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Authentic Power : Give Yourself Permission to Feel
Everyone grapples with some form of trauma in their life, whether it’s the painful loss of a parent, the devastating end of a marriage, or a debilitating health diagnosis. Layered over this individual trauma is the collective pain we are feeling as a society with the threats of climate change, racial injustice, political strife, and a public health crisis.
Business owner, mother, and trauma survivor Ashley Bernardi shares how these dark days are disguised as an opportunity for building hope as a resiliency tool. As the founder of a national media relations and publicity firm, Ashley has the privilege of access to many of the world’s leading experts in health and wellness who offered healing and hope with her personal challenges—a rich collection of top doctors, neurologists, psychologists, nutritionists, coaches, spiritualists, and others. She shares their profound wisdom for building hope, along with her own deeply moving story of overcoming the death of her father as a young girl and her struggle to overcome Lyme Disease.
This inspirational guide features insights and practical techniques from such luminaries as Dr. Habib Sadeghi, author of The Clarity Cleanse, Stanford’s Dr. Jamil Zaki, 31-Day Food Revolution founder Ocean Robbins, transformational life coaches Julie Reisler and Malena Crawford, ER physician and renowned climate activate Dr. Courtney Howard, pediatrician Dr. Anisha Abraham, and a special Foreword by Dr. Emma Seppala, Science Director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research Education.
For anyone facing an individual crisis or concerned about the collective challenges we face as a country and planet, Ashley’s invitation to lean into the power of hope will transform your mind, body, emotions, and spirit.
Business owner, mother, and trauma survivor Ashley Bernardi shares how these dark days are disguised as an opportunity for building hope as a resiliency tool. As the founder of a national media relations and publicity firm, Ashley has the privilege of access to many of the world’s leading experts in health and wellness who offered healing and hope with her personal challenges—a rich collection of top doctors, neurologists, psychologists, nutritionists, coaches, spiritualists, and others. She shares their profound wisdom for building hope, along with her own deeply moving story of overcoming the death of her father as a young girl and her struggle to overcome Lyme Disease.
This inspirational guide features insights and practical techniques from such luminaries as Dr. Habib Sadeghi, author of The Clarity Cleanse, Stanford’s Dr. Jamil Zaki, 31-Day Food Revolution founder Ocean Robbins, transformational life coaches Julie Reisler and Malena Crawford, ER physician and renowned climate activate Dr. Courtney Howard, pediatrician Dr. Anisha Abraham, and a special Foreword by Dr. Emma Seppala, Science Director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research Education.
For anyone facing an individual crisis or concerned about the collective challenges we face as a country and planet, Ashley’s invitation to lean into the power of hope will transform your mind, body, emotions, and spirit.
160 pages, Paperback
Published December 21, 2021
8 people are currently reading
2503 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 29, 2022
Her website made this book look like it was a wonderful choice to read and that it would really help me. There was nothing new, earth shattering or profound in this book. The first 6 chapters were crap. It doesn’t have any substance until chapter 7, and there’s not much there. The “20+ experts” in the book are just quotes from her friends or former clients. They don’t help at all. This was a very disappointing read, although very easy and fast.
February 22, 2022
Authentic Power: Give Yourself Permission to Feel, is a thought-provoking self-help book by author Ashley Bernardi. This inspirational collection of anecdotes and affirmations is compiled in a book that is part journal and part self-help, providing information on how to handle trauma and the overwhelming emotions that go with it.
The author draws on her hurtful past experiences of witnessing her father lose his life to a fulminating heart attack when she was nine years old. She also opens up about the long process of searching for a diagnosis for a mysterious chronic illness that left her severely debilitated. Bernardi offers readers different insights and strategies that they can use to navigate stress and trauma in their lives.
This helpful book is a unique work that is different from traditional self-help books. The layout is in the form of a journal, where each chapter begins with a small introductory text and includes a paragraph with a positive affirmation to be said aloud, a quote, and a blank space where the reader is encouraged to put into practice the proposed exercise. Some examples of the exercises included are to make a list of objects for a self-care kit or to express their thoughts after their first attempts at meditation. This organization and structure makes for a safe environment where anyone can express their emotions freely, away from third-party judgments.
It should be noted that the author’s strategies and tips are validated with evidence-based data, and she makes sure to cite the sources in between pages. This makes her work stand out from other self-help books that might rely more on religious doctrine and be as adamant about following scientific guidelines.
The book includes approaches to challenges that have arisen amidst COVID-19. This updated work is another differential that will lend a hand to those struggling with social distancing and losing loved ones during the pandemic.
Authentic Power: Give Yourself Permission to Feel is a secular, science-based self-help book for those that are looking for a fresh approach to dealing with grief and trauma. Readers will learn how to build emotional wellness through the steps set forth in this well-researched book.
The author draws on her hurtful past experiences of witnessing her father lose his life to a fulminating heart attack when she was nine years old. She also opens up about the long process of searching for a diagnosis for a mysterious chronic illness that left her severely debilitated. Bernardi offers readers different insights and strategies that they can use to navigate stress and trauma in their lives.
This helpful book is a unique work that is different from traditional self-help books. The layout is in the form of a journal, where each chapter begins with a small introductory text and includes a paragraph with a positive affirmation to be said aloud, a quote, and a blank space where the reader is encouraged to put into practice the proposed exercise. Some examples of the exercises included are to make a list of objects for a self-care kit or to express their thoughts after their first attempts at meditation. This organization and structure makes for a safe environment where anyone can express their emotions freely, away from third-party judgments.
