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Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Hardcover – August 9, 2016

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 8,469 ratings

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New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist invites you to look at the landscape of your own life, consider how it might feel to leave behind the pressure to be perfect, and begin the practice of simply being present in the middle of the mess.

A few years ago, Shauna found herself exhausted and isolated, her soul and body sick. She was tired of being tired and burned out on busy. It seemed like almost everyone she talked to was in the same boat: longing for connection, meaning, and depth, but settling for busy.

But then something changed. She decided to trade the hustle and bustle for grace, love, stillness, and play, and it changed everything. Shauna offers an honest account of what led her to begin this journey and a compelling vision for an entirely new way to live: soaked in rest, silence, simplicity, prayer, and connection with the people who matter most to us.

As you witness Shauna's journey, you'll be inspired to embark on one of your own. She gives you the encouragement you need to:

  • Put an end to people-pleasing tendencies
  • Embrace moments of simplicity, quiet, and stillness
  • Accept that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy

Written in Shauna's warm and vulnerable style, this collection of essays focuses on the most important transformation in her life, and maybe yours too: leaving behind busyness and frantic living and rediscovering the person you were made to be. Present Over Perfect is a hand reaching out, pulling you free from the constant pressure to perform faster, push harder, and produce more while maintaining an exhausting image of perfection.

Join the over one million others who have already started walking this new path away from frantic pushing and proving and toward their true selves.

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Shauna, Niequist, life, hustle, courage, permission, wisdom, encouragement, mindfulness, rest
Shauna, Niequist, life, hustle, courage, permission, wisdom, encouragement, mindfulness, rest

I loved my life, but I had become someone I didn’t want to be around. I had become someone I didn’t want to be.

This book is an account of my winding, messy journey from exhaustion to peace, from isolation to connection, from hustling and multitasking to sacred presence. And this book is an invitation, too—a hand reaching out across the pages, inviting you into that same journey, because it has been the greatest, most challenging, most rewarding sea-change of my adult life.

My prayer is that this book will be a thousand invitations, springing up from every page, calling you to leave behind the heavy weight of comparison, competition, and exhaustion, and to recraft a life marked by meaning, connection, and unconditional love.

—Shauna Niequist

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

Shauna, Niequist, life, hustle, courage, permission, wisdom, encouragement, mindfulness, rest

“This book loaned me the courage, integrity, and permission I’d been waiting for. I will go to the grave thankful for this message. It has changed my life.”

Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author

Shauna, Niequist, life, hustle, courage, permission, wisdom, encouragement, mindfulness, rest

“I cried tears of relief while inhaling Present Over Perfect. I cried because I’d completely forgotten that I don’t have to earn worthiness.”

Glennon Doyle Melton, New York Times bestselling author

hospitality, home, life, recipes, meals, feast, evocative, friends, family, stories, present, God

“For all of us who yearn for meaningful, connected lives but find ourselves sometimes settling for busy, her words are the push we’ve been waiting for.”

Donald Miller, New York Times bestselling author

Shauna, Niequist, life, hustle, courage, permission, wisdom, encouragement, mindfulness, rest

“In these pages you will find wisdom and encouragement to see past temporal success and accolades to experience the deeper, more connected and enjoyable life.”

Dr. Henry Cloud, New York Times bestselling author

Present Over Perfect Guided Journal: Journey to a Simpler, More Soulful Life
Present Over Perfect Study Guide with DVD: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpl...
Celebrate Every Day: Seeing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the O...
Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes
Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are (A 365-Day Devotional)
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars 215
4.5 out of 5 stars 703
4.3 out of 5 stars 55
4.6 out of 5 stars 1,361
4.6 out of 5 stars 1,809
4.6 out of 5 stars 851
Price $7.99 $27.53 $8.99 $7.59 $13.42 $18.55
More exceptional resources by Shauna Niequist Find your own present over perfect in this exquisite guided journal The five-session video Bible study DVD and study guide Shauna Niequist reminds you in Celebrate Every Day of the importance of slowing down and appreciating the ordinary things you're taking for granted and missing as you’re planning for the next milestone. Discover new ways of living when the old ways stop working. Here is a clear-eyed look at what happens when everything we've been clinging to falls apart—what we keep, what we let go, and how we're transformed along the way. An enchanting mix of funny and vulnerable storytelling in this collection of recipes and essays about the surprising and sacred things that happen when people gather around the table. A 365-day devotional that invites you to expand your vision of spiritual living by incorporating prayer and recipes for gathering with family and friends.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I begged Shauna for this manuscript a year ago while it was half-baked. When I finally received it, I read it from cover to cover in one sitting, then sat down at my laptop and wrote four emails bowing out of engagements that no longer fit my life, made two hard phone calls, and gave an end date to two other commitments. Present Over Perfect loaned me the courage, integrity, and permission I'd been waiting for. I will go to the grave thankful for this message. It has changed my life. -- Jennifer Hatmaker, author of For the Love and 7

