Why Everyone Should Read Rachel Hollis’ Two Self Help Books

Last November, I purchased the book Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. It was Black Friday, and Amazon had a ton of ebooks — many of them bestsellers — marked down to only a few dollars.

So, I purchased the book. However, after I purchased my Nook e-readers, it sat in my Amazon library for about eight months.

That is, until recently. Something told me to read this book. Recently, I’ve been going through a rough patch, and I can use some inspiration.

I couldn’t put the book down. In fact, in two days, I’ve read both that and Girl, Stop Apologizing.

Both books have left me inspired. I’m talking I needed to have my journal nearby at all times inspired. It helped me realize some habits that I’ve been developing to mask the pain. I’m talking it helped me learn to appreciate my worth and value, and learn to say no (something that I am still struggling to learn to do). And, it taught me a easy way to help me manage my goals.

Let’s be honest — I haven’t read any self help books since Jen Sincero’s You Are A Badass in 2016. What I liked about this book is that it felt like I was having a conversation with a wiser, older girlfriend who had all of the wisdom that she wanted to share with me.

Since reading these books, I have started writing a “goal of the day,” which describes my intention of the day. Some days, it’s making sure that I carve out time to take care of me. Others, it’s an actual goal.

Throughout both of her books, Hollis continues to remind readers that dreams and life doesn’t work until you do. This means carving out time to make your goals happen (coined as the five-hour rule), this means pushing past the point you usually quit, and it means envisioning the goal as if you already met it.

However, here are some of the biggest things that I soaked up while reading these too books:

• You are the company that you keep. Hollis wrote positivity attracts positivity. And, we always adapt the mannerisms and habits of the five people that we spend the most time with. Therefore, if our “tribe” is constantly bringing you down or is negative, maybe it’s something to look at.
• Carve out five hours a week to work on your goal. We all are spent when it comes to finding time. Hollis recommends that you spend five hours a week doing nothing but that goal. For me right now, it’s organizing and blogging more regularly. Maybe down the line, I’ll be using that time as time to write a book (a forever dream of mine). You can spilt it up, or you can do it all at once. It doesn’t need to be a permanent time, it just needs to be on the schedule.
• Write down a goal of the day. I like this so much because it sets your mind up to do so. And it feels so good when it’s done.
• Write a list of things that you’ve accomplished.
• Write a letter to yourself singing your praises. And then, do it again. I wrote mine and felt so good after doing so!
• Learn to say no when it’s something that you hate doing. Chances are, you’ll be ten times happier. Of course, it’s easier said than done. But, learning to own your time is always the best.
• If you really want something, it will happen. If you don’t, it’s an excuse.
• Finally, the main message in both books is to be yourself unapologetically. Hollis talks about the many comments that she gets — from family, people criticizing her as a working mom, and so much more. How many of us have felt the same way. I really felt inspired when she discussed this, because you can not please everyone. After reading this, I’m learning to slowly shield the commentaries that others may give and putting myself first.

Needless to say, this book left me inspired and ready to take on the world. It also left me a Rachel Hollis fan. However, both books taught me so much, and now have become something that I want to reread for years to come.