This is by far the greatest book I have ever bought for myself and trust me when I tell you, I have a lot of books. As Stasi says, Take your time going through this. You are worth it!! Turn your phone off, lock a door or spend time in a quite chapel. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you. The prayers Stasi has written are beautiful. They help you to let your guard down and allow Jesus & the Holy Spirit to work in your heart. I read awhile then ponder my own life and relationships then pray about it. I repeat this process until "my time" comes to an end. I try to spend at least 1 hour every evening. Two to three hours is wonderful. It's like a mini retreat just for me. I would love to meet Stasi to give her a big hug & say Thank You. It's wonderful to know other women have had the same struggles I have had and still do have. Healing & Liberating are the best words I can think of to describe this book. There is no question that "Becoming Myself" is a must read for all women. Thank you Stasi & God Bless You for all you went through to bring so many women this healing experience.

Reading "Becoming Myself" is like having coffee with a dear friend who understands you and loves you anyway! Stasi has an amazing way of helping us see ourselves as God sees us, flaws and all! She then brings us to a place where we can begin to understand that God already knows how messed up we all are. He understands our hurts and wants us to turn to Him for help navigating through all the mess! And when we do? WOW! That's were the healing begins! And it is liberating!

Drawing from her own weight loss battles, author Stasi Eldredge describes the struggle for lasting change in her new book, "Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You."

Eldredge reminds readers that transformation is a process God uses to "heal our inner world so He can transform our outer world." She also says God is "in the business of setting us free, making each of us into the woman He always wanted us to be. The woman we always wanted to be."

As she leads readers through a variety of issues like looking at your past through the eyes of mercy, our mothers' effects on us, and friendships, Eldredge seeks to help readers let go of shame and self-discipline since neither are agents of change. She says, "God isn't waiting for me to get my act together in order to become worthy of his affection."

She goes on to say, "Though our past has shaped us, we are not our past. Though our failures and sin have had an effect on who we are, we are not defined by our failures or sin."

According to Eldredge, struggles, fear of intimacy, self-hatred, and the need to control our world, make us desperate for God, and "that is not a bad thing." She encourages readers to embrace who they are, to awaken to the desires and dreams God placed in them. "Let God begin to write your story. Invite him to show you your past through his eyes," she says.

Overall, this was a good book, reminding readers to live out their new identity in Christ, allowing God to transform them from the inside out. The author has clearly walked the path of which she speaks, and she genuinely hopes to help her readers through similar struggles.

I appreciate Eldredge's gentle reminders that I will never be successful in trying to change myself--that it is God who does the transforming, beginning on the inside, changing my attitudes.

At the same time, the book ended abruptly for me, leaving me wondering, "Okay, now what?" While I understand small group resources are forthcoming, I was disappointed in the lack of reflection or discussion questions to guide me through the process of applying some of the principles in the book. So, I look forward to seeing the accompanying resources when they are released.

* Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for this review. However, the opinions expressed are my own.

I read this for myself when someone gave it to my girlfriend. I bought my own copy and started reading at her request so we can compare thoughts. I have more time to read and finished well ahead of her and lets say this I found it slightly uncomfortable at times in a appropriate and helpful way. Most of the book either sex can really gain a lot from her writings in personal growth but some places a man can really understand more about who and what he is marrying possibly one day and truly grasp what women go through. Im glad I read this book and enjoyed my girlfriend blushing when she realized what she had me reading in chapters 3-5

We and I mean we are reading wild at heart next by her husband hope its just as much fun :)

I am constantly working on getting as much emotional healing as possible. The more healing I get, the better I can hear God.

This book was another wonderful step in my journey to being the best person I can be. My mother had just passed away and the book helped me close some "loose emotional ends".

I got so much out of the book that I buy it to give as a gift to my friends. I pray that everyone opens their heart to receive all of the healing and freedom that God has for each one of us. May you be profoundly changed and blessed from reading this book!