Healing Is a Gift: Poems for Those Who Need to Grow

by Alexandra Vasiliu

From the bestselling author of Healing Words , Time to Heal , and Dare to Let Go comes a new collection of inspirational poems focused on love, healing, growth, and personal transformation.
Healing Is a Gift is an empowering poetry collection that explores the profound themes of healing, letting go, changing your old self, loving and appreciating yourself more, growing with hope, and rising again like a bold, beautiful soul.
This uplifting book brings you a powerful and positive when you overcome adversities, let go of your past, mend your heart’s wounds, and move forward with your life, you actually give the greatest gifts to yourself.
Choose Healing Is a Gift and start your inward journey towards healing, love, self-esteem, wisdom, growth, hope, happiness, and personal transformation.

Genres: Poetry, Self Help

172 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2021

About the author

An award-winning poet, writer, and wife, Alexandra Vasiliu is a firm believer in the healing power of love.
She double majored in literature and French for her undergraduate degree before pursuing her Ph.D. in Medieval Literature.
She is the author of the bestselling poetry collections, Healing Words, Be My Moon, Healing Is a Gift, and Through the Heart’s Eyes. Alexandra is best known for her empowering collections, Healing Words, Be My Moon, and Healing Is a Gift.
Her mission is to help people heal their broken hearts, find hope and inner strength, and gather the courage to love again.
When she isn’t busy writing, she loves drinking coffee, collecting seashells, and spending time with her family.
Stay connected with her through Instagram @alexandravasiliuwriter and Pinterest @AlVasiliuWriter.
Visit her at www.alexandravasiliu.net. She loves hearing from her readers

Reviews

[Holly Muth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was extremely rudimentary, I wouldn’t even consider this poetry personally. The only technique used by the author was repetition of the same phrase, and it was used often but not in parts that had impact; the entire collection itself was extremely repetitive as well. I was so disappointed in the level this book was, this is something I would expect a middle school child to read and be learning how to use more techniques to improve their writing. Disappointed :( I do commend the empowering message the author is trying to convey

[Iyanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly I had pretty good expectations for this book and it did not meet them at all. All of the poems were pretty much the same just reworded. Which is something I cannot stand. I would have given it no stars but I decided to give it one because this was the authors personal journey of healing. I honestly don’t recommend this book though.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this book as my book club voted for this to be read for our April meeting.

I did not enjoy this collection. This was not poetry to me. It was words that sounded motivational cut up to resemble poems. A huge problem I had with this book is that it could connect to everyone and no one. The pieces were vague, and thus one person might find meaning in the words while someone else (like myself) can feel distant and detached.
The biggest problem I had was how preachy this book sounded. It was the equivalent of "you're sad? just stop." Many times my pent-up teenage angst wanted to come out and yell, "don't tell me what to do!" I read poetry to connect with the author through shared experiences. I, too, have been depressed, and yet it took me halfway through the book to get a poem specifically about depression, and even then it was, "Don't be sad, get glad!"
It was incredibly repetitive. The phrase "your heart" was used 118 times!! Going a step further, just the word "heart" was used 188 times. Thank you Kindle for telling me those stats.
Don't take this the wrong way, I have nothing against the author or her experience, but the tone of this book did not jive with me and I could not recommend it to others for that reason.

[Lizzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find it very interesting that this collection went from "heal your heart with inner work" to "become humble and meek and God will heal your depression." This feels like something I would have been given at 15 that would have not only NOT helped, but made me feel much worse for being unable to give my depression to God. Also, it isn't poetry. It's just a big pile of bad.

[Arielle Esmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been getting into reading stuff about healing and growth after my morning routine of doing yoga and meditation. I absolutely a loving it. I feel so good and mentally energized after each reading portion. Any other recommendations on books for healing and growth?

