​This book spoke to my soul! I highlighted almost every single page on my Kindle as Blake was speaking truths that I knew but had forgotten.

The sub-title of this book is “how to overcome fear, insecurity and depression and lobe yourself back to happiness, confidence and peace.”

He gives insight into his own life and his struggle with deep rooted insecurities. He shows how the reader can be true to her/himself and actually love oneself practically and effectively.

This book is a must read for anyone who is on the path of self discovery and learning how to accept/ love themselves.

Rating: 4.5/5

Favourite Quote: “We haven’t cultivated a strong enough faith or trust in ourselves, in life, or in the universe to wholeheartedly be ourselves and go after what we want and love. As a result, most of us just settle for less than we’re worthy and capable of, and then we suffer for it. But life doesn’t have to be this way.”

Book: “You Were Not Born to Suffer: Love Yourself Back to Inner Peace, Health, Happiness & Fulfillment” by Blake D. Bauer

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

This book is extensive. I took the maximum time to read this book before it left my computer due to time restrictions. The practical questions are worth their weight in gold. They are very in depth and inquisitive. They make you really wonder about your past and how it has affected your current status in life. I particularly liked the letters written from your current age to your 5 year old, 10 year old, 15 year old and 20 year old stage and so forth. It continues to your current stage of development. In exchange, you also write from a younger age to the current age a letter. It is very informative what comes out of your mind.

The beginning is good but is indicated as an introduction. It should not be that as it is already an intimate part of the book. It should have been chapter 1 and continued onward.

Blake write about the butterfly scenario. I love this story because it says so much. A butterfly was trying to get out of its cocoon and a person thinking they would be kind in helping it out cut it out of its cocoon. Not realizing that blood runs to its wings and that the butterfly comes out exactly when it is strong enough and ready enough to come out. The person did not help the butterfly but hindered the life path of the butterfly. The butterfly was bloated and could not fly. That is with us people. We need to deal with the difficulties to deal with the good things afterwards. It builds strength.

Blake indicates that we become depressed or unwell because we have not learned to express our emotions. We need to remain healthy and happy throughout our lives but for this to happen, we need to be aware of how we are feeling and able to bring out the good and the bad. We need to be authentic to ourselves.

In fact, no one is a bad person for wanting an authentic life. It is simply a desire that each human being has and should have. If we are not reaching our potential it is because we don't know how to meet our needs. We don't even know how to ask for what we want or need.

Our egos are not wrong. If we do make our egos wrong, we effect our psyches in a negative way.

According to Buddha, it is not to live in the past or the future but it in the present moment that counts and makes all the difference. There are many good quotes from many good sources throughout the book. I also liked the affirmations that are included after the chapters.

We do need to realize that negative experiences from the past were there to teach us a lesson for leading towards our true purpose. “Everything is exactly as it is supposed to be.”

With that, I will close my review and recommend this book for anyone who is suffering. Read the book and enjoy the insights. Take the time to do the questions as they bring much insight that you would otherwise would get from a counsellor but this way you can do it on your own. Best of luck.


Tags: younger age, younger self, past, butterfly, cocoon, Buddha, ego, suffering, psychology, insights, counsellor, potential, extensive.