I’ll Start Again Tomorrow: And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself

by Sonia Jhas

It's time to get clear on what you really want.

"This time I will not give up! I'll work out every day. I'll eat super clean. I'm totally ready to be my best self," you tell yourself.

You're inspired. You start. You're convinced that this time will be different. But then someone brings a box of donuts to your meeting. The familiar angst and negative narrative begin to take over, and before you know it, you're reaching for a donut (and hating yourself for it). "It's okay," you whisper to yourself. "I'll start again tomorrow."

If this sounds all too familiar, don't worry, you're not alone. Mindset and wellness expert Sonia Jhas has been there, and she understands how hard it can be to break the on-again-off-again cycle. In I'll Start Again Tomorrow, Jhas shows you how to overcome the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that are preventing you from conquering your wellness goals. Serving up tough love, inspiring personal stories, wellness insights, and piercing questions, Jhas guides you through the difficult and joyful journey of self-discovery to help you finally get unstuck.

If you keep falling off the wagon, it's time to find a different mode of transportation. This empowering read will help you embrace a new approach to your wellness journey—and your life!

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Audiobook

210 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2023

Reviews

[Katherine]

I don't want to offer a star rating because I realize this book was just not for me (and truthfully I knew that going in), but I do think there's some outdated thoughts about caloric intake that could be harmful. She does offer a few good ideas about mindset and basic habit research, but I honestly would recommend something more along the lines of Atomic Habits byJames Clear if anyone is interested in that line of things.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good advice but the tone/voice wasn’t for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it rather than listened to it.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Award-winning mindset and wellness expert Sonia Jhas delivers an empowering mindset manifesto for achieving happiness and wellness in her self-help book, “I’ll Start Again Tomorrow: And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself.”

Sonia was raised by strict Indian parents, following all the “ticky marks”—the Indian standard principles her parents expected from her—until realization took over, shifting her perspective that the principles she grew up with no longer served her. That’s when the transformation began, resulting in her boldly choosing the unknown—herself.

Enlivened by Sonia’s anecdotes, this book reveals her struggles, journeying from self-sabotaging and self-hate to self-love and self-discovery. Herein, she wisely tackled how the #hashtag world influences people, driving them to follow society’s norm instead of finding and pursuing their authentic dreams. The #hashtag world is deceiving, showing perfection; thus, Sonia remarks to stop chasing a version of perfectionism normally seen on social media and instead find authenticity and beauty in the struggle of real life.

Like any thinker and philosopher, Sonia reminds us again that happiness begins today and that it is a practice rather than a state of being. She suggests choosing progress over perfection and finding joy in the process. It is when “Sonia explored her values, dissected her limiting beliefs, abandoned the pursuit of perfection, and found change, evolution, and progress in her life.” She became the driver of her life, free from the noise of the outside world.

Sonia’s teachings on self-celebration in every progress, calorie cycling for diet, performance goals for strength, and taking a break are among the many things that resonate with me. These ideas, though simple to hear, require practice, dedication, and commitment to fully live them, which Sonia applied and changed her life tremendously.

Each tidy chapter ends with pondering questions and reminders in summary form. Sonia teaches us to let go of the limiting beliefs that hinder success and cultivate the new beliefs she introduced in this book that draw life progress. Each title is purpose-driven; it challenges readers to act rather than just have a visual impact. Throughout, the text hit me hard. I agree with Sonia’s past inner dialogue, which she threw off, and now she possesses a new mindset that aligns with her values, which are recommendable to adopt. Sonia lives with purpose and walks on the road less traveled. She made a difference, motivating the hopeless to redirection—this book is proof.

Explicit language emphasizes Sonia’s writing, expressing expletive words to its target with direct intention—to educate straightaway. Her motivational words shake readers to unstuck and continue a journey that no longer feels soul-sucking. A substantial portion of Sonia's book emphasizes the importance of gaining wellness and creating happiness. However, discussions of perfectionism have been more stretched out, making it somewhat redundant; thus, I remove a star from this superfluity.

The author’s personal stories, showing honesty and vulnerability, are manifesting, even holding enough attention throughout. Sonia Jhas’ intelligible book, “I’ll Start Again Tomorrow: And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself,” inspired me to become the best version of myself, letting go of the old patterns that make me stagnant and starting anew, embracing the new beliefs that matter to me. Sonia’s assertions with clarity and pure honesty expose a strong persuasive power that challenges readers to act to become who they really are.

