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A Work in Progress: Embracing the Life God Gave You
Do you feel adrift, unsure of your future and purpose? You aren’t The pressures and lack of connection in modern life leave many young adults struggling. It’s time to rediscover who you are and where you’re going! Using psychological research, engaging real-life examples, and discussing the truths of the Catholic Faith, author and therapist Julia Marie Hogan shows in A Work in Embracing the Life God Gave You how to reclaim your sense of direction and purpose in life. By identifying priorities, making empowering decisions, setting boundaries, practicing self-care, knowing your limits, and embracing commitment (rather than being afraid of it) you can find your path to fulfillment. Becoming an adult is more than just balancing your work and personal life, navigating friendships beyond college, or managing your money. It’s about rediscovering your identity in Christ and taking an active role in the direction of your life. When we lean into our responsibilities, remembering that we are still a work in progress, we can cultivate the conditions in which God will transform us. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julia Marie Hogan is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Chicago. She completed her master’s in clinical psychology at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences in Arlington, Virginia. In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, she leads workshops and writes on topics related to self-care, relationships, and mental health. She is passionate about empowering individuals to be their most authentic selves.
- GenresReligionNonfiction
144 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2022
1 person is currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Julia Marie Hogan-Werner, LCPC
2 books6 followersJulia Hogan-Werner is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Chicago and owner of Vita Optimum Counseling & Consulting, LLC. She attended the Institute for the Psychological Sciences for her graduate degree and has spoken at Deloitte, Notre Dame University, and Metro Achievement Center for Girls. She leads workshops and writes on topics related to self-care, relationships and mental health. Her book, It's Ok to Start with You is all about the power of embracing your authentic self through self-care. Her second book, A Work in Progress: Embracing the Life God Gave You, will be published in March 2022. She is passionate about empowering individuals to be their most authentic selves. You can find more of her work online at juliamariehogan.com.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 3, 2025
3.8 ⭐ I would recommend it for teens/young adults or anyone going through challenging life transitions who feel like they are lacking direction. Ironically this was on my "work in progress" reading shelf for awhile but I'm glad I finished it! This is a very light read, I only wish the author went more in depth in some areas
March 26, 2022
Work In Progress: Embracing the Life God Gave You presents succinctly and diversely the struggles facing many young or middle-aged adults today.
Hogan opens with the question “Who Are You?” to introduce the issues faced in the United States or Western culture in reaching that elusive stage of adulthood and having the life we desire, a life filled with authenticity and purpose. She explains, most of us do not know who we are or what we value. We might have a sense of what we value, but all too often the circumstances of life overwhelm us and we cannot order our priorities accordingly.
But, she says, when our priorities are determined by our values and we have a sense of who we are grounded in the truth, then our life will begin to take the shape of the life we envision, filled with meaning and purpose. And this is the key to happiness.
Subsequent chapters address core issues that prevent us from attaining that life or state of flourishing.
Challenge Expectations
Identifying Your Priorities
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Establishing Healthy Boundaries
Self-Care Comes First
Owning Your Worth
Real-World Challenges to Living Authentically
Play to Your Strengths
Each chapter follows with reflection questions to help the reader explore this area and action items to take steps in the right direction.
As the title suggests, we are “Works in Progress,” a concept so simple and so helpful it's unbelievable. The concepts, meaty, long-accepted and understood concepts in cognitive behavioral therapy, backed with scientific research, grounded in a sound Catholic theology and anthropology, are presented with the ease of someone who has spent many hours teaching these same concepts in person to clients she sees.
This is the strength of the book. Its ideal reader is for adults in all stages, both those learning the core matter of being an adult and those who need to revisit some of its lessons.
There are two strains of thinking can take when we get together with some of the “false friends” Hogan identifies: going with the flow and never really feeling in control or trying to control everything (the perfectionist falls into the latter). I appreciate that she keeps this in view throughout. Each chapter ends with reflection questions and action items. At the end of the book are group discussion questions.
Because she addresses these two paths and the broad, often hidden, spread of ideas that feed into them, while still staying on point of addressing the central concern of how to achieve a meaningful life, this is a book for everyone.
The language is approachable; the concepts are digestible. It is, to be quite frank, a remarkable book, one I will be recommending and revisiting for years to come.
Hogan opens with the question “Who Are You?” to introduce the issues faced in the United States or Western culture in reaching that elusive stage of adulthood and having the life we desire, a life filled with authenticity and purpose. She explains, most of us do not know who we are or what we value. We might have a sense of what we value, but all too often the circumstances of life overwhelm us and we cannot order our priorities accordingly.
But, she says, when our priorities are determined by our values and we have a sense of who we are grounded in the truth, then our life will begin to take the shape of the life we envision, filled with meaning and purpose. And this is the key to happiness.
Subsequent chapters address core issues that prevent us from attaining that life or state of flourishing.
