The review of this personal development book and the links included in this blog post are not ads or affiliate links. These books have simply changed my life, and it’s an honor to share them with you.
“You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by the hilariously witty and insightful Jen Sincero was one of the earliest personal development books I read. It was also the book that made personal development “click” for me. The book resonated with me on a deep level, and it has inspired me to continue my journey of personal growth. If you want to get out of your own way and level up, this is the book for you.
In fact, I consider “You Are a Badass” as one of my “holy trinity” of personal development books, alongside Alisa Vitti’s “Woman Code” (the book EVERY woman, in my opinion, should read) and Ramit Sethi’s “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” (an excellent beginner’s guide to financial literacy).
I recently finished reading “You Are a Badass” for the third time. It’s a staple that you can come back to again and again when you’re going through a tough time. It builds you up and gives you the tools you need to stay centered, believe in yourself, and work toward your goals with an attitude of gratitude.
Read on to learn the top reasons I love “You Are a Badass.”
Why I Love It
Why I Love “You Are a Badass”
- Jen isn’t just a side-splitting funny, New York Times bestselling author. She’s authentic, and boy, does she have some great stories to tell. Her anecdotes make the lessons in the book memorable. When I’m having a tough day, I just remember Loincloth Man or her Polish beer garden story, have a good laugh, and remind myself that we live in a world of abundance.
- She’s distilled important wisdom into easy-to-grasp concepts and exercises. These are ideas that you can start applying immediately. When your mindset shifts, the entire world begins opening up to you, and it happens fast.
- Gratitude and faith, in yourself and the universe, are critical themes of this personal development book. I can’t stress enough the importance of being thankful not only for what you already have, but for the good things inevitably coming your way. Having faith in “the not yet seen,” as Jen describes it, and faith in the goodness and abundance of the universe, have been life-changing for me. Leaning into the belief that everything will turn out alright and that the universe has your back can deliver an overwhelming sense of peace. It also gives you energy to go after your higher purpose. Jen’s focus on gratitude is what has inspired my own daily gratitude journaling practice.
- Letting go of limiting beliefs is central to the book. Jen does an excellent job of explaining why we have these beliefs in the first place, why they hold us back, and what to do about them. No matter how much personal development you do, if you don’t address these limiting beliefs first, you’re going to find yourself running on the same hamster wheel forever. I was definitely in that place before I found “You Are a Badass.” Now, when I feel stuck, I reflect on what limiting beliefs might be sucking me down like quicksand, and it’s so much easier to pull myself out of that place and move on.
- The book is an excellent reminder that we should live with purpose, yes, but also with joy. We’re hardwired to focus on the negatives in our life, but there are so many beautiful miracles — big and small — that are important to celebrate and honor. When we focus on joy and serving others and living an abundant, sometimes messy, life, we inherently become more aligned with our higher purpose. If we’re not bringing fun into our days and sharing that fun with the people we love, then it’s time to take a step back, reassess, and try something new.
Favorite Quote
As a recovering perfectionist who still gets stuck in “research mode” rather than “doing mode,” this quote really lit a fire under me:
“Instead of wasting hours and days and years trying to figure out your perfect next move, just DO something already. … Get out of your head and take action. You don’t have to know exactly where it’s going to take you, you just need to start with one thing that feels right and keep following right-feeling things and see where they lead. Most answers reveal themselves through doing, not thinking.”
—Excerpt from “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero
If you’ve been procrastinating on a big life goal, Jen’s message is an effective wake up call. She also gives you the tools to take that first step, make that first sale, sign up for that program, or write the first sentence.
More Personal Development Book Goodness
Thankfully, the lessons don’t stop with “You Are a Badass.” Jen is also the author of “You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth,” “You Are a Badass Every Day: How to Keep Your Motivation Strong, Your Vibe High, and Your Quest for Transformation Unstoppable” and “Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick.”
I found “You Are a Badass at Making Money” to be another excellent read, and her other pieces are on my extensive personal development book “to read” list.
If you’ve never picked up a personal development book before and don’t know where to start, I highly recommend “You Are a Badass.” The book, and Jen’s website www.JenSincero.com, also include further resources.
Have you read “You Are a Badass”? What’s your favorite personal development book? Tell us in the comments!
