Thoughts on You’re Already Amazing 6 Week Study Guide by Holley Gerth

I love how #EllensPicks introduces me to new authors, new styles of writing and most importantly, new ideas.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised and disappointed when a six session workbook fell out of the envelope. A workbook? I didn’t want to work. And the title, You’re Already Amazing; Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be…. riiiggghhht. It was hard to get excited about a book that quite frankly, I didn’t agree with.

I felt far from being amazing. I was feeling a bit suffocated. I was dealing with a major health scare that was making my world seem so small and unsure. I felt like I was forced to take the backseat in my own life.

The book sat next to my bed for weeks. Okay, maybe even a month.

While being laid up post surgery I was finding it hard to concentrate on reading. At last, I finally had an excuse for not starting this book! But after a while, Downton Abbey episodes were just getting old and gossip magazines left me with a bigger hole. I was feeling empty. I traded Lady Mary’s drama and timidly started You’re Already Amazing, but I was certainly incredulous.

After the second page of the first session, I knew I needed a highlighter. This book was getting marked up.

The book no longer seemed phony to me. Holley’s writing was honest. Believable.

Holley’s writing touched on my own issues of shame and my emotions. I am deeply emotional – always have been, and I often struggle with feeling embarrassed by my outward display of emotions. I feel betrayed by my own body when I cannot control my tears. My whole body convulses and let’s just say I am not a pretty crier. The world celebrates strong women who keep it all together and are emotionally level. That is so not me.

In my struggle with dealing with my emotions, it was if Holley offered me a cold drink of water on a hot day. She writes, “All of our emotions are gifts from God to help us process everything we experience. Emotions are also a big part of what makes you amazing. They allow you to respond to life in deeply personal ways. They connect you with others. They reflect your awesome Maker.” I never considered that my emotions reflect my Maker before, in fact I’ve never connected the two together. Instead of being embarrassed about my emotions, how can I use them to celebrate my Maker?!

“If you haven’t figured it out yet: you’re amazing because you’re God’s creation and He lives in you. You’re valuable because you belong to Him. You’re worth investing in because He paid the ultimate price for you” (pg. 137). Now, that is something I can actually believe. You see, earlier I was making it about myself and why I could never measure up. But that’s the issue. I was looking at me when it has nothing to do with me. It’s all about HIM.

I felt God’s spirit whisper at me through the pages of the book. I am more than enough, because I am His.

“All we are, everything God created us to be, becomes a gift when placed in his hands. There’s nothing he can’t mold, shape, redeem or form into something beautiful. We don’t have to be afraid or hold back – we can just hold our hearts to the One who promises to complete the good work he’s already started in us.” - Holley Gerth

This book cannot and should not be shelved. It’s a toolkit for living. Holley offers some insightful tools for discovering your strengths, skills, and passions. These are great exercises for your husband, partner or young adult in your life to work through. As I age, I’m beginning to realize I am a lot more unsure about myself than in my younger days. I’m starting to give myself room to change (I’m hopeful that means to grow) – and that includes my vision, gifting and skills. I know I will need a tool like this to help me live intentionally and on purpose.

The workbook I didn’t want to do, became nourishment for my tired soul.

#EllensPicks