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The Garden Within: Where the War with Your Emotions Ends and Your Most Powerful Life Begins
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER Too often we’ve been taught to view our emotions with suspicion, seeing them as something to be suppressed, managed, or mastered. This isn’t true. Emotions are not your enemy. Internal war is not your destiny. You were created to flourish. In this game-changing book, trauma therapist and mental health expert Dr. Anita Phillips reveals how embracing emotion is the key to living your most powerful life. Just as gardens thrive in good ground, the abundant life you’ve been seeking can only be grown in the soil of your heart. Blending faith, the latest discoveries in neurobiology, and her own research and work as a licensed therapist, Dr. Anita shows you how to cultivate a state of emotional well-being that This book will equip you with the tools you need to nurture a part of yourself that has been misunderstood for too long — your heart — setting you free to live just as the Creator intended. AUTHENTIC. FRUITFU L. POWERFUL
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 19, 2023
2080 people are currently reading
7918 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
September 21, 2023
This book is NECESSARY and I love that for Christian’s who have a hard time believing and accepting that therapy is needed and it’s OK Dr. Anita, connects the word of God all throughout the book to emotional well being.
I encourage as you’re reading the book to have a notebook to write things down, journal your inner thoughts and questions, and your own truths so that reading the book is just like a therapy session. The book is very well written, and I enjoyed the fact that it was written, not only by a Christian but by a mental health professional.
A lot of books nowadays that are classified as self-help books and sound good, but the garden within felt just like a one on one counseling session.
I encourage Dr. Anita to develop a workbook that go hand-in-hand with the book, maybe asking questions and encouraging certain exercises reading each part and/or each chapter of the book.
I personally am highlighting making notes and attempting to journal, but I would really love someone who’s skilled and anointed for this to give a guide in order for me to ask the right questions that promote healing the garden within.
I encourage as you’re reading the book to have a notebook to write things down, journal your inner thoughts and questions, and your own truths so that reading the book is just like a therapy session. The book is very well written, and I enjoyed the fact that it was written, not only by a Christian but by a mental health professional.
A lot of books nowadays that are classified as self-help books and sound good, but the garden within felt just like a one on one counseling session.
I encourage Dr. Anita to develop a workbook that go hand-in-hand with the book, maybe asking questions and encouraging certain exercises reading each part and/or each chapter of the book.
I personally am highlighting making notes and attempting to journal, but I would really love someone who’s skilled and anointed for this to give a guide in order for me to ask the right questions that promote healing the garden within.
September 26, 2023
This is a good book. There is a lot here that is useful to anyone despite their religious feelings.
That being said, the description and the blurbs I read did not adequately prepare me for the amount of biblical quotes, and heavy handed connections between nature and christianity.
I'm an omnist earth lover, so I believe in all religions and I love them all. I have studied the Bible. And this was almost too much for me. So I recommend that if you are anything other than a devout christian, that you walk into this book knowing what you are walking into.
That being said: the message and the exercises, are wonderful. I just wish there was a secular version because it would read so many more people if there was, and those who are christians could still enjoy this.
Thank you for allowing me to read this book, free, as an advanced reader copy, from Net Galley. My opinions are entirely my own.
That being said, the description and the blurbs I read did not adequately prepare me for the amount of biblical quotes, and heavy handed connections between nature and christianity.
I'm an omnist earth lover, so I believe in all religions and I love them all. I have studied the Bible. And this was almost too much for me. So I recommend that if you are anything other than a devout christian, that you walk into this book knowing what you are walking into.
That being said: the message and the exercises, are wonderful. I just wish there was a secular version because it would read so many more people if there was, and those who are christians could still enjoy this.
Thank you for allowing me to read this book, free, as an advanced reader copy, from Net Galley. My opinions are entirely my own.
October 27, 2023
*audiobook* will purchase the physical copy
February 25, 2024
Some books you pick up and they prove to you why the written word is a salve. And some books are a reset, rebuke and a revelation, all in one. Some books are so good that you can’t stop thinking about it cuz the words are speaking to your spirit while soothing your soul 🥹.
Dr. Anita Phillips book “The Garden Within” is one such book. This is one of the best things I’ve read in the last 5 years 😭. Forging faith and science, to talk about our hearts, minds and what we need for wholeness, Dr. Anita shows that the divine is seen in the data.