I cried tears of relief while inhaling Present Over Perfect. I cried because I'd completely forgotten that I don't have to earn worthiness, hustle for love, or fight to belong. Shauna's words--equal parts elegant and urgent--invited me to remember that my worthiness, belonging, and beloved-ness are birthrights. I can't think of a more important, more desperately needed invitation. -- Glennon Doyle Melton, author of Love Warrior and the New York Times bestseller Carry On, Warrior, founder of Momastery and Together Rising

I have already read this book seven times. It's about pursuing the present over the perfect--but it is nonetheless a nearly perfect thing, a nearly perfect book. Shauna speaks exactly to my condition. -- Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God, Still, and Wearing God

I've watched Shauna walk this journey away from proving and pushing toward connection and grace, and as a friend, I'm proud of her. As a reader, I'm thankful to have these pages as an inspiration and guide. For all of us who yearn for meaningful, connected lives but find ourselves sometimes settling for busy, her words are the push we've been waiting for. -- Donald Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Scary Close and Blue Like Jazz

Most of the teachers I've had didn't think they were teaching me anything; they just thought we were friends. Shauna is that kind of friend, and this is that kind of book. As you turn these pages, you'll be reminded about what you have loved, where you've found your joy, and perhaps what you've misplaced along the way. Most of all, you'll be guided into an honest conversation about your faith and where you want to go with it. -- Bob Goff, author of Love Does

Returning to the theme of decluttering everyday life and concentrating on what is truly important, Niequist (Savor) weaves together a series of essays concerning her personal experiences overcoming a life overwrought with busyness, stress, and feelings of inadequacy. After years of frantic living, Niequist has come to the realization that she's missing out on the beauty of everyday life with her husband and children--that it will all speed past her if she doesn't slow down and simplify, learn how to say no to demands on her time, and stop worrying about others' opinions of her. 'Present over perfect living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice,' she writes, explaining along the way that she's found a new 'strength' in embracing quiet surroundings and in spending time alone. To emphasize her points, she quotes Scripture, but does so sparingly and intentionally--more often than not, her included references to her faith are intended only to bolster her own experiences of mindful living. Her style is conversational, friendly, inviting, and never heavy-handed, making the book accessible to people of all faiths. Women will find the advice hits closest to home. Niequist's latest book is her most satisfying blend of mindfulness, scripture, and self-help to date, offering readers the blueprint for a life lived in the real instead of the ideal. -- Publishers Weekly

Shauna awakens our desire to not miss our lives. Because that pursuit costs us our distracting habits, we need motivation beyond disciplines and rules. We have to want to really live and be with our people and enjoy this gift of a life that God has given us. Shauna's life makes me not want to miss mine, and her words here will make you not want to miss yours. -- Jennie Allen, founder and visionary of IF:Gathering, author of Anything and Restless

We live in a society that can easily have us running in circles if we aren't careful. And this can result in having a life full of things we actually never intended to sign up for. Shauna helps us take a step back and reset our minds and souls. In these pages you will find wisdom and encouragement to see past temporal success and accolades to experience the deeper, more connected and truly enjoyable life. After all, it is the power of connection with others that helps us thrive in every sense of the word. -- Dr. Henry Cloud, New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries and The Power of the Other

With graceful confession, Shauna has created a memoir of her heart--a racing, fragmented heart that is becoming a contented, loved, and present heart. Reading this book heartened me for her, for her family, for her church, and for her generation. Shauna summons each of us to resist being sucked into the fast-paced draft of saying Yes and offers us a better way: the way of presence, the way of saying No. But this No is a Yes to something far better. -- Scot McKnight, author of A Fellowship of Differents and The Blue Parakeet

About the Author

Shauna Niequist is the New York Times best-selling author of seven books, including I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet and Present Over Perfect. Shauna and her husband, Aaron, and their sons, Henry and William, live in New York City. Shauna is an avid reader and traveler, and a passionate gatherer of people, especially around the table.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0310342996
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zondervan; First Edition (August 9, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780310342991
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0310342991
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.45 x 1.05 x 8.65 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 8,469 ratings

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Shauna Niequist
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Shauna Niequist is the NYT bestselling author of I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet, Present Over Perfect, Bread & Wine, Bittersweet, Cold Tangerines, and Savor.

She lives in New York City with her husband Aaron and their sons Henry & William.

Shauna is a bookworm and a passionate gatherer of people, especially around the table.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
8,469 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book inspiring and relevant. They praise the writing style as easy, honest, and open. The author is genuine and vulnerable in sharing her life experiences. The pacing encourages slowing down and finding your focus. The visual style is described as beautiful and refreshing. Customers appreciate the author's honesty and vulnerability.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

513 customers mention "Insight"480 positive33 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and relevant. They say it helps them reframe their life and lean into the present. The writing is beautiful and serves as a good reminder of what's truly important. Readers mention that the book resonates with them and helps them draw closer to God.

"...It will be like a balm for your soul. Another excellent book is Fiercehearted by Holley Gerth" Read more

"...Just quit it ALL! This message came like a training ground...." Read more

"..."Cold Tangerines" was sweet and had some inspiring passages, but its innocence is less relatable if you feel like life has tossed you..." Read more

"Excellent book, full of warmth, humor, great insight and plenty of food for thought...." Read more

319 customers mention "Writing quality"280 positive39 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it honest and open, with an incredible way with words. The book is not written like a self-help book, and they find it relatable. The author's message of simplicity, self-knowledge, and playing are inspiring.

"...Until I read this book. I devoured it in a single sitting. Shauna writes with such clarity. We share so many of the same struggles...." Read more

"...back and read Shauna's first book "Cold Tangerines." It's well written (she's a beautiful writer) but what impressed me most was the growth..." Read more

"...a great challenge to slow down, be present, appreciate all the little, simple, ordinary things in life. It truly does help change your perspective...." Read more

"Even as a guy, I find this easy to relate to, if a bit feminine with examples. That's fine - I don't think for one moment I'm the target audience...." Read more

75 customers mention "Honesty"75 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's honesty in sharing her life experiences and lessons. They find the stories relatable and encouraging, with a Christian perspective. The author's vulnerability and openness to share her truths is appreciated.

"...I appreciate Shauna's honesty and vulnerability to start a conversation about the reality of our human limitations, about identifying what drives..." Read more

"...I love the way she encourages the reader and is vulnerable through her own stories. Highly recommend." Read more

"...The author writes with vulnerability, honesty and the hard-won wisdom that comes not from sudden revelation, but from self-examination and..." Read more

"...This book gave me permission to take my life back - to narrow my commitments (even if it means disappointing people), stop looking for people's..." Read more

68 customers mention "Pacing"55 positive13 negative

Customers find the book's pacing encouraging. They say it encourages them to slow down and spend more time with family and less time at work. The book is described as inviting and soul-searching, with a welcoming writing style.

"...It has been a great challenge to slow down, be present, appreciate all the little, simple, ordinary things in life...." Read more

"...It is OK to pause, to reset. to re-frame the important things in life and lean into your present!" Read more

"...Shauna has a heartfelt, sincere way of writing that is very welcoming...." Read more

"...Along with my husband, there is all the love, acceptance, and validation I could ever want and yet never get from outside sources...." Read more

31 customers mention "Visual style"28 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual style. They say it paints a meaningful picture of the author's journey. The book provides an eye-opening look at life and is refreshing. Readers also praise the author's bold and authentic message.

"...What's more, her style was poetic, with smells and sounds that popped without being obtuse, making you feel like you really were together stirring..." Read more

"...She’s a great story teller and paints a great picture of her journey on becoming present over perfect...." Read more

"...Especially in its plainness. Present over perfect living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice."..." Read more

"...The whole thing is like cotton candy... looks great but when you get into it there's not much there that's helpful...." Read more

28 customers mention "Author"21 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the author's honesty and vulnerability. They find her writing inspiring and beautiful, sharing insights on slowing down.

"The authors honestly and vulnerability is inspiring. I mean, just that alone makes it worth the read...." Read more

"...The author writes with vulnerability, honesty and the hard-won wisdom that comes not from sudden revelation, but from self-examination and..." Read more

"The author does not sufficiently provide back story and context for the reader to relate to and understand her inner conflict...." Read more

"I could so relate to this topic. I really appreciated the author'a candor and authenticity...." Read more

159 customers mention "Storytelling quality"80 positive79 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the storytelling. Some find it a lovely mix of storytelling peppered with ideas to bring more wholeness. They appreciate the simple joys and everyday occurrences. Others feel the content in different chapters tends to become repetitive and the book feels repetitive and kluged together. The book seems unrelatable to some readers, as it's not a general story that you can relate to.

"...to slow down, be present, appreciate all the little, simple, ordinary things in life. It truly does help change your perspective...." Read more

"...It's very repetitive--so much so that when I heard her read an excerpt at the GLS, it took me a minute to realize whether or not I had read that..." Read more

"...Yes, the anecdotal pieces helped, and I loved her deeply religious connection, but the book did drag...." Read more

"...of being "present over perfect." Also, the book felt repetitive and kluged together...." Read more

41 customers mention "Content"22 positive19 negative

Customers have different views on the content. Some find it profound and appreciate the simple, ordinary things in life. Others feel it's disjointed and chaotic, with unstructured chapters and random thoughts thrown around.

"...last decade of my life HAVE actually resulted in depth and growth and richness, and that I can choose to re-evaluate the directions of that growth..." Read more

"...seamlessly joining the author in her growth journey to unstructured disjointed chapters on different topics she wished to address." Read more

"...It has been a great challenge to slow down, be present, appreciate all the little, simple, ordinary things in life...." Read more

"...of this style, the flow of the book felt a little bumpy and disjointed at times...." Read more

Reading this book is like taking off an underwire bra at the end of a very, very long, hard day.  Such relief.
5 out of 5 stars
Reading this book is like taking off an underwire bra at the end of a very, very long, hard day. Such relief.
Reading this book is like sitting down with a dear friend and saying the thing you've decided is unspeakable- the truth you've been avoiding, and having her say, "Me too." Present over Perfect is a gentle redirection for those of us who've come to believe that we need to spend all day, every day, all of the days hustling and earning and proving. The author writes with vulnerability, honesty and the hard-won wisdom that comes not from sudden revelation, but from self-examination and prayerful reflection.It is an incredibly difficult thing to look in the mirror and acknowledge that the path you are on is leading you away from you were created to be, particularly when that path is benefitting so many other people. I finished this book in one sitting, and at the end had tears streaming down my face because it gave me hope that success can mean something different and deeper, that I don't need to fill that empty space inside with busyness or stuff or numbing agents- I can just sit with it. I gave up alcohol a year ago, but I am still actively addicted to perfectionism and hustle, constantly trying to prove I have a right to be here. Shauna Niequist lovingly challenges the assumption that we are what we produce.I do not know a single woman who would not greatly benefit from spending time with this book.Reading this book is like taking off an underwire bra at the end of a very, very long, hard day. Such relief.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2020
    I can't tell you how many times this book came up as a recommendation. But I always bypassed it. But last night, I felt like I needed to read it. I truly believe that God will bring the right book at the right time. This book was that for me. I recently was asked "What is your identity tied to?" As I thought about it, I realized that, for most of my life, my identity has been tied to being seen as responsible and competent. This resulted in a lot of hiding, pretending, and people pleasing. I realized that somewhere along the way, I lost my true self. I wanted to be perfect. I pushed myself to the breaking point. But it was never enough. Things like self care wasn't even on my radar. I finally reached the point, where I said "I can't live like this anymore. Something has to change." I also realized that I hadn't thought about what I want out of life and for myself in a very long time. I articulated the problem, but finding a solution turned out to be difficult, and the way out elusive. Until I read this book. I devoured it in a single sitting. Shauna writes with such clarity. We share so many of the same struggles. She shares my passion for books and words. She wrote things that I've felt and thought for so long. This book cracked me wide open. Reading Shauna's journey gave me hope that I could have a different kind of life too. There is so much here to think and pray about. My process may be different than hers, but that's okay. But this book has given me a starting place. If you struggle with being overly responsible, overworked, and overcommitted, do yourself a favor and read this book. It will be like a balm for your soul. Another excellent book is Fiercehearted by Holley Gerth
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016
    Shauna Niequiest walked into my life on the afternoon of August 12th on a large screen, as I enjoyed the Global Leadership Summit of 2016 Live from Atlanta via satellite. I had just recently, at the beginning of of 2016, taken the plunge into he "hustle". I suppose I had dabbled there a time or two, but this year I was drowning in a dangerous dance of hustle-prove you're good enough-hustle,-you're not good enough-hustle harder- take on more - isolate yourself - hustle- keep trying and repeat. The things I was going, I had gotten involved for all of the right reasons. These were "good things" , things to help others, to serve God, but by August I was missing myself. I was spiraling out of control mentally and spiritually. I was doing so much that I was alone. I had thoroughly enjoyed the summit up to that point, I had pages and pages of life-changing revelations, but listening to Shauna I wrote, then tweeted out these words, "The love is never found in the hustle! It is received from God Himself, the One who created you for love" My heart leapt because I knew in my heart I was looking for love there. I knew I had to read this book. I read it fast some days, and slow others. I read many parts aloud to my husband, I re-read other parts as tears fell from my eyes. I could not help but realize the goodness of God for allowing me to find this message in the nick of time! Just when I believe I'll realize the dream of motherhood soon, just as the women's group God has given me was going to take off, just as I prepared to "really" write my first published work, just as the demands & busyness of my career were taking a harsh toll on me. Just when I was flailing so hard in the waters of hustle-Dom, that I was almost ready to just lie there and forget it! Just quit it ALL! This message came like a training ground. It assured me that God had indeed called me to do many things, but He did NOT call/require me to "lose my soul" doing them. I knew that verse before, but now I understand better what "Gaining the whole world" means."Thank you Shauna for stretching out your loving hand through your words that have brought hope and joy to me. This book has been used as a tool to bring God's peace into my heart, I am drinking in the Love and Grace of God in a way I never knew possible. I am free from the shame of not enough, and I am drinking in life, love and hope, and freely sharing my learning with others.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2016
    I have never written an Amazon review before, but Shauna has mentioned in a past book that she reads her Amazon reviews and I wanted to have some way to communicate my thoughts to her.

    I found Shauna's book "Bittersweet" in a Barnes and Noble in the midst of dealing with a traumatic loss. Shauna's words pierced through my darkness and reminded me of the life in front of me. Her words helped me realize that it was my responsibility to keep making a beautiful life and to accept the gifts in front of me; that doing so didn't dishonor the pain or the loss, but would help me through it. I will be forever grateful for her vulnerability in writing this book.

    After that, I went back and read Shauna's first book "Cold Tangerines." It's well written (she's a beautiful writer) but what impressed me most was the growth that had happened in Shauna in between the two books. "Bittersweet" is written by someone who has been tested by loss and questions and doubt. "Cold Tangerines" was sweet and had some inspiring passages, but its innocence is less relatable if you feel like life has tossed you around a little. Both books are authentic, though, because they are chronologically written.

    That's why this book isn't totally a surprise to me. She writes in her first few books about the joy she finds in hospitality and hosting parties and feeding people and packing people and experiences into every corner of her life. I felt inspired, and tried to throw more parties and open up my home and infuse every moment of my life with joy, Shauna-style. Sure enough, it is fun--and yet it can easily result in exhaustion if your lifestyle has not been constructed with margin in mind. I appreciate Shauna's honesty and vulnerability to start a conversation about the reality of our human limitations, about identifying what drives us to push past them, and her willingness to share her realization that joy is actually not something that we have to "create" but something that we can find in our boring, quiet house, in the rhythms of our marriage, and in playing Legos with our kids--if we choose to look for it. While I agree with the reviewers who said this book got a little repetitive, I found myself copying multiple sections of her book into my journal to think and pray about. There is still plenty here.

    I want to thank Shauna for continuing to share her authentic life with us. Her evolution from book to book reminds me that I am also growing, that the challenges and joy and even the boring days of the last decade of my life HAVE actually resulted in depth and growth and richness, and that I can choose to re-evaluate the directions of that growth and adjust as needed. It is courageous to put words to your present life and to share who you are NOW with others; this book inspires me to have more honest conversations about who I am and where I'm at now instead of waiting to get it all figured out. In the end, the best thing I can say about this book is that reading it forced me to acknowledge that every choice I'm making right now IS making something, and that I'm a little ambiguous about where those choices are taking me. I'm inspired to have more conversations, to do more thinking, and to pray more honestly (<--her thoughts on prayer were easily the best parts of the book) to try to figure it out. Thank you, Shauna, for sharing your journey, and for being a part of mine.
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  • giuseppe cardillo
    3.0 out of 5 stars perfetto
    Reviewed in Italy on October 31, 2024
    lo ho regalato alla mia nipotina che gli piace leggere in inglese per allenarsi negli studi la copertina è arrivat strappata peccato colps dei corrieri
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  • Marta
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok book
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on March 1, 2024
    In general book is ok and has nice message, for me personally too much reference to Christianity to which I can’t relate
  • Celia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read this and reflect upon your own life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2019
    This book which I read recently is starting to have a profound effect on my life. It is based on a collection of stories around living a life of meaning and connection instead of pushing for perfection and it massively resonated with me. You see I’m a type-A personality, I pride myself in delivering way above and beyond what a lot of other entrepreneurs do. I even won a national award for productivity.
    Pushing for perfection is what so many entrepreneurs, especially women do, but you can end up with stale relationships, kids trying to connect with you but being honest you aren’t fully present, even your weekends end up with little quality time and you gain rapid weight gain due to stress and not making time for exercise. You feel you are trapped on this hamster wheel eventually feeling unfulfilled at work and unfulfilled at home.
    Shauna describes it perfectly ‘it’s like I was pulling a little red wagon, and as I pulled it along, I filled it so full that I could barely keep pulling. That red wagon was my life, and the weight of pulling it was destroying me. I was aware that I was missing the very things I so badly longed for: connection, meaning, peace. But there was something that kept driving me forward – a set of beliefs and instincts that kept me pushing, pushing, pushing event as I was longing to rest’….. My health was suffering……. My ability to taste and connect and feel deeply had been badly compromised…. This book is an account of my winding, messy journey from exhaustion to peace, from isolation to connection, from hustling and multitasking to sacred presence…
    A key phrase from her book …’You don’t have to damage your body and your soul and the people you love most in order to get done what you think you have to get done. You don’t have to live like this’…..
    ‘Loving one’s work is a gift. And loving one’s work makes it really easy to neglect other parts of life’.
    When you’ve tried all the tactics of time management, developing a team, to-do lists and scheduling and this doesn’t work, you’ve got to change tactics. This is where this book comes in.
    The book focused on how Shauna left a life of busyness and frantic living, a constant pressure to perform faster, push harder and produce more, all while maintaining an exhausting image of perfection. Her life was transformed through stopping, resting, creating, connecting and cultivating silence and in that silence, she discovered the voice of love that she had been aching to hear, this led her to a new life based on grace, rest, silence, simplicity, prayer and connection with the people that mattered most to her and rediscovered who she was meant to be.
    She adopted new ways of embracing silence – walking away from past beliefs and what someone told me you should be, in favour of walking toward what you truly love. It has certainly given me food for thought and from November, I personally am reducing my work down to four days per week taking Fridays off and treating these as ‘Fulfilment Fridays’ – using Fridays as a special time for me to get grounded, have fun, meditate, journal and as a day of self-care.
  • Kristel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely writing
    Reviewed in Germany on June 22, 2019
    The book is filled with extremely well-written and relatable stories. A great author sharing a personal story which motivates and gives hope to the reader.
  • PG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in India on August 27, 2017
    Author very nicely tells her story, how she over came her issues.