With vigorous prose, the book is relatable to anyone who feels pressured by culture and family expectations. This progress-driven book offers comfort to individuals who are unhappy with their current situation and desire change. Sonia’s journey testifies that we, too, can live happy and healthy lives in alignment with our values and priorities.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book drew me in and I did not expect a book to call me out on so many lies I've told myself regarding eating right, loving my body, taking good care of myself and appreciating the small wins instead of beating myself for not getting it right the first time.
This book came at me hard. I needed the chapter 7, 8 and 12 talk because I have downloaded the 30 day fitness app every time and never gone beyond the one week exercises without uninstalling it to make room for music!
In chapter 7, she says this about perfectionism "The great irony of perfectionism is that while it's characterized by an intense drive to succeed, it's actually propelled by the total fear of failure." That phrase alone was enough for me to stop accepting or stating that I am one- and now I find myself reflecting on why I wanted to work out- and at the top of that list was to have flat abs, and just that. I love that she goes on to advocate and emphasize progress over perfection because it is the one thing most people overlook in any journey of growth and wellness.
This book grows on you, and it is true that the author shows you how to overcome the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that are preventing you from conquering your wellness goals. However, she takes time to unpack it all, so that by the time you are in chapter 8 and after, you have been building up the guts to follow through on the suggestions she's sharing.
The end of each chapter comes with two key things: reflect and remember- so it's easier to take note of things to work on.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC. I feel that this is the book I'd recommend as a personal companion to anyone on a wellness journey.

[Markie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Michael Todd offers a transformational message of hope and healing in his book, Damaged but Not Destroyed. Drawing from his own personal struggles and triumphs, Pastor Mike provides valuable insights and practical tools to help you navigate the damage you've experienced in life and receive God's healing.

Through transparent storytelling, Pastor Mike shares his own journey of overcoming sexual trauma, poor choices, generational struggles, and misguided coping mechanisms. He sheds light on how these experiences can impact our lives and drive our decisions. By exploring the biblical story of King David and Mephiboseth, Pastor Mike reveals that no matter what mistakes we've made or pain we've endured, we are not unworthy of God's love and calling.

Damaged but Not Destroyed equips you with essential tools to:
- Identify the ways in which damage has affected your life
- Bring your pain into the presence of God for healing
- Embrace your true identity as seen by God
- Understand that healing is a continuous process rather than striving for perfection
- Experience the transformative power of God's healing in your life

This empowering book will guide you on a journey to break free from the chains of your past, step boldly into a future filled with purpose, and embrace the truth that you are uniquely crafted with love by the Creator Himself.

For me personally, reading this book was an enlightening experience that resonated deeply. It is a powerful resource that I will turn to time and time again on my own healing journey.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for a review!

"I'll Start Again Tomorrow" by Sonia Jhas is a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the first eight chapters, which provided helpful insights on healthy habits and self-care. However, the book took a turn in chapter nine when the discussion of calories and weight loss began to heavily promote diet and fit culture, without addressing body positivity in a way that I would have hoped for. As someone who is passionate about embracing body diversity and acceptance, I found this disappointing. Overall, while the book did have some helpful tips, the focus on weight loss and diet culture detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. Three stars.

[P.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In I'll Start Again Tomorrow, Sonia Jhas acknowledges that many of us will tell ourselves that we're just giving up on our goals and starting again tomorrow (or next week/month/year/etc). She goes through how she managed to get over this mindset and let go of perfectionism...mostly.

Each chapter ends with a reflect and remember, which was a nice way to summarize what you should be taking from the chapter. While the book does have some decent ideas, I didn't think it was groundbreaking. I listened to the audiobook and also had a REALLY hard time with a couple of things: 1) I did listen at 1.2 speed, but she sounded like a Valley girl which I found distracting 2) the amount of times "hashtag world" was referenced was enough to make me stop taking her seriously.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A body you love is not worth a life you hate”
I had to let that one marinate it is so good! This book was a pleasant surprise that touched on the mental and physical aspects of body image, happiness, and life in general. Sonia Jhas does a good job of being very relatable to the reader while also making it clear that there is work involved to achieve goals. There were several ideas that stuck out and led to self reflection that made this book resonate more than other similar reads. It did seem slightly repetitive at times, but overall I would recommend this book to someone looking for a deep dive into themselves. #IllStartAgainTomorrow #NetGalley

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like having a conversation with a friend who keeps it real with you and genuinely wants what's best for you. Sonia definitely speaks to millennials and Gen Z with a lot of focus on current diet culture in social media aspects which I appreciated. She helps target and identify your core values which could help you break the constant self-hate, quick-fix cycle that diet culture has on you and uses her real life experiences to help you navigate your own realistic goals to having a healthy mindset and relationship with your body.

[Ashley Picard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book to read and review.

This book had many high points. In an effort to reach a younger audience it felt like I was bashed over the head with “hashtag” culture.