Dr. Anita, I’m so grateful for your obedience in doing the work to put this book out 🙏🏾. It’s shifted me in ways I’m still processing. It broke me open. I’m buying this for some folks I love and I’m forming a temporary book club with my friends just so we can have a joint discussion about it. Thank you for your light, and your work. And @sarahjakesroberts for that fierce foreword. 😭
🗣 Grab this book. And sit somewhere quiet. And grab some tissues. And grab a journal. And just… get your life.
P.S. Also watch her sermons and videos. Whew. I’m obsessed. 🫶🏾
Dr. Anita Phillips book “The Garden Within” is one such book. This is one of the best things I’ve read in the last 5 years 😭. Forging faith and science, to talk about our hearts, minds and what we need for wholeness, Dr. Anita shows that the divine is seen in the data.
Dr. Anita, I’m so grateful for your obedience in doing the work to put this book out 🙏🏾. It’s shifted me in ways I’m still processing. It broke me open. I’m buying this for some folks I love and I’m forming a temporary book club with my friends just so we can have a joint discussion about it. Thank you for your light, and your work. And @sarahjakesroberts for that fierce foreword. 😭
🗣 Grab this book. And sit somewhere quiet. And grab some tissues. And grab a journal. And just… get your life.
P.S. Also watch her sermons and videos. Whew. I’m obsessed. 🫶🏾
April 13, 2024
2.5🌟 There’s some good stuff here. Interesting, and the topic is needed in the church. However there was an extremely large amount of gardening analogies, I was lost half the time because she chose to refer to our “soil” or “water” or “sprout” instead of just saying heart soul or mind.. 😅 I felt some of it was repetitive, and I honestly couldn’t keep up and felt more confusion than understanding. Wasn’t for me.
July 8, 2024
Life-changing content.
September 17, 2024
Really interesting and thought provoking quick-read! The biology aspects were fascinating, and my language and understanding of the intersection of faith and therapy has been broadened. Particularly how she describes faith as a weapon (think armor of God), and therapy as strategy. I did think she read into a few Bible passages moreso than I would. Plus the main purpose of the book is to help you live your most powerful life, and that rubbed me a little wrong. Probably a hazard of all my catechism classes ha. man’s chief end is NOT to live a powerful life amiright. But overall totally worth the read.
February 5, 2025
Fantastic!! Highly recommend 🔥RTC
September 22, 2023
The minute I heard, Dr. Anita speak about embracing the emotions within you, and then advising that she had written a book on the matter, I knew I had to get my hands on this book. It had me agreeing, understanding, crying, sobbing and even at times wailing because finally someone took all that I was feeling for years and gave me some biblical context and exercises to navigate through my vault of emotions and was helping me embrace this vital part of me and not condemning me for it. Thank you, Dr. Anita. The little girl inside this woman thanks you for helping her embrace what has been swept aside and suppressed for far too long. Get your copy today... take a deep breath, release, and begin a healing and deliverance journey of note... Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦
October 28, 2023
One of the best books I’ve read with a biblical perspective along with science and research on mental/emotional/physical health.
October 22, 2024
I loved the garden metaphors - caring for your soul, spirit, and body like caring for a garden. God commanded Adam to take care of the garden, and therefore we are commanded to take care of our internal “garden” as well. She says early on in the book that we often value logic over feelings/emotions, and I’m definitely guilty of that. I am going to work on having a more balanced view.
February 15, 2025
Great book about dealing with emotions and changing your life for the better. Lots of useful information.
December 26, 2023
This author has a unique way of comparing Scripture and our emotions. She relates our emotions to a garden and demonstrates how God has made our bodies to be like a garden, needing good soil, watering and sunshine. She explains how some systems in our body actually look like a plant. She provides practical strategies to help the reader deal with difficult emotions - anger, sadness, frustration. She gives you a lot to ponder and guides you to reading some passages of Scripture with a new perspective.
February 2, 2025
So amazing!! I highly recommend.
January 20, 2024
“Emotions are consistently cast as the opposition in war that never seems to end… but your heart was never meant to be a battlefield. Your heart is a garden.”
This book was EVERYTHING. It’s okay to not be okay .. it’s okay to seek help .. THERAPY IS OKAY! Dr. Anita connects the word of God to emotional well-being through Garden references. The amount of scripture and psychology translated in this book is emotionally and spiritually life changing.
It took me a while to get into everything this gem had to offer. There are some questions and exercises throughout the book so I had to grab me a journal and get into it. But check this .. the whole time I’m reading this book, my Verse of the Day alerts from my bible app encouraged me to keep going.
Alert #1: Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. - 2 Corinthians 9:6 NLT
Alert #2: I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a corp of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ - Hosea 10:12 NLT
Alert #3: it’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. - 1 Corinthians 3:7 NLT
It all just promotes healing of The Garden Within and I know I’ll be reading this one again, and again, and again.
This book was EVERYTHING. It’s okay to not be okay .. it’s okay to seek help .. THERAPY IS OKAY! Dr. Anita connects the word of God to emotional well-being through Garden references. The amount of scripture and psychology translated in this book is emotionally and spiritually life changing.
It took me a while to get into everything this gem had to offer. There are some questions and exercises throughout the book so I had to grab me a journal and get into it. But check this .. the whole time I’m reading this book, my Verse of the Day alerts from my bible app encouraged me to keep going.
Alert #1: Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. - 2 Corinthians 9:6 NLT
Alert #2: I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a corp of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ - Hosea 10:12 NLT
Alert #3: it’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. - 1 Corinthians 3:7 NLT
It all just promotes healing of The Garden Within and I know I’ll be reading this one again, and again, and again.
December 11, 2023
I want to shout the importance of this book from the rooftops. The author was a guest on one of my most listened to podcasts (cheers to you, Annie Downs @ That Sounds Fun!) and just from the preview of the book topic she gave on that podcast, I knew. I knew it would be an incredible marriage of scripture and psychology. I knew it would not be the same thousand-times-regurgitated mental health/self-help jargon I think we're all weary of, but rather real wisdom. I knew it would be crucial to me personally and professionally. It was everything I thought I knew and more. It keenly reminded me of sitting in undergraduate and graduate courses thinking "I feel like I'm getting to see the blueprint God made our brains with." Dr. Anita Phillips took that to a more literal degree by the accompanying visuals and metaphors. I think one of the highest compliments I can give to a book in general (but especially a work on nonfiction) is that as soon as I finished it, I wanted to start at the front cover and read it all again.
October 31, 2024
☆ 4.5 ☆
As a believer of God, and also an energy healer, this book , I feel, is everything that Christians need to read to understand what I do, without the need to criticize me. It puts Scripture With Psychology and Biology, which is incredible! The only reason I can't give it a solid 5 star is it's a little preachy near the end, to the point of that typical Christian Righteousness that turns off so many, and contradicts the rest of the book which is such a shame. I highly suggest every Christian read it, but Non-Believers or people who have been burned , just take note !!
I enjoyed it and it was exactly what I needed to read as I unlearn Shame.
As a believer of God, and also an energy healer, this book , I feel, is everything that Christians need to read to understand what I do, without the need to criticize me. It puts Scripture With Psychology and Biology, which is incredible! The only reason I can't give it a solid 5 star is it's a little preachy near the end, to the point of that typical Christian Righteousness that turns off so many, and contradicts the rest of the book which is such a shame. I highly suggest every Christian read it, but Non-Believers or people who have been burned , just take note !!
I enjoyed it and it was exactly what I needed to read as I unlearn Shame.
January 12, 2024
Not a fan. Too many example stories and felt overly self-help… “do this to feel this.” Also, some things felt pretty contradictory like the metaphor for the garden was your heart but your heart was also the soil. Maybe I just read it wrong, but just not my cup of tea for a book. I’m not sure what I was expecting.
March 4, 2024
I had really high expectations for this book after hearing her speak at a conference. Kinda fell flat for me. There were some nuggets of wisdom. Overall I think she’s better to listen to than read.
June 17, 2025
The author finds parallels of the garden in our created bodies in such a way that it fills you with wonder that we were created so intentionally. Here are a FEW of my take aways: she starts to build her whole premise in the intro with "The Creator designed your heart to be a garden not a war zone. A truly powerful life isn't won. It is cultivated." And here we go! Page 21 she says, "disconnecting from your feelings is not an act of faith; it's an act of avoidance" that stung! Page 119 I will paraphrase because the last paragraph of this chapter is so beautiful. That God makes his home in us and she wonders if he is often times waiting on us to do the same. (Be at home with ourselves) He loves us broken and yet we think he wants perfection. She says it far more eloquently! Oh and then this little gem called "spiritual by passing" where we focus on the spiritual aspect so we can avoid emotional pain. Basically in order to cultivate your internal garden you will need to do the work not just "quit feeling" or get your emotions in check. Follow the emotions to deal with the pain and then heal. Then she compared hope to the trickling spring that waters and all the scriptures that assisted in painting that picture. That's the cultivated life.
February 19, 2025
Didn’t love this. Felt like there was a lot said that didn’t actually say anything - which may been more a factor of everything being related to gardening, which I know nothing about…
I appreciate her heart for the Lord and her love of Scripture, but can’t say I aligned theologically with some of her main points/themes.
I appreciate her heart for the Lord and her love of Scripture, but can’t say I aligned theologically with some of her main points/themes.
May 30, 2025
every Christian needs to read. so well written and so intentionally researched and written . will be rereading and referencing and recommending often lol
September 28, 2024
Garden metaphors abound in biblical text. This author shares how our emotional, relational and spiritual life are akin to a garden as well. Garden metaphors go over very well with me, as I love my garden. The word of God is not just in any Holy Text, it’s evident in creation all around us. Nature is a healer. Uplifting book.
February 20, 2025
This was one of the most interesting combinations of science, psychology, and religion that I've ever read. I found it both incredibly moving while it also fed my logical need to know and understand from a natural/scientific perspective. I already want to read this book again so I can take better notes.
June 16, 2024
I read this book twice, partially because I had to return it before I was able to process my thoughts on it and partially because I loved it so much the first time. The main revelation of this book (an in-depth comparison of our bodies to a garden) is powerful and I’m excited to think about it more and in other contexts.
Anita Phillips was blown away when she saw the visual similarities between neurons and plants during her PhD program. Later, when she read a verse in Romans that said, in effect, that we can learn about God by looking at His creations, she decided to make a life’s work out of learning about the relationship between our thoughts, spirit, body, and mind through studying the creations of God here on the Earth. The parable of the sower, the garden of Eden, and the many references to plant life in the Bible take on new meaning with this perspective.
Here are some of my favorite insights:
- The seeds that fall on the soil of our hearts are the words that we hear (the word of God, compliments, feedback, insults, etc.). This means 1) the words we use are very important and 2) the word seeds we choose to cultivate affect our thoughts and actions.
- “Emotional wellbeing is our capacity and willingness to feel all our feelings.” As someone who doesn’t wear my heart on my sleeve, it makes intuitive sense that true wellbeing consists not of avoidance but of submission. This doesn’t mean we don’t have any effect on what or how we feel, but it does mean that strong-arming your feelings isn’t a sign of emotional health. Our emotional work is more accurately compared to gardening than fighting - the results are whole, beautiful, and take time (sometimes a long time).
- “In the garden we no longer idolize achieving in spite of our pain. We celebrate taking time to heal.” I am a natural struggler - I tend to not have the foresight needed to minimize the struggle and maximize the results of my actions. I believe doing difficult things is a fundamental part of growth in this life. I’m realizing that it’s silly to think that manufactured (or maybe avoidable is a better term) struggle is better than taking the time to consciously heal and prepare (with the caveat that there is something powerful about Peter’s example of diving headfirst into what you know God wants - maybe it’s just a difference in personality?).
My second time through this book, I got caught up (in a negative way) on a few points. I love the analogies she uses, but I got confused trying to keep straight the different emotions, body parts, plant types, and soil types. Because basically everything came in sets of three (heart, mind, body; silt, sand, clay; fear, anger, sadness; relationships, legacy, purpose) I was constantly trying to remember which soil type went with which emotion and which “life zone.” I’m sure reading the physical book would have helped keep those straight better.
I also didn’t agree with her take on the importance of expressing our anger. She said “good” anger comes as a response to someone crossing your personal boundaries (doing something that makes you uncomfortable) but that’s not at all what I learn from Jesus’ life or teachings. Anita espouses the fashionable view that we can’t celebrate anyone who has done something that is particularly bad.
concordance
Anita Phillips was blown away when she saw the visual similarities between neurons and plants during her PhD program. Later, when she read a verse in Romans that said, in effect, that we can learn about God by looking at His creations, she decided to make a life’s work out of learning about the relationship between our thoughts, spirit, body, and mind through studying the creations of God here on the Earth. The parable of the sower, the garden of Eden, and the many references to plant life in the Bible take on new meaning with this perspective.