It should be noted that the author’s strategies and tips are validated with evidence-based data, and she makes sure to cite the sources in between pages. This makes her work stand out from other self-help books that might rely more on religious doctrine and be as adamant about following scientific guidelines.
The book includes approaches to challenges that have arisen amidst COVID-19. This updated work is another differential that will lend a hand to those struggling with social distancing and losing loved ones during the pandemic.
Authentic Power: Give Yourself Permission to Feel is a secular, science-based self-help book for those that are looking for a fresh approach to dealing with grief and trauma. Readers will learn how to build emotional wellness through the steps set forth in this well-researched book.
January 14, 2024
NOTE: I am a librarian and I received an eBook ARC of this book from NetGalley.
In "Authentic Power," Ashley Bernardi explores her own health and personal crises, reflecting on her recovery and making recommendations for how others can live their best life. Each chapter contains advice, supporting comments from other self-help experts, affirmations, and reflection exercises to guide the reader along in their own journey to reclaiming their own confidence and self-efficacy in living their own lives authentically.
I appreciated reading Bernardi's perspective on her past and present and how it informed her advice for living your own best life. Each chapter is well-balanced between her own narrative and her commentary; she avoids wallowing in self-pity and eschews any sort of preachy tone. It allows the reader to trust the author. I regret that it took me so long to finish this book, since I strived to work the reflection exercises into my life over several months, which took me away from resuming with subsequent chapters. I highly recommend that readers complete the reflection exercises to get the most out of this book.
In "Authentic Power," Ashley Bernardi explores her own health and personal crises, reflecting on her recovery and making recommendations for how others can live their best life. Each chapter contains advice, supporting comments from other self-help experts, affirmations, and reflection exercises to guide the reader along in their own journey to reclaiming their own confidence and self-efficacy in living their own lives authentically.
I appreciated reading Bernardi's perspective on her past and present and how it informed her advice for living your own best life. Each chapter is well-balanced between her own narrative and her commentary; she avoids wallowing in self-pity and eschews any sort of preachy tone. It allows the reader to trust the author. I regret that it took me so long to finish this book, since I strived to work the reflection exercises into my life over several months, which took me away from resuming with subsequent chapters. I highly recommend that readers complete the reflection exercises to get the most out of this book.
December 20, 2021
This book is a must read for anyone who has found themselves caught up in fear, anxiety and overwhelm with all that is going on in our world. Ashley shares incredibly powerful techniques, tools and proven practices to help you transcend and transform anything that is holding you back. I love how this book integrates integrative, hopeful and expert healing methods that will help you to truly tap into your authentic power. This book will help you to rediscover the strength and wisdom that lies within.
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January 24, 2022Everyone faces stress, trauma, fear, loss, and disappointment during their life. Everyone reacts differently.
Authentic Power offers short chapters that offer practices, readings, feeling affirmations, and concrete suggestions to navigate difficult periods in our lives. Drawing from personal history as well as a variety of professionals and holistic practices, Ashley Bernardi provides an opportunity to reflect on and perhaps take actions to find your individual power.
Authentic Power offers short chapters that offer practices, readings, feeling affirmations, and concrete suggestions to navigate difficult periods in our lives. Drawing from personal history as well as a variety of professionals and holistic practices, Ashley Bernardi provides an opportunity to reflect on and perhaps take actions to find your individual power.
May 30, 2022
Ashley nailed it for those of us who go from one thing to another without giving ourselves time to feel, think, dissect our daily lives. From the people pleasers to the empaths to the nonstop people connectors this book is for you....giving yourself the gift to feel, to pause, to set your daily path.
January 31, 2022
Thank you, Ashley, for this beautiful book. Thank you for sharing your story to help others.
Trauma, grief and loss are part of our human experience. Your book helps all of us navigate the tough moments and create a meaningful life.
Trauma, grief and loss are part of our human experience. Your book helps all of us navigate the tough moments and create a meaningful life.
March 2, 2022
Among other pitfalls, so many self-help books seem to have a promising start before stalling out in a litany of familiar generalizations about personal wellness. “Exercise,” “this too shall pass,” and “practice self-care” all have their place. But two things make author and renaissance woman Ashley Bernardi’s “Authentic Power” so effective.
1) She’s the real deal. An eclectic CV documents a series of successes achieved despite awful trauma experienced early in life. 2) Her dynamic career is incidental to the quality of her work.
Bernardi’s approach is more sophisticated than the Boomerish “I’m successful and I did this; therefore you should too.” Instead the author offers readers a foundational system to use during their own journey to emotional contentment, explaining it in a voice resonant with empathy. She sets an encouraging tone and leaves the reader eager to help others, as hopefully they will have been helped by “Authentic Power.”
1) She’s the real deal. An eclectic CV documents a series of successes achieved despite awful trauma experienced early in life. 2) Her dynamic career is incidental to the quality of her work.
Bernardi’s approach is more sophisticated than the Boomerish “I’m successful and I did this; therefore you should too.” Instead the author offers readers a foundational system to use during their own journey to emotional contentment, explaining it in a voice resonant with empathy. She sets an encouraging tone and leaves the reader eager to help others, as hopefully they will have been helped by “Authentic Power.”
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews