Book Review for Words for Self-Confidence by Hollie

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

Words for Self-Confidence, by Hollie Grace, is a poetry book dedicated to positive affirmations designed to help get the reader through the day. True to her name, the author gently reminds the reader that it’s okay to make mistakes and to be human, rather than chase other people’s perceived perfections. From The Tapestry that is Our Lives reminding us of the big picture, to This Will Past helping us weather the storm, Grace shows readers how to rely on themselves and others for their mental and emotional well-being. 

When a mental health professional deals with a crisis, the first thing we ask if whether or not that person has someone to call and if they’re willing to call them. It’s an important part of staying safe, just suicidal thoughts subside and they feel they’re no longer a danger to themselves (or others). As such, I enjoyed how much emphasis Grace puts on communities. This is especially true in the poem, The Potters and the Clay, and how we help shape each other’s lives “to come out on the other side, solid and beautiful.” There’s a lot of homeless in my town, and a lot of churches, medical professionals, and counselors, myself included, work together to ensure that these individuals are safe and protected, just until they get back on their feet. Know that I’m definitely using this poem to remind my colleagues this is why we work together.

Moreover, I enjoyed the therapeutic aspects of the poetry. One of the poems, Oh Simple Pleasures, and the aforementioned This Will Past is straight up mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Grace encourages her audience to be flexible in their thinking and, despite the dark times, to continue to focus on the light. It’s what a lot of therapists try to encourage their clients to do. I can definitely see this book in a substance misuse counseling setting, as well as a domestic violence shelter, where the residents are in desperate need of encouragement and support. 

As such, I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

If any of you need assistance on how to write a safety plan, click here. 

If any of you need hotline numbers (for crises, like someone wants to hurt themselves or others), click here.