The Audacity of Self: Dare to Put You First
Raquel A. Stuart, Ph.D., 2016
Balboa Press
112 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781504349048
Summary
The Audacity of Self: Dare to Put You First is a delightful must-read. This book pens a powerful account of emotional pain from not being genuine with self and others.
It takes you on a journey from insecurity and having a victim mentality to strength, love of self, and moving from victim to victor. This journey is not an easy one; then again, nothing worth having ever is.
This book is interactive in the sense that it will challenge you from beginning to end. It is a reminder to give yourself permission to live authentically through your words and actions.
The author encourages you to believe in yourself and declare that you are worthy to live an awesome and amazing life. It is up to you to create the space and dare to put you first.
Author Bio
• Birth—October 27, 1972
• Where—St. Michael, Barbados
• Education—Ph.D., Capella University
• Currently—lives in the state of New Jersey, USA
First...in her own words:
I was born on a small island in the West Indies where I lived with my mom for the first six years of my life. I vaguely remember my dad being around, but as far as I can remember, he didn’t live with us. He lived with his mother and brother and I visited them. I did not know it then, but my mom had been a victim of domestic violence; she had suffered at the hands of my father. They were teenagers when they had me, my mom, 18, and my dad, 19.
At the age of six, I immigrated with my mom to America, where we came to live with my grandmother and uncle in Brownsville, a community in Brooklyn, New York City. I lived in NYC for the majority of my life and attended school and college in NYC.
Dr. Raquel A. Stuart is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Ph.D. in Human Services with a specialization in Counseling. She has subject matter expertise in high engagement presentations and workshops dealing with sexuality, body image, relationships, and self-esteem. She has served as a Psychology Professor for numerous years at various universities.
Dr. Stuart is the host of a weekly talk show, Bare It All. She is the Founder and CEO of Sistas Speak, LLC, a transformational movement which teaches women and girls to live beyond their reasons and justifications and to understand that if they want something different they have to do something different. (From the author.)
Visit the author's website.
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Book Reviews
The Audacity of Self: Dare to Put You First is a delightful must read. This book is raw, and Dr. Stuart pens a powerful account of her struggles that inspires her readers to push forward in the face of adversity. She displays pure strength and authenticity in this awe inspiring chronicle despite hurt, pain, and shame to shed her victim mentality in a fight to transform and reclaim her life.
Dr. Leslie E. Brown, Author of The Thorns Within
Raquel writes authentically from the heart. She is real and shares her journey of what she has gone through to where she is now in her life, which is living her life with purpose, power, courage, freedom from the past, with a sprinkle of fun and humor. I feel this book is a MUST read for everyone. We only have 1 life and it's now to live it, why not let Raquel share her journey in supporting our journey in living life Audaciously.
Regina Rossi Lamothe, LCSW
Discussion Questions
1. When we walk around with a negative attitude, where does that attitude get us?
2. How do you know you are walking in your purpose?
3. When you are having a conversation with yourself, what does it sound like?
4. How do you know if the relationships you have are stretching you beyond your comfort zone?
5. What are you seeking from your life?
6. What does self-love look like for you?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)