I promised to tell you about this incredible book in my previous post, “Rethinking Our Productivity” and here it is. The subtitle or admonition following the title of Girl, Wash Your Face goes on to say, “Stop believing the lies about who you are so you can become who you were meant to be” and this speaks volumes to the core issue of so many people out there! This is for me just as much as it is for you. I have believed so many lies about myself and it caused me to do things I never thought I would do. Now I’m having to undo so much of the damage those lies caused me, and I want to encourage you, too: stop believing those lies! You are priceless. You are valuable beyond measure. You are loved. There is hope!
If you want to get this book (and I highly recommend you do) you can get it on Barnes and Noble here (with their bonus chapter!) or on Amazon here. Now, keep reading…
Summary:
Rachel Hollis opens up her book with an introductory chapter explaining a bit about her background and touching on some of the common lies out there. She fills it with encouragement, hope, and her own realizations about her own role in her life’s future. The next 21 chapters (from Barnes and Noble, Amazon may not have chapter 21 as it is touted as an Barnes & Noble exclusive edition, you can check out the Barnes & Noble copy here) each address specific lies that women and girls often hear or catch themselves believing about themselves. One of the lies includes the chapter on “Loving Him Is Enough For Me” which is based on the idea that in a difficult relationship, your love for him is enough even if he doesn’t love you or treat you with respect. Another chapter is on the lie, “I should be farther along by now” which addresses comparing yourself with others and discouragement. (Also, chapter 9 addresses the lie that many moms believe and that is “I’m not a good mom.” Read it!)
About the Author
Rachel Hollis is a successful entrepreneur as founder of the lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company. Inc. magazine named her one of their “Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30”. According to many of those reviewing her book on Amazon, all of this success makes it difficult for some to believe she has had it tough. But read her book. They clearly glossed over the tragedy surrounding her brother and the real life example she is about how we, too, can come through the fire and find ground to thrive on.
She has been successful because she has put into practice what she “preaches.” She has worked her butt off to get where she is at. The result is that she is able to show us that it is possible to overcome adversity.
I personally resonated with a lot of her story. I made poor choices, just as she did, when it came to the only male partner I have had. I gave him privileges I should have held back, just as she did. I was treated with the same poor respect as she was. The difference is that my boyfriend ended his life, whereas hers reformed. No, reforming isn’t always the story. But she had the courage to put her foot down and say enough was enough.
Review
I initially had doubts about this book. As previously discussed, this book had garnered some poor attention from people in my religious circle. They warned people not to buy the book or read it. It appears that her statements in her introductory chapter read, “You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are” (pg xi) are potentially to blame. Later on in the same chapter she says, “I am in control over the person I will become” (pg xvi). Their beef centrally focuses on the fact that they claim she is advocating total self-reliance outside of God.
What’s interesting about those who use these statements to call her out on her lack of reliance on God is that they miss the very next statement which reads, “By the grace of God, I will wake up tomorrow and have another chance to do this life better” (pg xvi). They seem to believe that God is responsible for making the daily choices and activities which would bring about His will, but they completely ignore the fact that that is not how it works.
If we sit at home and wait for God to work His will in our lives, we will absolutely miss out on that will. Because even though God gives us the strength, grace, and courage to carry out His will, He requires action on our part. We have to be actively moving in His direction or we will miss His will. And THAT is where Hollis’s book comes into play.
Debunking the lies
The entire book is all about debunking lies we are told through society, friends/family, and/or our own misgivings. People who stop at the one (or two) sentence(s) above miss the entire point of the book. What is the point?
The point of this book is all about shutting down the lies of the devil.
About empowering women to step into their God-given identity in Christ, finding freedom from the baggage and healing from past hurts, and to walk intentionally and wholly into the path that God has for them. Girls, ladies, women, you don’t have to live with all of that weight holding you down. Jesus came to free us. As Paul tells us, “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1, emphasis mine). That means that the weight we carry isn’t always sin, just things that hold us down, and those lies are some of them. It clouds our vision and holds us back from reaching our full potential in Christ.
Takeaway
Read this book. Pray about what lies you have believed and find freedom. This book and review is setting up for my next post on intentionality. But I wholeheartedly believe that you have to deal with the lies first before you can proceed with intentionality and purpose. Those lies will weigh you down. Find freedom!
I pray I will stick to my guns should I ever get another shot at love again, like Rachel did when David reformed. I want the same respect and love that she found after standing up for herself. I am worthy of respect, honor, and love, and I will live that belief out in front of my daughter, so help me, because I don’t want her to grow up believing these lies like I did for so long.
You are worth more than gold, more than rubies, more than fine jewels. You. Are. Priceless. Don’t let anyone treat you otherwise and shut out the devil and his lies!
Join my band of Gypsy mothers!
Join with me and my band of gypsy mothers! Lets form a community and encourage each other to defeat these lives for not only ourselves, but the generations after us.
Some links in this post may contain affiliate links. For full disclosure see my Privacy Policy and Disclosures page here, but know I will never recommend anything I am not confident you would find useful or like.
Leave a Reply