[Bennett Clary]

I’m not a fan of how she chose to approach healing. Some of her ideas were valid, but other times she said that to make my depression go away, I should create something beautiful and not let myself go down the road of depression. Just not a fan of how she approached healing.

It also felt like fake poetry. She was basically breaking up prose into shorter lines without any reason. Sometimes it worked, most of the time it didn’t.

[grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

i admire anyone who has the strength to write about their hardships, but i couldn't stand this collection. every poem was the same and the words felt so insincere. as someone who has struggled with issues regarding mental health, this book was not empowering.

[Brianna Kinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t my favorite but had a good message throughout.

[Brianna Ramos · Rating 1 out of 5]

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. If I could rate this 0 stars, I would. As a mental health professional and poet myself, this was extremely painful to tolerate. I considered DNF’ing several times throughout the book, however, something told me to keep going. I’m glad I did, so I could use my review as a warning to anyone who has ever struggled with any mental health issues to STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS BOOK. The tone set throughout its entirety is, “if you pray to God, you will never have anxiety or depression again” and I am not sure I’ve ever felt more repulsed by a book in my life. Whether you’re religious, spiritual, or completely atheist… it takes a special kind of ignorance to think for a second that a chemical imbalance can be completely cured by speaking to yourself in your room alone. While I can wholeheartedly respect an individual confiding in their religion, using it as a coping mechanism, and them finding a level of peace and comfort within their relationship with their God… that was NOT the tone set here. I was able to get behind this difference until the poem, “Never Enough” came about, which discussed the false claim that we will never be enough without a significant other. I had to re-read it three times to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. I need to schedule another therapy session to process this because I am unwell.

[A C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about self-care and it teaches you a lot of valuable things. I enjoyed this book it opened my mind to see things I did not see before. It helped me finally understand a lot of things about me. It also taught me about how we should let go of the past. It is very interesting I had a lot of fun reading it was different since it was poem form but I like trying new things and this was one of them. I also like how it talks about healing and self-love. I think that everyone should read this book because I think that it going to help them very much.

[Bexe · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5 ⭐

Hello, disappointment of the year! I went into this book hoping for comfort, depth, or even little crying. Unfortunately, this book didn’t deliver any of that.

The writing feels extremely repetitive and surface level, relying heavily on vague affirmations without offering reflection, growth or emotional substance. Many passages read more like social media captions than poetry or prose meant to be revisited and felt. Instead of healing, I felt disconnected.
I understand that this kind of book may resonate with some readers at a certain point in their journey, but for me it lacked originality, depth, and authenticity.
The aesthetic is beautiful, but the content behind it feels hollow.

[Donald Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than poetry....

In spite of the first selection starting with "Dear woman..", this is a collection of work that anyone, male or female, can benefit by reading.
While it is poetry, free verse versus rhyme, it is also a self-help manual. Poems such as "Don't Validate" are filled with advise for anyone suffering depression, low self esteem, or feelings of inadequacy. The poem, "I Will Do My Best", could be copied and attached to a mirror as a pledge to begin each day.
What I was not expecting, were the feelings expressed in the poem, "When You Left Me". Having been the one leaving this one made me pause.
Perhaps Vasiliu"s most striking poem is the one entitled, "No Pills". In a society were the knee jerk reaction is to medicate, this is a strong message for not.
This work is from the heart of the author and it is her struggles and healing that bring the power to her words.
This one gets five stars.

[Dani Gaillard Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A weak collection of mid- to low-quality poems, marketed to people in dark places desperate for hopeful words.
You can’t just take a flowery, empty quote
And break
It up like this
And call it a poem.
There must be meaning.
Layers.
Deep thoughtfulness.

[Gray Jabaji · Rating 3 out of 5]

this poetry collection was great! there were so many metaphors that were just so *chefs kiss*!! however, this collection was very repetitive and some takes were problematic or just flat out wrong.

