We all have insecurities—quirks that preoccupy our minds and convince us we aren’t good enough. We worry too much, argue too much, talk too much… or not enough. We fight who we are and beg God to make us different. But what if God
I do not typically enjoy Christian-based self-help books but I really recommend this one. It is not preachy or showy, nor does it condemn you for faults. It is uplifting and it shows you how to see your quirks as strengths, not weaknesses. It gives you actual honest-to-goodness tools to creating a life that benefits from your quirks instead of in spite of them. There are passages from the Bible included as references for Wallin's statements and explanations. I found the book to be very quotable and have saved these as references for later. Example:
"Thought of one way, full thinking (aka overthinking) is a hurtful quality; thought of from God's viewpoint, it's a gift that helps others understand more about God, the world, and themselves."
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Calling All Weirdos and Those With Quirks: This is the book for you!
Unsure if you are? Then ask yourself... Do you talk too much? Have so many ideas, but never start them? Struggle with perfectionism? If you have said yes to these any of these three, then you are "weird", but in the most beautiful sense you may never have thought possible.
We all have a quirk to us in one way or another- and some of us struggle with them. I'm weird and have so many odd quirks I can't even begin to name them all. I've struggled with them too.
Why Your Weirdness is Wonderful is broken into seven parts containing five chapters each. Laurie doesn't have a formula to embrace your quirks, but relays to readers this is the way God has made us. We need to relish in this truth, not fight against it. These oddities our in fact our strengths. Laurie is relatable and funny when she talks about the quirks of her own. It is a relief to me she wrote this book and that I can relate to it because honestly, I do not know anyone who is as weird as I am.
This book was great. Laurie Wallin reinforces to readers, who struggle with weirdnesses, that God made them this way and they shouldn't be shameful. In one of the first chapters Laurie jumps right into scripture to point out, "You and I were created in the image of God. And God says our design is 'supremely good'." This isn't the first time I have read I am created in God's imagine, but I feel Laurie explained in a way that I finally got it. If I got it, I have a feeling some of you readers will too! If you don't, I'm sure you will be able to glean something from this book.
Thank you Laurie for your humility and reminder of the beauty that is in God because our quirkiness is beautiful to Him.
I like this book. Who doesn't have quirky personality traits? And to think that they are actually part of my personality, my uniqueness by God's design, well, I really like that. Wallin has helped me to understand that God will use those quirks to His glory. She also helped me identify false quirks, those I may have taken on because of pain. She helped tell the difference between quirks and weaknesses. I am also more willing to accept the quirkiness of others. There is lots to this book. Certainly worth a read to understand yourself and others better. See my full review at http://bit.ly/1fL3z1y. I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this independent and honest review.
Love this book! Author is straightforward, honest and right on the mark. Great thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. This would be great for a small group!
I love the premise of this book — that both our strengths AND our weaknesses are God-ordained gifts that grant us a particular way of going through the world. However, this book didn't do it for me. Overall, it felt very disjointed, like the author was trying to come up with another anecdote to make it longer. And I am never a fan of proof-texting the Bible, which she does quite a lot. There were a couple of good nuggets hidden in the pages, but in general I would not recommend this book. I finished it only because I am reading it in a group.
What makes us unique from others may seem weird to us but God may want to work through those quirks. Laurie Wallin, a Life Coach, writer and speaker, focuses on helping people discover what make them different from other people and embrace their "weirdness" in her book Why Your Weirdness is Wonderful. She talks about how strengths have a dark side as well and people have to be aware of them to better serve God with the strengths He has given them.
This book is a fairly short read with short chapters. There are questions at the end of each chapter to get the reader thinking and discovering their strengths but also how they can use them. I liked that Wallin used examples from her life as well as from the lives of people she knows as it gives something for the reader to hold onto and helps explain what Wallin is trying to say.
I found the book is a little forgettable as it’s not that different from other strength finder/spiritual gifts books out there. I finished the book yesterday and I found that I remember the overall message Wallin was trying to get across but I forgot many of the finer details as well as some of the things she was wanting me to put into practice. However, I did enjoy that she used the words "weirdness" and "quirkiness" because it seemed like something I could relate to more. It also acknowledged that some of my strengths might be what I would consider weird in myself.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend the book for those who see their weirdness as weaknesses. With the wording Wallin uses, it could really appeal to people who think of themselves as weird and struggle seeing their strengths.
“When we make the shift from thinking our quirks, tendencies, and styles are bad and start to see that good or bad rests only in how we use those attributes, abundant life begins.”
In “Why Your Weirdness Is Wonderful,” Laurie Wallin offers a practical look at our individual quirks, and suggests that those quirks can actually be of good use in God’s kingdom.
We often look at our quirks as flaws, things we have to correct or overcome. Laurie helps the reader understand the way they’re wired, recognize the unhealthy or negative things they do, and redirect that energy toward something that honors God.
I appreciate Laurie revealing some of her own personal quirks, especially one that many of us deal with from time to time: Worry. She provides plenty of solid, biblical advice about dealing with worry and shared her personal testimony of how worry actually became a tool that helps her live in her strengths.
The author/publisher provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Just loved this book as it starts off with " embrace your quirks, love your strengths", what a brilliant opening for a book. Its a gem, touching on the offbeat, off the wall and very quirky, smacks in part of religious overtures but it is about finding yourself, love and liking yourself, quirks and all. The author embarks on a spiritual journey at the same time fining out the oddities about herself are part and parcel of her persona.