Mathur's podcast recently and wanted to give it a go. It's a really good book and I just really love the way Anna writes and speaks to the reader. There's a lot of compassion, understanding and she shares a ton of her personal experience. Although it didn't blow my mind, there are some useful things and overall it's a really good book if this is a topic you want/need to read more on.

[Christina Greenway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and informative read. So much of the book has been underlined and I am going to go back through now again from the beginning to tackle the journal questions of each chapter and go through it in more detail. Highly recommend for those wanting to grow their confidence or self belief.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook:

A good book for anyone new to working on their self-esteem. She has a lovely reading voice, but I found that the format of the book didn't lend itself very well to an audio format. It felt a little confusing because she'd cover a thought or topic for 1-3 minutes and then jump to something else entirely (which would be fine if you could see the page breaks and the headings).

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was an interesting book on ways to improve your own confidence and understanding what it means to be comfortable in your own skin. The journal prompts would be really useful to use, but as I listened to this I wasn't able to make a note at the time.

This will be one I will probably go back to in the future. Mainly to attempt the journalling.

[Alžběta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book full of new perspectives and very helpful and practical tips. I found some chapters better and more useful than others, but I suppose that depends on whatever you are struggling with personally. Overall, highly recommended.

[Ghinwa Ayoub · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great self-help book that makes you feel, with every page, as if you are taking a deep breath of fresh air and tranquility in, and exhale the thoughts that are blocking your mind. I am so grateful to have read it!!!

[Poppy Lingard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been listening to this as an audiobook and it felt to me like an extended chat/cup of tea and a warm hug with a therapist ❤️ there was so much of value to me and I’d definitely read or listen again if I forget some of its teachings.

[Lianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of practical tips, insightful comments and a guide to thinking differently. There’s some comments in here I want to refer back to and definitely a book to share with others.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that gets you thinking. I read it through once and then have dipped back in and out. A book I will go back to time and time again. Thank you Anna for sharing your wisdom

[Rhona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took lots from it

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, thought provoking, book.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helped with self reflection. An inspiring and empowering book.

[Rich Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. Not a preachy self help book, just an opportunity to tell yourself you are worthy

[Susan Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggled to want to pick this up

[Lex Gillies · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! So influential and powerful. Such a positive message told in such a genuine, practical and inspiring way. I will hold on to this and read it again and again I’m sure!!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing. The most powerful book I’ve read.

[Anaya Saeed · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but not my type....

[Jess 🌞 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very bog standard advice and lots of filler that add nothing to the book. The ‘quotes’ she has in there seem made up.

[Abbie Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book so helpful and one I'm going to come back to time and time again. 🩷

[Dan (mylilyotv) · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay, little helpful, not amazing.