[Jordan Torres · Rating 2 out of 5]

there are some really great poems but it is v repetitive. like v repetitive. one poem in particular says something about not needing pills for mental health and mehhhhhh turn off lol 😆

[Monet C · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

so empowering💖

[Mary Pilling · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had so many close minded ideas that made me feel bad about myself. It also was largely based on being religious and believing in a God, which I don’t, so it was not the greatest read. I have it 2 stars because there were parts that I did like. However, it was not enough to outweigh making myself feel bad about myself.

[Kylee Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a religious poem book. It’s okay but gives off the vibes of “just don’t be sad anymore” and “just don’t let them make you sad”. If you like forceful self help then this might be for you. I personally did not find it helpful, supportive, or encouraging. I felt more like I was being bossed into not being sad anymore.

[Diane Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Condesending self help

These poems start out fine then the religious undertone become glaringly obviously while the tones switch from empowering to condesending g at off your ass and help your self. Self healing is not entirely a solo journey as the main theme of this book would have a reader believe.

[Melanie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uplifting and inspiring.

[Evelyn Kenrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn’t the greatest thing in the world, quick read and a couple of really good lines but lots of repetitive cliche stuff. Not life changing but good to know. Loved the poem about pills, and the final poem about writing your book though.

[Joanne Guidoccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first lines, it’s evident that Ms. Vasiliu writes with raw honesty and heartfelt intention. Her collection, composed in free verse, reads like a quiet conversation with the soul. There is a simplicity in her language that belies the emotional depth beneath. At times, it felt like I was reading a distilled self-help guide wrapped in poetic form.

The titles, among them, “No Permission Needed,” “Your Golden Trophy,” “Such Bad Manners,” and “No Pills,” suggest a stripping away of pretense and a return to fundamentals. These poems don’t seek to impress. Instead, they challenge the reader to confront and reconsider long-held beliefs about pain, recovery, and self-worth.

This slim volume can easily be read in a single sitting, but its impact lingers. I found myself pausing often, underlining lines that struck a chord, and marking pages to return to later. It’s a book you’ll want to keep within reach—not just for comfort but as a reminder of how powerful honesty can be.

[Mihaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

great words out together

O book who can be a bridge back to yourself. The words in it are kind reminder to self love… to the silence within that has all the answers and all the healing vibes a heart might need.
What turned me off a little is the words “my friend” in most poems. I just did not feel it as it was probably intended. The repetition of it got to me…
Thank you for sharing these words with us Alexandra.

[Kelly Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful

I found the advice in these poems to be helpful in healing my trauma and for ending my negative triggers. I’ll definitely read this book several more times. I’ve been healing myself my entire life and thanks to the insights in this book I feel I’ve reached the last chapter of my healing and can finally be the best person I can be.

[Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of poems. At times I felt there was a little bit too much “Don’t do this. Don’t do that,” and sometimes it felt a little like I was being ordered around by the words. That being said, there are several that I know I will come back to many times over, namely “It Is Not Wrong.” A worthy book of poems to keep around for times when some healing words are needed.

[ki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really deep and meaningful. The main focus of the book was learning self-love, you don't always need someone else to love yourself and the life you live.
Anyone looking for a poetry book that hits the themes of Inspirational, Love, and Self Reflection this is definitely a great recommendation.

[Gary Browe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Tried to Like It

I really wanted to like this book. It starts out okay but doesn’t really read like poetry. Seems to repeat the same theme over and over. It is preaching and with religious overtones. Every poem has the same structure with no line breaks. No story telling. As a man, it doesn’t speak to me at all.

[August Neeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that this book would have meant much more to me about 5-6 years ago, when I was just beginning to learn how to not be so awful to myself. Most of the advice offered in these pages is advice that I've learned on my own.

[Cat Rahm · Rating 2 out of 5]

redundant

Redundant and irresponsible. No pills? Shouldn’t that be a decision with one’s doctor? This book assumes a lot. There are quotable and inspiring snippets, but overall, I would not call this poetry.