Here are some of my favorite insights:
- The seeds that fall on the soil of our hearts are the words that we hear (the word of God, compliments, feedback, insults, etc.). This means 1) the words we use are very important and 2) the word seeds we choose to cultivate affect our thoughts and actions.
- “Emotional wellbeing is our capacity and willingness to feel all our feelings.” As someone who doesn’t wear my heart on my sleeve, it makes intuitive sense that true wellbeing consists not of avoidance but of submission. This doesn’t mean we don’t have any effect on what or how we feel, but it does mean that strong-arming your feelings isn’t a sign of emotional health. Our emotional work is more accurately compared to gardening than fighting - the results are whole, beautiful, and take time (sometimes a long time).
- “In the garden we no longer idolize achieving in spite of our pain. We celebrate taking time to heal.” I am a natural struggler - I tend to not have the foresight needed to minimize the struggle and maximize the results of my actions. I believe doing difficult things is a fundamental part of growth in this life. I’m realizing that it’s silly to think that manufactured (or maybe avoidable is a better term) struggle is better than taking the time to consciously heal and prepare (with the caveat that there is something powerful about Peter’s example of diving headfirst into what you know God wants - maybe it’s just a difference in personality?).
My second time through this book, I got caught up (in a negative way) on a few points. I love the analogies she uses, but I got confused trying to keep straight the different emotions, body parts, plant types, and soil types. Because basically everything came in sets of three (heart, mind, body; silt, sand, clay; fear, anger, sadness; relationships, legacy, purpose) I was constantly trying to remember which soil type went with which emotion and which “life zone.” I’m sure reading the physical book would have helped keep those straight better.
I also didn’t agree with her take on the importance of expressing our anger. She said “good” anger comes as a response to someone crossing your personal boundaries (doing something that makes you uncomfortable) but that’s not at all what I learn from Jesus’ life or teachings. Anita espouses the fashionable view that we can’t celebrate anyone who has done something that is particularly bad.
concordance
January 18, 2024
✨ 3.5
👍🏻 I enjoyed how Dr. Phillips was able to show how science/psychology supports Scripture and how they can work together for our health. I also learned more about how embodied we are in our mind + spirit + body + emotions.
👎🏻 I found myself constantly wanting just a little bit “more” — more specific examples or more description of the points she was making. I liked the 3 parts of this book but had a hard time fully tying them all together by the end.
👍🏻 I enjoyed how Dr. Phillips was able to show how science/psychology supports Scripture and how they can work together for our health. I also learned more about how embodied we are in our mind + spirit + body + emotions.
👎🏻 I found myself constantly wanting just a little bit “more” — more specific examples or more description of the points she was making. I liked the 3 parts of this book but had a hard time fully tying them all together by the end.
September 12, 2024
I'm not a Christian, but I do enjoy how the author tied religion and science together
March 27, 2024
An incredible book. This is one of those books that I know for a fact God placed in my path for a reason from the fierce 🔥 foreword to the acknowledgments this book is beautiful. I few things I love most about it. 1. There is a lot of therapy language and excerises in it but it talked about in a way we can all understand. 2. Anita links therapy, our bodies, and emotions to scripture. It’s beautiful and leaves you loving God more AND have a clearer picture of how God intended we view our emotions. I’m definitely going to read this again, slower and with a journal beside me.
January 16, 2025
What an amazing book! I felt like it was packed full of wisdom and insight. It was like a free therapy session! 🙌🏼❤️🩹✨ Loved every bit about this book and highly recommend to everyone I know. Xoxo
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“Healed hearts can quiet troubled minds."
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“You don’t need to overthrow your emotions to experience a revolution in your life. You just need to overthrow the lies you have believed about your emotions. The Creator designed your heart to be a garden, not a war zone. A truly powerful life isn’t won. It’s cultivated.”
•
“Healed hearts can quiet troubled minds."
•
“You don’t need to overthrow your emotions to experience a revolution in your life. You just need to overthrow the lies you have believed about your emotions. The Creator designed your heart to be a garden, not a war zone. A truly powerful life isn’t won. It’s cultivated.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews