Warm, approachable and understanding - this is a book to read when you find/feel you are not at the place you want to be (or at least not sure about it).

Dr. Flanagan (psychologist, therapist) writes as one who has been there (done that) and who knows what it is to doubt yourself, feel lonely and without feelings of belonging and purpose. He does not write based on knowledge, but based on the human connection. Which makes this book and his message very approachable and can ignite the long-forgotten fire in your heart. But (and this is the other side of the coin), passion is not practical - so the storytelling sometimes surpasses the advice here. You find very little concrete tips&tricks here (and I am lacking that). Yet - I feel that the diagnose might be a very good starting point here, and Dr Flanagan can do that. He can start your heart with the fire of the true desire - and when head and heart fights, the heart almost always wins.
My heart has been stirred by this book. Which might not be enough, yet it might be everything - but this is my work to do.

Super readable, down-to-earth, encouraging book. I was not familiar with the author before reading this book, and I was very impressed with his conversational style, easy-to-connect-with illustrations, and of course, the bottom line messages of worthiness, love, and meaning. I found the book's message very encouraging. I would definitely recommend it to others.

Quite disappointed with this book from zondervan. I expected better. Instead I got dicey theology and a few thrown in scripture. It's a self help book focused on self. It says I'm worthy but doesn't attribute that worth to being created in the image of the one true God. It says to love my true self and all about my passions and my desires and my most basic self before life got in the way. There may be some ok take always but I can't get passed the most basic principles that were left out. Why I'm worthy. Who gave me passions etc etc. it would be better had all scripture been left out instead of trying in a haphazard way to include it to what, get hook of the Christian reader population? Disappointed. I don't know what I really expected but didn't expect this.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book feels just like sitting on the couch of a very good therapist. Written with a father's heart, the author wants his clients, his family, his readers, and himself to know we are completely loveable. Lots of personal stories and sound research to back it up. A self-help book that ultimately points us to our Helper, Jesus Christ.

Very short but sweet reminder that we all need love in our lives. A great gift for loved ones.

Life isn't about comparison; it's about connection.

Very conflicted with this one. The author became a internet sensation when a letter that he wrote to his daughter became shared 1000 of times and then it hit such a need, he was asked to come on the Today Show. His letter to his daughter basically told her that if she had to earn a person's interest or proving her worth to another with her looks, abilities, etc. that relationships should not be built on proving your worth. He also continued to write several more letters to his 3 children that was directed to their worth, the shame that they carry and the connection that they desire.

All these things can hit home for us as well. The problem that I had with this and he also addressed was that he mixed his theology in with it. With less than handful of scripture and his source of worth not biblical (the glory of God), it would have been better served to leave out the theology. His description of God and God's will was not based on scripture but experience. More for our feeling good about ourselves than for God's glory. Sin was not addressed but the sin against us was addressed.

This is a self-help book to help you embrace yourself and that you do not need to be embraced by everyone else. There is some truth to that. The truth that was lacking was the source of the Gospel.

No doubt that Flanagan has a heart for those to live life to the fullest and to see the child in each of us to be validated, but not at the expense of the gospel. In short this is the best life theology.

A Special Thank you to Zondervan and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review