Pull Yourself Together: How to Connect to a Life You Love

by Caroline C. Barney

In a time where we are becoming increasingly disconnected, lonely, and stuck, Pull Yourself Together is an invitation to build lives we love by becoming more deeply connected.

So much of the time, we feel frozen, numb, and unable to move forward. We've lost track of who we are, what we have to give, and the world of possibilities waiting for us. We have let life happen to us, instead of connecting to all that life has for us. How can we stop standing still and bravely reach for more? How can we step into lives that make us feel whole?

Beloved author and speaker Caroline Barney understands this struggle and shares the steps she took to go from being stuck to being empowered, confident, and living a life full of purpose and joy. With sincere vulnerability, honesty, and humor, Caroline takes us on a journey to become connected to:

--Who we truly are - not the labels or roles we play in life and work
--Who we surrounded ourselves with - spending more energy on the people that fill us up and build us up
--What we are designed to do - instead of wasting time and energy living without direction
--A purpose-fueled life that we can step into right now

Caroline's open-hearted and relatable stories reflect what it looks like to be a work in progress, as well as an inspiration for what happens when we believe in the power of being connected. Connected lives are ones to be loved and Caroline shows us exactly how to get there.

178 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2022

About the author

Caroline C. Barney is a bestselling author, inspirational speaker, consultant, and coach. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two daughters and crazy dog. Caroline is a former Advertising Managing Director and EVP and was named top 40 under 40 by AdAge. Today, when Caroline is not writing or wrangling her busy family, she is working with others to help them build lives that are resilient, joy-filled and purpose-driven. She has a passion for helping people build deeper connections into their lives and consults and coaches individuals and organizations to reach for more.@carolinecbarney or Facebook @carolinebarneyauthor

Reviews

[Jordan Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are wondering how to get your life on track, Pull Yourself Together How to Connect to a Life You Love by Caroline Barney has the answer. This is a must-read book for every mom, career woman, sister, daughter and girlfriend that instinctively knows in their heart that something in their life is disconnected. Using thought-provoking questions, personal challenging experiences and heart-felt life stories of family and friends, Caroline Barney guides readers to connect the dots of their lives and create meaning. She stretches how we think about ourselves, the critical first connection. She calls us out on our stuff like putting others' needs before our own even though we buckle under the weight of all the roles and labels. She encourages us to “put guilt out of a job” as she takes off our backpacks filled with self-limiting rocks that we have carried for decades. She replaces them with feather-light dreams, confidence and beliefs in ourselves. You may finish the book full of questions, but they are good questions about what might you create as your authentic self and a new sense of wonder. And if you are a reader that wants to keep learning after finishing the book, you can download a free Pull Yourself Together Journal.

I love that Pull Yourself Together How to Connect to a Life You Love was inspirational about self-development, not preaching about should and must, but rather giving a call to action to willingly and openly link arms with the author. She is one of us and we are in this together. Illustrating through stories she puts life into perspective, like when her child is very sick or she loses her sister-in-law through suicide. Life is not depicted as perfect in Pull Yourself Together. It is real, messy and chaotic like us humans. It is in this reality that the author implores us to be present for others, but keep space for ourselves. To mindfully determine who’s in your tent and who, with their muddy boots, should stay outside. Caroline Barney sets a great role model for us all to pull ourselves together and leave behind the myth that we need a gold star for perfect performance and to hustle to earn that life we love. We are worthy just because we were born to be. Take the first step to love your life with Pull Yourself Together. Highly recommend.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book! I am writing the review as I have just closed the file on the Advanced Reader Copy that I was fortunate to receive. I am telling you that this is a book that will stay with you. I am personally inspired to think about how I can transform my own life after finishing “Pull Yourself Together”. Normally, I would use the author’s last name to write about the book, but for this, I am using “Caroline”, because this author truly brings you into her story with a clear voice that has you feeling that she’s in the room with you and is truly by your side, like a genuine friend. “Pull Yourself Together” captured my attention right away in the introduction that is down to earth, relatable, and funny. As I mentioned, through her style of writing that is honest and vulnerable, you feel that you are in the room with her, connecting with her stories and so effortlessly spilling your own anguish and saying “Me too” out loud over a glass of wine. And she gets it! There is no preachiness in this book, or feelings of the author coming from a higher place than the reader and intimating that they now have this life all figured out. She clearly indicates in this book that she is still very much on the journey and her insights are simply what has transformed her own life. She genuinely hopes what she has learned can help you too. Caroline’s passion comes through clear. She genuinely wants to help inspire others, and that is one of the many reasons that set this book apart from other so-called “self-help” books. Caroline shares personal stories as well as stories from friends. She takes us along on some of the most pivotal moments in her life’s journey thus far with raw heart. This is a book that seeps into your mind and will without a doubt aid you in taking the next step in your life to feel more connected to who you authentically are. “Pull Yourself Together” is inspiring, heartfelt, and filled with unforgettable stories that will strengthen your belief in yourself with a confirmation that we can be so much more when we believe in the “whispers” of our heart and the signs we are bestowed.

Christie Leigh Babirad, Award-Winning Poet of Sapphire Stars: Poems and Author of As the Winds Change

[Suzanne Mattaboni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific, empowering book! Caroline Barney’s voice comes through as strong and expressive, but also as an “everywoman” to whom we can completely relate. The description of how women over burden themselves with tasks and roles hits you right in the heart. Her narrative is sympathetic and genuine, giving us insights into how we can let our true selves emerge and lead us back to a greater sense of happiness. I felt the highs and lows of her experiences right along with her, as she described the trials that led her to a more fulfilling path. This book can help you become more than just a person who’s been labelled and hemmed into a certain model, and grow into a more dimensional and self-determined human being.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever feel stuck?

In Pull Yourself Together, Caroline Barney encourages readers to connect to themselves and others and to ask questions and be honest with yourself. She shares her story of feeling stuck and how she used these steps to empower herself.