This book feels more like a pep talk from a friend, rather than the traditional stuffy self help material available.

Overall a quick to consume book with lots of nuggets I’ve highlighted to look back to.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This non-fiction, self-help book was interesting but I am certainly not the target audience.

Pros: Personal anecdotes to illustrate topics; Workbook activities at the end of chapters

Cons: To much focus on social media (this might be a plus for a younger audience); not enough concrete suggestions to change behavior

I can see the value of this books and I would be willing to recommend this to struggling Gen Z kids but it was not for me.

[Alyssa Theile · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first listen on Spotify. I am not sure this book was for me. I just did not find many things I could relate with. She discussed ways to find joy in the day to day and get away from the many lies we tell ourselves daily. I did enjoy her point of view on the pressure of her culture/age/society to settle down. I think this book would be great for someone that is really focused on their body image.

[KimmyB Fitness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just what I needed right now. As somebody that is currently recovering from eating disorders that I have lived with my entire life, this gave me the support that I needed.

At times, I felt like I was listening to my own story, which made it an emotional read. It gave me the support and guidance that I read right now, and I would recommend it to anybody that has struggled with body image, or their relationship with food and exercise.

[Jassmin Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way she explained negative self talk definitely shed light on the tendencies that woman have that hinder them. I did enjoy her explanation of under eating and how that can effect metabolism. It was plenty of food for thought, but also did leave me with more questions. I think this book works best if you do the workbook suggestions, which I didn’t do, but plan to. It really engages the reader to dig deep and offers several different plans for different lifestyles.

[P S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated how practical this book was. I usually expect books about mindset to be full of platitudes or generic advice, but I really found that I connected with the stories and ideas in this book. It flowed well and by the time I got to the later chapters, I was ready to look at my wellness journey with more more clarity and intention.

[Megan Bey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book title, I’ll Start Again Tomorrow, had definitely become my life motto. I enjoyed the tools this book provided as well as the authors personal stories. I’ve implemented some practices I learned from this book and am already seeing a positive reflect.

Thank you, Netgalley and Page Two Press, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Emma B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of the book really drew me in. I was excited to learn about ways to stick with your goals and formulate a routine. This ended up being very surface level for me, and surrounding your physical appearance and social media. She kept referring to social media as the # world and that annoyed me.

[chamomile_court · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked all of the advice in this book, but a lot of it are topics I've already talked about before and am learning to practice today. I felt like some chapters repeated a lot of advice, but it was said in different ways. This book was a good reminder anyway, and I really enjoyed the audiobook version.

[Sierrah Shady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a book that I could "mindlessly" listen to while playing a game. I came across this book and thought that the name was intriguing. It definitely resonated with me. Many lies that the author has told herself, I have found myself telling myself as well. It is a good reminder.

"A body you love is not worth a life you hate."

[Sam Bartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason I thought this book would be more about habits and less about diets, but overall it was like chatting with a friend who recently lost a lot of weight and wants to tell you how to do that too. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

[Nancy Pagliocca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like having a coffee with your honest and wise best friend who calls you on your sh*t and has your best interests in mind. You go deep into your own world, trying to understand why you think and act the way you do and, most importantly, where you’re lying to yourself. But all in a good way. Jhas sends you deep into your own mind and then pulls you back with tangible goal setting and planning. Definitely a book I plan to use as a tool for myself to go back to throughout the course of my life.

[Payel Sarkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how this book presented a step-by-step strategy for attaining true personal clarity and shifting your perspective. It was also written with a really warm, relatable spirit, which served to make the ideas more accessible.

[Raihan Sarkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! It addresses a subject that many of us have faced, but from a novel angle! The author conveys her amazing technique in an approachable and kind manner! I would absolutely recommend it!

[Susmita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best companion and accountability partner that we all require while embarking on any journey. Certainly, this is a health and wellness book, but the material goes beyond that. If you simply want a book that speaks to your soul, this is the book for you. Highy recommend!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different and interesting self-help book. Instead of being a diet plan, it is a guide to remember to be kind to yourself and to take everything in your life in stride. The author uses her experience to help guide others into not making the same mistakes she did.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I truly enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would going into it. The author gives real advice and not just fluff that you can find anywhere. I related to so many idea's through out the book that this is a re read for me in this upcoming new year also.

[Rikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most encouraging and relatable books I’ve ever read. The author Sonia’s storytelling and tangible takeaways made this a MUST READ!

[Ekemini Darby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was fantastic; it was so full of passion.

[Saiful Islam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title is straightforward. It gets to to the point and makes an impact.

[Dk Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, I was captivated.