Challenge Expectations
Identifying Your Priorities
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Establishing Healthy Boundaries
Self-Care Comes First
Owning Your Worth
Real-World Challenges to Living Authentically
Play to Your Strengths
Each chapter follows with reflection questions to help the reader explore this area and action items to take steps in the right direction.
As the title suggests, we are “Works in Progress,” a concept so simple and so helpful it's unbelievable. The concepts, meaty, long-accepted and understood concepts in cognitive behavioral therapy, backed with scientific research, grounded in a sound Catholic theology and anthropology, are presented with the ease of someone who has spent many hours teaching these same concepts in person to clients she sees.
This is the strength of the book. Its ideal reader is for adults in all stages, both those learning the core matter of being an adult and those who need to revisit some of its lessons.
There are two strains of thinking can take when we get together with some of the “false friends” Hogan identifies: going with the flow and never really feeling in control or trying to control everything (the perfectionist falls into the latter). I appreciate that she keeps this in view throughout. Each chapter ends with reflection questions and action items. At the end of the book are group discussion questions.
Because she addresses these two paths and the broad, often hidden, spread of ideas that feed into them, while still staying on point of addressing the central concern of how to achieve a meaningful life, this is a book for everyone.
The language is approachable; the concepts are digestible. It is, to be quite frank, a remarkable book, one I will be recommending and revisiting for years to come.
December 25, 2022
Pretty good book for those with Catholic/Christian faith wanting to be more authentic and strengthen their devotion to God with themselves. The book goes through different subjects about how you view yourself, why you view yourself in that way and where those beliefs may have derived from. (i.e. self worth, priorities, expectations, etc.) Afterwords it will give you guidance on how to proceed, there are alot of introspective questions throughout the book so I'd recommend having a notebook to write out answers. It'll help you organize your thoughts.
I personally reccomend this for beginners in self help books, those struggling with identity, or those trying to get back in touch with their faith with some guidance.
My favorite qoute from the book: "Before you were born, God knew you and loved you. And the very fact that you exist means that you are loved by God. This has nothing to do with where you are in life. Another way of saying it: Because God loves you, you exist. You matter. God wanted you to exist, and so you were loved into existence. It's that simple."
Obvious information to most Christians but as someone who's struggled with identity, self worth, and has (yes, medically diagnosed) depression those words where impactful and relieved much anxiety I didn't even know I held.
10/10 book, take this as your sign to read it.
I personally reccomend this for beginners in self help books, those struggling with identity, or those trying to get back in touch with their faith with some guidance.
My favorite qoute from the book: "Before you were born, God knew you and loved you. And the very fact that you exist means that you are loved by God. This has nothing to do with where you are in life. Another way of saying it: Because God loves you, you exist. You matter. God wanted you to exist, and so you were loved into existence. It's that simple."
Obvious information to most Christians but as someone who's struggled with identity, self worth, and has (yes, medically diagnosed) depression those words where impactful and relieved much anxiety I didn't even know I held.
10/10 book, take this as your sign to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2022
Lieutenant Nurse Kellye: Rigatoni? Doctor, I'm part Chinese and part Hawaiian. Can you put that in ethnic measurements I can understand?
Captain Hawkeye Pierce: A small egg roll.
Lieutenant Nurse Kelly: THAT I understand. We don't have anything that big.
-M*A*SH, Season Eight, episode 11 Life Time.
This great piece of dialogue from M*A*S*H sums up this book for me. This book put terms such as "boundaries" in a Catholic context that I can understand. While I know even St. Teresa believed in breaks and self-care for the sisters in her order, it is sometimes hard to understand what that means when you are trying to live out your life where serving and pouring yourself out for others is supposed to be the norm. The majority of this book covered topics where I already came up with the answers that the author provided, which means this books was more of a confirmation that I am heading in the right direction even I do not always completely follow it. This book is one of the few books that I would like to own to fall back on when I need it.
Verdict: I highly recommend this book!
Captain Hawkeye Pierce: A small egg roll.
Lieutenant Nurse Kelly: THAT I understand. We don't have anything that big.
-M*A*SH, Season Eight, episode 11 Life Time.
This great piece of dialogue from M*A*S*H sums up this book for me. This book put terms such as "boundaries" in a Catholic context that I can understand. While I know even St. Teresa believed in breaks and self-care for the sisters in her order, it is sometimes hard to understand what that means when you are trying to live out your life where serving and pouring yourself out for others is supposed to be the norm. The majority of this book covered topics where I already came up with the answers that the author provided, which means this books was more of a confirmation that I am heading in the right direction even I do not always completely follow it. This book is one of the few books that I would like to own to fall back on when I need it.
Verdict: I highly recommend this book!
January 10, 2023
If you are a catholic and struggling to find purpuse in your day to day routine, you have to read this book. It gave me a lot of tools and clarity with very beautiful spiritual messages. I just loved it. Thank you Julia Marie.
May 31, 2024
dnf. this would be a good self help book for someone but it isn’t what i was looking for.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews